Mayaमाया

Maya is the concept of cosmic illusion or the power that makes the phenomenal world appear real, diverse, and separate from the underlying unity of Brahman. Adi Shankaracharya's Advaita Vedanta describes Maya as neither real nor unreal (Mithya) — it exists experientially but dissolves upon spiritual realization, like a rope mistaken for a snake in dim light. Maya operates through two powers: Avarana Shakti (veiling power, which hides the true nature of Brahman) and Vikshepa Shakti (projecting power, which creates the appearance of multiplicity). Maya is not evil — it is the creative power of Brahman (also called Shakti or Prakriti) that enables the divine play (Lila) of creation. Transcending Maya through Jnana (knowledge) is a primary path to Moksha.