Maya (माया)
Maya (माया | māyā) is the inert cosmic power of God through which the material world is created, sustained, and governed under God's control.
The Vedic scriptures categorically state that Maya is a power of God. It is also called Prakriti.
God and the soul are conscious, but Maya is inert. Maya cannot act independently. It performs the work of creation, concealment, attraction, bondage, and material functioning only because God Himself controls and wields it.
Maya is endowed with three material modes, called gunas:
- Sattva — the mode of purity and righteousness
- Rajas — the mode of passion and activity
- Tamas — the mode of ignorance and darkness
Maya also functions through two major aspects:
- Swaroopavarika Maya — the aspect that makes the soul forget its true identity and become attracted to the material world.
- Gunavarika Maya — the sattva aspect of Maya, which can be crossed only by the grace of God.
The body, senses, mind, intellect, and the entire material world are made of Maya. Being material, they are inert. The body, senses, mind, and intellect appear conscious and perform their functions because of the presence of the conscious soul.
Maya is not independent of God, opposed to God, or equal to God. It is His external power, fully governed by Him.
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- Is Maya a Friend or a Foe?
- Why the Material World Can Never Give Stability
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