Word

Aparavidya

Sanskrit

अपरा विद्या

IAST

aparavidyā

In General

The lower knowledge for the worldly living are called Aparavidya. All those contribute to a successful life in this world are part of Aparavidya.

Maintaining family, health and wealth is a virtue and essential requirement admitted by Rishis. The sages have given due importance to the knowledge in various branches of arts, science and literature for the benefit of mankind. This is why we have authentic texts on diverse subjects like art, language, literature, metallurgy, aesthetics, mathematics, Botany, Astronomy, Astrology, flower arrangement, warfare, moral science, philosophy, statecraft, from Ancient India. Even the knowledge in religious subjects, rituals and other basic spiritual practices are part of Aparavidya if read in ritualistic way.

Aparavidya is not enough for all round development; one should acquire two forms of knowledge: the Apara(lower) knowledge and Para (Higher) knowledge. The higher knowledge is Para vidya(Brahmavidya), the knowledge by which the ultimate reality behind all the creation will be known.

Veda

Vedic knowledge is Paravidya

Purana

Bhagavad Gita also talk about Paravidya and Aparavidya and advice Arjuna that both are required.

Agni Purana classify Dharma sastra, Purana, Nyaya, Ayurveda, Gandharva vidya, Dhanurveda and Artha sastra as aparavidya as against veda and vedanga as paravidya.

Reference

Ag.P.