To comprehend the true meaning of the term Vijnana, two great teachers. Pandit Madhusudan Ojha and Pandit Motilal Shastri, advise the student to first break it down into its literal connotations. The syllable Vi, used as a prefix to the word Jnana, is capable of conveying three meanings: special (Vishesh) knowledge; the variety (Vividham) of knowledge; and also perverted knowledge (Viruddham). Negative or perverse knowledge is indicated by the word Ajnana and special knowledge is conveyed by the word Jnana.
Vijnana Means 'variety of knowledge' or, to be more exact, the knowledge of variety. The knowledge of how this variegated and diverse universe is subsumed into one fundamental source in Jnana. Read the full text here