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Chapter 3
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Three Great Epoch-makers
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1. Bhagavan Arishtanemi 2. Vaasudev Shrikrishna 3. Bhagavan Mahavir
The Meaning of Epoch-maker
An epoch-maker is that uniquely gifted, overpowering and extremely powerful person who gives a new direction to human society of his times. He has the capacity to reform the established traditions, remove the superstitions and inspire and rejuvenate masses of his generation and those to come.
In other words, an epoch-maker is a person who, through his ideas, conduct, behaviour and other activities, leaves so profound an impression and influence over masses that it is not obliterated even after tens, hundreds and thousands of years.
Every civilized society has two distinct branches of il periodic cultural stream. One is spiritual and the other is social and behavioural. The spiritual stream is related to
ment, purification and liberation of the self or soul. The behavioural stream is related to the socio-political world and acts like a barometer for its efficient control. These are gross and superficial divisions. In context of the Indian civilization and culture, even the epoch-makers of the social level have liberation as their ultimate goal. After embracing success at social level they accept liberation as the final goal of human life. They endeavour to inspire masses to pursue that goal only.
Great Epoch-makers mentioned in Antakriddasha Sutra
The eighth Angu Sutra of the Dvadashangi, Antakriddasha Sutra is a complete Agam in many respects. Although it is predominantly spiritual, it abounds in stories of lives of Anukrit Kevalis. Besides the description of spiritual leaders, epoch-makers and Tirthankars it also contains enough details about the epoch-makers of the social level.
Antakriddasha Sutra contains stories of three great epoch-makers. Of these, two are spiritual and one is social or worldly. Tirthankars Arishtanemi and Mahavir are epochmakers of the spiritual level and Vaasudev Shrikrishna that of the social level. Thus the reader finds both spiritual and social streams.
Antakriddasha Mahima
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