Avidya
अविद्य
avidya
1. According to Advaita, avidya is the false notion that world is real. It is a kind of metaphysical ignorance due to Maya (illusion). To the other disciples of Vedanta, avidya is the ignorance of the ultimate reality, the Brahman.
2. Avidya as an ordinary word means: opposite of vidya, without knowledge, ignorance, illusion.
Avidya is a term popular in Upanishads and very often used by Vedanta philosophers. By Maya (the illusion) the reality is not evident to us. The metaphysical non-duel Brahman through its concealing power (avarana sakti) and project the universe of multiplicity through its projecting power (vikshepa sakti) makes us see an illusory world.
,b>To the Advaita philosophers the world is pure illusion and it has no existence at all and only Brahman exists. Bahmati in his interpretation to Brahmasutra takes extreme position and argue that word is a false projection just like one mistake a rope as a snake. To the Dvaita philosophers, the world is having a temporal existence though it is doesn’t have an independent existence away from the Brahman.
| Word | Sanskrit | IAST | In General | Veda | Purana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aparavidya | अपरा विद्या | aparavidyā | The lower knowledge for the worldly living are called Aparavidya. All those contribute to a... | Vedic knowledge is Paravidya | Bhagavad Gita also talk about Paravidya and Aparavidya and advice Arjuna that both are... | Read More |
| Atmavidya | आत्मविद्या | ātmavidyā | Atmavidya means spiritual knowledge or the knowledge of Atma, the Supreme Spirit. | Read More | ||
| Brahmavidya | ब्रह्मविद्या | brahmavidyā | The science of Brahman; knowledge of Brahman; learning pertaining to Brahman or the... | Read More | ||
| Chittavidya | चित्तविद्या | cittāvidyā | Psychology; science of the mind and the sub-conscience. | Read More | ||
| Paravidya | परा विद्या | paravidyā | Highest spiritual knowledge which leads one to Brahman is Paravidya. It cannot be... | The higher knowledge, the Paravidya (Brahmavidya) is the one by which the ultimate... | Bhagavad Gita also talk about Paravidya and Aparavidya | Read More |
| Rajavidya | राजविद्या | rājavidyā | Rajavidya is the king of Vidyas, the royal path of spirituality. The ninth chapter of B.G. is... | Read More | ||
| Sandilyavidya | शाण्डिल्यविद्य | śāṇḍilyavidya | Sandilya Vidya is meditating of atman in the heart as the creator and sustainer of the... | Read More |