aparavidya
|a-pa-ra-vid-ya|
/ˌɑːpərəˈvɪdjə/
lower, worldly or empirical knowledge
Etymology
'aparavidyā' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the compound 'aparā-vidyā', where 'aparā' meant 'other; inferior/lesser' and 'vidyā' meant 'knowledge'.
'aparavidyā' entered modern English usage via Sanskrit studies and translations of Vedantic texts in the 19th and 20th centuries; the term was adopted directly (transliterated) from Sanskrit into English scholarly literature.
Initially in Sanskrit it meant 'inferior or other knowledge' in contrast to 'para-vidyā' (higher knowledge); in English usage it has retained this specialized philosophical meaning as a technical term in Indology and comparative religion.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in Indian (especially Vedanta) philosophy: 'lower' or empirical knowledge — knowledge of the world, language, ritual, and the practical arts, which is distinct from and inferior to spiritual or highest knowledge (paravidya).
Classical Advaita texts treat aparavidya as useful for daily life but incapable of granting moksha.
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Noun 2
knowledge that is non-liberating or non-transcendental — i.e., information or skills that do not lead to ultimate self-realization or liberation.
Ritual rules and grammatical learning are often cited as examples of aparavidya rather than paravidya.
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Noun 3
more generally, a technical or scholarly term for secondary or subordinate forms of learning as classified in classical Indian epistemology.
Scholars distinguish aparavidya from paramavidya when categorizing types of vidya in Upanishadic discussions.
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Last updated: 2025/09/14 15:24