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Yoga Sutra 1.8
विपर्ययो मिथ्याज्ञानमतद्रूपप्रतिष्ठम् ॥८॥
viparyayo mithyājñānamatadrūpapratiṣṭham ॥8॥
- viparyayah: misconception
- mithyā: false, illusory
- jñānam: knowledge
- atat: not its own
- rūpa: form
- pratiṣṭham: based
- Wrong conception is false knowledge which is not based on its own form.
- OR
- Misconception is illusory knowledge based on mistaking a particular form for something completely different.
Viparyaya - misconception is false knowledge which we need to overcome. For example, when we mistake a rope for a snake, the knowledge is incorrect, because it's a rope mistaken for a snake. This can be avoided with adequate light.
Hence it is important that we don't mistake things for something else.
Viparyaya is also known as avidya, because it is based on a misunderstanding of the real nature of purusha and prakriti. It can be replaced by viveka which brings correct understanding of the true nature of purusha and prakriti.
References
- Four Chapters on Freedom by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, published in 1976.
- Viparyaya
