Avidyā

Meaning

ignorance
Lack of knowledge or information.
foolish
Lacking good sense or judgement.

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Interpretation

Avidyā- (Ignorance, Spiritual ignorance, Unlearned) ignorance is ignorance of the self within”. The evolved man of manuṣya janma is also vulnerable to ignorance of the “self within”. The very instance of creation on this planet pervaded by māyā, renders him vulnerable to “avidyā”. If the player lands here, he indulges in this ignorance and falls down to the 1st stage, the realm of kāma (desire). The player experiences the “basest vibrations”, and must again raise her awareness through the yoga of karma.

The game board explains, avidyā and suvidyā. It also depicts gyāna at the start of this stage. I am inspired to enquire, then why not “agyāna”? The game, board almost smiles, in anticipation. It reveals “agyāna” as the snake of ignorance which leads to indulgence in material desires, kāma, which is “avidyā”. At this point, I must admit, that different players may have different questions, and “receive” different answers, and I by no means would like to impose opinions on any player, this is just a humble statement of one of the possible experiences the game board can have for the players. In this context of agyāna, it is relevant to remind ourselves of the following sloka:

agyānayogātparamātmanastava hyanātmabandhastata eva saṁsṛitiḥ tayorvivekoditabodhavahniḥ agyānakāryaṁ pradahetsamūlam — Vivekachudamani (47) Adi Sankarāchārya, in Vivekachurāmani, says – You are indeed the supreme Self but due to your association with ignorance you find yourself under the bondage of the not-self, which is the sole cause of the cycle of births and deaths. All the effects of ignorance, root and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the not-Self.

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Story

The term avidyā is a central one in Indian Vedic thought. It is often translated as ignorance or misconception, but it has a more specific meaning in the context of Hindu philosophy. Avidyā refers to the fundamental ignorance that prevents us from seeing the world as it really is.

The earliest references to avidyā are found in the Upanishads, which date to around 800-600 BCE. In these texts, avidyā is seen as the root cause of suffering and bondage. It is the mistaken belief that the individual self (ātman) is separate from the universal Self (Brahman). This belief leads to a cycle of birth and death, as the individual self seeks to find happiness and fulfillment in the material world.

It is still seen as the root cause of suffering, but it is also seen as a necessary part of the spiritual journey. In order to achieve liberation (mokṣa), the individual must first become aware of their own avidyā. This awareness can be achieved through the practice of yoga, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines.

The concept of avidyā continues to be important in Hindu philosophy and practice. In the Bhagavad Gita, for example, Krishna describes avidyā as the darkness of ignorance. He says that avidyā is the cause of all suffering, and that it can only be overcome through knowledge and understanding.

On the gameboard

The word avidya in the Indian Vedic context refers to ignorance or delusion. It is the opposite of knowledge or wisdom. In the context of the game of Ludo, avidya seen as the lack of knowledge or understanding of the game that leads to a player making mistakes. It seen as the attachment to winning or losing that prevents a player from enjoying the game.

The game of Ludo is a game of strategy and chance. There is an element of skill involved in the game, but there is also an element of luck. A player who is attached to winning or losing may become frustrated or angry when they lose, which can cloud their judgment and lead them to make mistakes.

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