माया (Māyā) - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Maya: Maya is a complex concept in South Asian religions, often described as illusion, cosmic trickery, or the power that makes the universe appear as it does to human consciousness. But is it simply "illusion," as commonly translated? Question that assumption, for maya veils and reveals simultaneously, intriguing thinkers for millennia.
The earliest seeds of the concept appear in the Rigveda (c. 1500-1200 BCE), where maya is associated with Indra, used to describe his capacity to assume different forms, suggesting a divine power of transformation. The era of the Rigveda was one of ritual innovation and philosophical probing, reflecting a civilization grappling with fundamental questions about reality and human existence.
Over time, particularly in the Upanishads (c. 800-500 BCE) and later in Vedanta philosophy, maya evolved into a more profound concept: the principle responsible for the perceived duality and multiplicity of the world. The world seems real yet is ultimately not as it appears. The great philosopher Shankara (c. 788-820 CE) further elaborated maya as an inexplicable power veiling the ultimate reality of Brahman. Consider the intricate dance of the raslila, where Krishna multiplies himself to dance with each gopi, is it not a theatrical display of maya suggesting something more profound beneath the play of appearances?
Today, maya continues to resonate. From philosophical discussions about the nature of reality to symbolic uses in art, literature, and popular culture, it compels us to examine our perceptions. Is our everyday experience merely a veil, obscuring a deeper truth? Perhaps the real illusion lies not in maya itself, but in our failure to look beyond it. What realities might we perceive if we dared to question the fabric of our perceived world?