According to Hindu scriptures even thousands of years of rituals and penance are useless until and unless Brahman is known.
"About the importance of knowing Brahman, Yajnavalkya said-"In this world, one without knowing the imperishable, may offer oblations into fire, perform sacrifices, practice austerities for thousands of years (but still) find all such acts unproductive (of result). Also, whoever departs from this world (meets death) without knowing the imperishable, is miserable, but he who departs after knowing, that as a knower of Brahman (Brahmavit), attains to Brahman."