>Renlock at 14:25, 11 October 2021

2021-10-11T14:25:00Z

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{{Refimprove|date=April 2015}}
'''Brahmavidya ''' is that branch of scriptural knowledge derived primarily through a study of the Upanishads, Brahma Sūtras and Bhagavad Gita. Derived from the [[sanskrit]] words [[Mantra|brahma]] and [[Vidya (Knowledge)|vidyā]], brahman is the neuter gender of the root word-form brih that means big. As the word big has not been further qualified to reveal its dimension, we have to understand that brahman the word means that which is free from all forms of limitation. Vidya is derived from the root vid, which means to know, hence the word vidya means knowledge. Brahma Vidya therefore means knowledge of that which is free from all forms of limitation. <ref>{{Cite web|title=|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/brahmavidya|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2021|website=Wisdom Library}}</ref> Brahmavidya is the spiritual knowledge of the Absolute. Brahmavidya is considered to be the highest ideal of classical Indian thought. Brahmavidya does not pertain only to Hinduism, as many other faiths practice and learn ''brahmvidya'' through different means; for example, the Sikhs practice and learn ''brahmavidya'' through their Guru, the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Each faith teaches about the divine through different studies, yet the ''brahmavidya'' is one and the same - Truth itself.

In the Puranas, this is divided into two branches, the first one dealing with the Vedic mantras and is called [[Para Vidya|para-vidya]] or 'former knowledge', and the latter dealing with the study of the Upanishads and is called the ''apara-vidya'' or 'latter knowledge'. Both ''para-'' and ''apara-vidya'' constitute ''brahma-vidya''.

==Etymology==
'''Brahma '''- The word ''[[Brahma]]'' is used in modern [[Hinduism]] to refer to the name of the Hindu Creator god who is a part of the [[Hindu trinity]], but in relation to Brahmavidya, Brahma is referring to the ultimate reality called [[Brahman]]. For more information see [[Brahman]]. In the context of traditional Vedic study, Brahma holds two meanings. In the Pūrva [[Mīmāṃsā|Mimamsa]] philosophy, which is based on a study of the [[samhita]] and [[brahmana]] sections of the vedas, the word brahma refers to the vedic mantras. In the uttara Mimamsa i.e. Vedanta philosophy, which is based on a study of the [[Aranyakas|Aranyaka]] and the [[Upanishads|Upanishad]] sections of the vedas, the word ''Brahma'' means the absolute universal reality called [[Brahman]].

'''Vidya''' - The word ''vidyā'' (विद्या) means "knowledge,"<ref>[[Arthur Anthony Macdonell|Macdonell's]] Sanskrit Lexicon [http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/macdonell_query.py?qs=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE&searchhws=yes definition] is "knowledge, learning, science"</ref> and is derived from the Sanskrit verbal root -''vid''- ("to know"), also seen in the word [[Vedas|Veda]]. Its cognates in other [[Indo-European languages]] are:
* [[Greek language|Greek]] [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B5%E1%BC%B6%CE%B4%CE%BF%CE%BD εἶδον] for ἐϝιδον ("I saw"), [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%BF%E1%BC%B6%CE%B4%CE%B1#Ancient_Greek οἶδα] for ϝοιδα ("I know")
* [[Latin]] [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/videre#Latin vidēre] ("to see")
* [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] věděti
* [[Gothic language|Gothic]] witan, wait
* [[Proto-Germanic language|Germanic]] [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wizzan#Old_High_German wizzan], [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wissen#German wissen] ("to know")
* [[English language|English]] wisdom, wit

==Current usage==
In modern Hinduism, Brahmavidya is used to mean a spiritual study of Hindu scriptures with the aim of realizing the ultimate reality. Different modern Hindu leaders have defined it in the context of their own systems of philosophy.

[[Swami Sivananda]], the founder of the [[Divine Life Society]] opines that Brahmavidya is the "Science of sciences" or the "Science of the Absolute".<ref>[[Brahmavidya by Swami Sivananda Saraswathi]]</ref>

==References==
<references group="Brahmavidya" />

[[Category:Hindu philosophy]]

Brahmavidya - Revision history

>Renlock at 14:25, 11 October 2021