The Jiva

The Jiva 

All the Vedas are categorised under Apara Vidya. A portion of the Vedas talks about karma, upasana and jnana. To perform an action, there has to be a doer. Even to do upasana or worship, you will need an upasak. Karma, upasana and jnana are all in the realm of the jiva. To do shravan and manan also, there has to be a seeker. All these activities require a doer or a seeker, who is the jiva. The jiva is sustained by ignorance. When it gets para vidya, then the jiva is dissolved. So the karma and upasana are at a lower level in the field of ignorance and, therefore, they are also called apara vidya. Only when we do shravan, manan and nidhidhyasana, we transcend our limitations. Apara Vidya is like the stairs leading to the terrace; the stairs have their own utility. Through apara vidya, you can reach para vidya.

Om Namah Shivay.