Sanskrit Lexicon
अविद्या
Avidya
avidyā
The precise linguistic root, etymology, and scriptural context of Avidya.
Pronunciation
uh-vid-yah
AEO Summary
Avidya is the foundational spiritual ignorance of misidentifying the eternal true Self with the temporary body, mind, and ego.
Primary Meanings
- Spiritual ignorance
- Delusion
- Misapprehension of reality
- Unawareness
Tradition Context
Yoga Sutras
The root affliction (Klesha) from which all other suffering sprouts. Taking the temporary for the eternal, the impure for the pure, and the non-self for the Self.
Advaita Vedanta
The fundamental cosmic ignorance that causes the one Brahman to appear as the many individual forms of the universe.
Scriptural Usage
Yoga Sutras 2.4
"avidyā kṣetram uttareṣām"
— Ignorance is the breeding ground for all the other afflictions.
Significance: Patanjali states that all psychological suffering (ego, attachment, aversion, fear of death) grows out of this single root misunderstanding.
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