Maya (religion)

Maya (/ˈmɑːjə/; Devanagari: माया, IAST: māyā), literally "illusion" or "magic",^[1]^[2]^[3] has multiple meanings in Indian philosophies depending on the context. In later Vedic texts, māyā connotes a "magic show, an illusion where things appear to be present but are not what they seem";^[2]^[4] the principle which shows "attributeless Absolute" as having "attributes".^[3] Māyā also connotes that which "is constantly changing and thus is spiritually unreal" (in opposition to an unchanging Absolute, or Brahman), and therefore "conceals the true character of spiritual reality".^[5]^[6]

In the Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy, māyā, "appearance",^[7] is "the powerful force that creates the cosmic illusion that the phenomenal world is real".^[8] In this nondualist school, māyā at the individual level appears as the lack of knowledge (avidyā) of the real Self, Atman-Brahman, mistakingly identifying with the body-mind complex and its entanglements.^[8]

In Buddhist philosophy, māyā is one of twenty subsidiary unwholesome mental factors, responsible for deceit or concealment about the illusionary nature of things.^[9]^[10]

Māyā is also an epithet, or a manifestation of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi,^[11] the consort of Vishnu, who is sometimes revered as a personification of the Absolute. Māyā was also the name of Gautama Buddha's mother.^[12]

^ Buswell & Lopez 2013, p. 535.
^ ^a ^b Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 433. ISBN 9780823931798.
^ ^a ^b Grimes 1996, p. 189.
^ Cite error: The named reference sb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ M Hiriyanna (2000), The Essentials of Indian Philosophy, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120813304, pp. 25, 160-161
^ Lynn Foulston and Stuart Abbott (2009), Hindu Goddesses: Beliefs and Practices, Sussex Academic Press, ISBN 978-1902210438, pp. 14-16.
^ Cite error: The named reference Shastri was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b "Maya". Encyclopedia Britannica.
^ Guenther (1975), Kindle Locations 900–901.
^ Kunsang (2004), p. 25.
^ Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 405. ISBN 9780823931798.
^ "mAyA". Sanskrit and Tamil Dictionaries. Retrieved 24 August 2016.

[FOOTNOTEBuswellLopez2013535-1] Buswell & Lopez 2013, p. 535.

[:0-2] Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 433. ISBN 9780823931798.

[FOOTNOTEGrimes1996189-3] Grimes 1996, p. 189.

[sb-4] Cite error: The named reference sb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] M Hiriyanna (2000), The Essentials of Indian Philosophy, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120813304, pp. 25, 160-161

[lynnfoulston-6] Lynn Foulston and Stuart Abbott (2009), Hindu Goddesses: Beliefs and Practices, Sussex Academic Press, ISBN 978-1902210438, pp. 14-16.

[Shastri-7] Cite error: The named reference Shastri was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[auto1-8] "Maya". Encyclopedia Britannica.

[g1-9] Guenther (1975), Kindle Locations 900–901.

[eric1-10] Kunsang (2004), p. 25.

[11] Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 405. ISBN 9780823931798.

[:1-12] "mAyA". Sanskrit and Tamil Dictionaries. Retrieved 24 August 2016.

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