paravidya

Paravidya is a Sanskrit term used in Hindu philosophy to denote higher or supreme knowledge, particularly knowledge of the ultimate reality. It is formed from para, meaning beyond or supreme, and vidya, meaning knowledge or learning. The concept is commonly contrasted with aparavidya, which refers to lower, worldly, or conventional knowledge such as empirical skills, arts, and everyday learning.

In Vedantic and related traditions, paravidya denotes knowledge that leads to liberation (moksha) and realization of the true nature of reality, the Self (atman), or Brahman. It is often described as epistemic or experiential knowledge that transcends ordinary perception, enabling discrimination (viveka) between the real and the apparent. While aparavidya concerns that which can be learned through study and practice in the empirical world, paravidya targets insight into ultimate truth and the means of self-realization.

The term and its distinction appear across various schools and texts, where it is used to emphasize that scriptural study or ritual proficiency alone does not guarantee spiritual freedom without the deeper, transformative knowledge associated with paravidya. In contemporary discourse, paravidya is sometimes invoked to articulate a hierarchy of knowledge, with spiritual or metaphysical understanding positioned above secular or worldly disciplines. See also aparavidya, Vedanta, jnana, and moksha.