EDUCATION (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Ignorance (avidya) of Brahman may consist of not knowing the difference between the empirical world and the world of ultimate reality. According to Shankara, maya is the mistaken tendency to regard appearance as reality.

Detailed explanation-2: -The correct answer is Non-dualism. Key Points. Samkara is the most influential philosopher of the Advaita, or nondualistic, school of Vedānta philosophy in India. He was considered the incarnation of the god Śiva.

Detailed explanation-3: -Avidyā () is a Vedic Sanskrit word, and is a compound of “a” and “vidya", meaning “not vidya". The word vidya is derived from the Sanskrit root Vid, which means “to know, to perceive, to see, to understand". Therefore, avidya means to “not know, not perceive, not understand".

Detailed explanation-4: -The Upanishads identify two types of knowledge: the lower knowledge of the rituals, sacrifices, obligatory duties, occupational knowledge and the like, and the higher knowledge of the Self (Atman) and the Supreme Self. The former is often equated with ignorance (avidya) and the latter with true knowledge (vidya).

Detailed explanation-5: -In yoga, avidya goes beyond the dictionary definition of ignorance, although it does not suggest failure or wrongdoing. It is a spiritual ignorance that prevents the individual from connecting to the Source of being and the true Self. Avidya can also be described as non-knowledge of Brahman, or the supreme spirit.