History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s2.2

v1.c7.s2.2

There is a story in the *Chândogya Upaniṣad*¹ whose value in support of our view cannot be over-estimated. It is said that once upon a time Nârada approached the sage Sanatkumâra and begged of him the *Brahma-vidyâ* or the supreme knowledge. Sanatkumâra asked Nârada to state what sciences and arts he had already studied so that he (Sanatkumâra) might judge what still remained to be learnt by him. Thereupon Nârada enumerated the various sciences and arts studied by him. This list included astronomy (*nakṣatra-vidyâ*) and arithmetic (*râśi-vidyâ*). Thus the culture of the science of mathematics or of any other branch of secular knowledge, was not considered to be a hindrance to spiritual knowledge. In fact, *Aparâ-vidyâ* ("secular knowledge") was then considered to be a helpful adjunct to *Parâ-vidyâ* ("spiritual knowledge").¹