THE Doctrine of Maya - HolyBooks.com
THE Doctrine of Maya - HolyBooks.com
THE Doctrine of Maya - HolyBooks.com
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""""""""""""""""""""HISTORY OF <strong>THE</strong> WORD "MAYA" 31underlying mystery being more emphasizedlater on, it came to mean in A.V.(2) Magic, illusion. And, further, we saw thatin the Brahmanas and the Upanisads alsoit meant(3) illusion, and that this meaning was moreand more fixed subsequently,till in thetime <strong>of</strong> Sankara it was established beyonddoubt. The sense <strong>of</strong> illusionmay easilybe found to exist in form even in the Vedicusage <strong>of</strong> the term, e.g., where in the R.V.it meant power or skill italways meant"supernatural" or "wondrous" power andnot the ordinary physical power.XThe idea <strong>of</strong> mystery or wonder always waspresent, and it is this very element that in its developed form gives the sense <strong>of</strong> illusion or appearance." The idea <strong>of</strong> magic in A.V. formed alink between the old meaning <strong>of</strong> supernaturalpower and the modern one <strong>of</strong> appearance orillusion." As we have, already pointed out,maya has been viewed principally from twoaspectsAs (1) the principle <strong>of</strong> creation maya as acause corresponding to the sense <strong>of</strong> sakti(wondrous power), or(2) As the phenomenal creation itself mayaas an effect corresponding to the sense <strong>of</strong>illusion,"appearance,"etc.This short summary, we hope, will suffice as an