feminine ignorance; the main root of evil and of continual rebirth (see paṭicca-samuppāda, cp. SN.ii.6, SN.ii.9, SN.ii.12; Snp.p.141 & many other passages) See on term; Cpd. 83 n. 3, 187 sq, 262 sq. & for further detail; vijjā. avijjā is termed an anusaya (DN.iii.254, DN.iii.282; SN.iv.205, SN.iv.208 sq., SN.iv.212); it is one of the āsavā (Vin.iii.4; DN.i.84; DN.iii.216; Iti.49; Dhs.1100, Dhs.1109), of the oghā (DN.iii.230, DN.iii.276; Dhs.390, Dhs.1061, Dhs.1162), of the nīvaraṇāni (SN.ii.23; AN.i.223; Iti.8; Dhs.1162, Dhs.1486), of the saṃyojanāni (DN.iii.254; Dhs.1131, Dhs.1460). See for various characterisatons the foll. passages: Vin.i.1; Vin.iii.3; DN.iii.212 DN.iii.230, DN.iii.234, DN.iii.274; MN.i.54, MN.i.67, MN.i.144; SN.ii.4, SN.ii.26, SN.ii.263; SN.iii.47 SN.iii.162; SN.iv.256; SN.v.52; AN.i.8, AN.i.285; AN.ii.132, AN.ii.158, AN.ii.247; AN.iii.84 sq. AN.iii.414; AN.iv.228; Iti.34 (yā kāc’ imā duggatiyo asmiṃ loke paramhi ca avijjāmūlakā sabbā icchā-lobha-sammussayā), Iti.57, Iti.81; Snp.199, Snp.277, Snp.729 (jāti-maraṇa-saṃsāraṃ ye vajanti punappunaṃ… avijjāy’eva sā gati), Snp.730, Snp.1026, Snp.1033 (avijjāya nivuto loko); Dhp.243; Cnd.99; Pp.21; Dhs.390 Dhs.1061, Dhs.1162; Dhp-a.iii.350; Dhp-a.iv.161 (˚paligha).
Sk. avidyā; fr. a + vid