Vidyā and Avidyā in Iśāvāsyopaniṣad

Abstract

Iśāvāsyopaniṣad (9-11) mentions terms VidyāandAvidyā. Vidyā is taken as knowledge and Avidyā as ignorance when literal meaning is taken. One who follows Avidyā goes to darkness and worshipper of Vidyā to even more darkness. One who knows Vidyā and Avidyā both together crosses death with Avidyā and attains immortality through Vidyā. Here words Vidyā and Avidyā are cryptic and do not mean the general connotation. Dictionary meanings of these words are incongruent with the meaning of complete verses. In this case, commentators have adopted different meanings suitable to their philosophy. It is however interesting to note the hermeneutic tools they used for interpretations. Paper aims to investigate and understand concepts of Vidyā and Avidyā through different commentaries and throw light on philosophy behind it.