Vedas are at the root of Sanathana Dharma.  The Vedas are a series of verses that request the almighty for bestowing peace, tranquility and eternity.  These are very ancient poetically written verses in Sanskrit.

"Veda" means to KNOW. The four parts of the Vedas - Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva.

KNOWLEDGE is considered the key to evolution of man and the freedom from bondage of transcience into a completely self sustaining and totally independant existence.  

One of the three paths to attainment of permenance is the GNANAM or the path of acquiring KNOWLEDGE.  

It is essential to understand what it is to KNOW and equally importantly, the KNOWER. 

But first it is important to understand what the scriptures and Paramathma, say can be attained by KNOWING. 

Knowing does not mean DISCOVERY.  What is to be known by us is already known. What is already known, but has been hidden from us, is to be known.

Knowing implies that we know the TRUTH.  So there are multiple situations and multiple objects, people, events that we come across during our lives. These come and go at an incredibly quick pace. Most of what goes past our senses is what the Paramathma refers to as MAYA, or illusion.  However, within this sequence of illusory flow of events and people lies embedded what is known as the TRUTH.

TRUTH IS THAT WHICH DOES NOT DEPEND ON ANY OTHER OBJECT, PERSON OR EVENT.  IT IS COMPLETELY SELF SUSTAINING, PERMENANT, and is not influenced by any force, no matter how big or small.

SO TRUTH CAN ONLY BE ATTAINED BY KNOWING. 

KNOWING implies LEARNING.  A number of mistakes have to be made prior to reaching the correct path. We learn from mistakes.  

THE STRUGGLE TO ATTAIN THE CORRECT PATH THROUGH KNOWING IS THE JOURNEY OF LIFE.

The second major question is - WHO IS THE KNOWER?

The answer may seem obvious at first. The obvious answer is "I" or "ME".  But what or who is this "I".  The question arises because we as individuals are made up of many component parts.  These include - 1. the body and all its components, 2. the mind, 3. the senses, 4. our consciousness, and 5. our will power. 

It is important to know the center of learning within us.  The reason that this needs to be known is for us to realize that we hold the keys to unlock the door of ignorance. Remember, knowledge of the truth already exists out there. we have to merely allow it to flow into us and pervade our consciousness. 

One of the fundemental cornerstones of learning is the acknowedgement that "I dont know but am willing to learn". This is anaclnowledgement that the observed world as understood to represent the form of the Paramathma is the eternal teacher. 

So there are two challenges - one is to perceive the events and objects of the external world and the other is to recognize that force or center within us that actually has the capability to KNOW.

When put in the form of an equation, Know = Known + Knower

To KNOW may mean different things depending on where we are in life.  To those who are seeking the basic requirements to lead a life, it would mean worldy knowledge relating to attainment of Physical and Financial Stability. To those seeking to become leaders of men, knowlwdge would mean the ability to organize teams, build trust and dedication and obtain maximum material output from those that work for them. This is worldly knowledge.

The primary vehicle with which to learn and evolve out of this painful human condition is regerred to as the MIND or MANAS.   One of the main characteristics of the human mind is the ability to KNOW.  

Essentially, knowledge is the conscious awareness of the Truth that already exists and is waiting to be "discovered" by the conscious mind.

To go one step further, because what needs to be known is the TRUTH, it is something that is unchanging. Anything that is unchanging cannot be located in the perceived "external" world.  This is because the external world is characterized by change and cannot exist when change ceases.

The KNOWLEDGE that the Paramathma wants us to acquire is KNOWLEDGE of the SELF.  

Knowledge implies complete control. So according to the shastras, if one acquired knowledge of a particular object or subject, one should be able to control that object or subject.