"Jnyan" or Vidya (Knowledge), although one, is considered as higher (para) and lower (apara). The lower knowledge, apara vidya is the one that concerns the materialistic, arthika, whereas, the higher knowledge, paraa vidya is the one that concerns non-materialistic, paramarthic. However, as long as the jiva remains on the earth, struggling to eke out a living, it is worried and more concerned with the materialistic knowledge. It will not bother much about any higher knowledge. Even if one attains the highest level it is of no consequence to the jiva to attain to its emancipation, liberation from the embedded state. At best, a person may get the highest award of the land, or an acclamation and some money, as in the case of Bharata Ratna or Nobel Prize; this will only promote ego and becomes a hurdle to the main goal of life of the jiva. Even the Veda is considered mundane worldly (vishayaa vedaa), lower knowledge, since it deals with worldly aspects. The only higher knowledge concerning Brahmn is the Brahma sutras. Here, the person is seeking the highest truth and thereby get liberated from the cycle of repeated births and deaths.
This aspect of knowledge of brahmn is exemplified in the famous 'Ashtavakra Gita' where it is stated that, "Brahmn cannot be attained by any external means such as shastra (scriptures), yoga. Nobody will help in this since it is an individual's own effort. It is like searching for the misplaced valuable within the house, rather, like searching for a gold chain that is already there in the neck! It is 'pratyabhijnya hridayam', the forgotten entity of 'the Self ' by the self. An attained Guru may be some help to dislodge what all the jiva has acquired since birth and become free enabling to have the Atma darshan, 'Self- Realisation'.
These aspects are discussed at length in the Pancharatra Agama Shastra which we will take up in detail here.
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