What is Maya?

Maya is considered by many philosophers as illusion, God being the only truth. In this connection, see the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(illusion)

Yes link has lot of meaning of Maya but not giving exact details. I think personal thoughts will be more interesting.

Personally, I do not believe in theory of maya. If this were true, all labor in scientific research and other human pursuits would be devoid of any meaning. The concept of 'maya' has been borrowed from the phenomenon of dream. In sleep, we do not find dream as illusion. similarly, real life is considered illusion or maya though we may feel this real.

In this connection, i remember an anecdote by Osho in his book 'The beginning of beginning'. Osh was sitting with a Sadhu, who proclaimed that the world is maya. Some insect bit the Sadhu and he began crying. Osho asked: why you cry. The bite is also maya and not real.

The main difference between a dream and real life is: Real life is same for all of us. Dream is personal.

We can make material progress and gain happiness only by discarding the notion of maya. Such concepts retard progress and cripple society.

Santosh maya can also be considered as a magic. We can see in old movies this one.

As per my point of view everything is Maya except true and God. Thinks which is temparary is Maya.

Although the English equivalent is thought to be illusion but it is more than that.The subjective reality as we experience come closer to it!

As per my point of view everything is Maya except true and God. Thinks which is temparary is Maya.

If 'maya' is same as 'temporary',this is okay. 'temporary' and 'illusion' differ. As a matter of fact nothing in life is permanent. Everything is temporary. But only individuals' existence is temporary. There is a continuity. From Adam to current generation, there is a continuity. The human race has survived since time immemorial though each individual may be temporary. Thus, the concept of 'maya' cannot be agreed to. Our life is real and future generations will continue this.

As per my point of view everything is Maya except true and God. Thinks which is temparary is Maya.

Everyone in the world will say the same thing about Maya, if he is asked.
Actually, is there anything in the world which can be named Maya. I don't know.
If I am asked to define Maya, I will say all lies of the world, which we believe to be true can be termed 'Maya'.
Any suggestions?

For one, it is the supernatural power wielded by gods and demons to produce illusions, which throws us puny human beings off tracks!
Maya can also be described as the power by which the universe becomes manifest.

If you are interested, read this link http://www.exoticindia.co.in/article/maya/

it has given beautiful illustrations from Mahabharata to explain what is maya!

Nice link shared Kalyani Thanks for sharing exact details related to Maya I hope other also will get advantage of this discussion.

Santosh maya can also be considered as a magic. We can see in old movies this one.

Maya- also means magical power. That is why the Rakshas in Ramayan were called 'mayavee. Ravana, Meghnad and Mareech were vested with many magical powers and so considered 'mayavee. We can definitely see this in many old movies. I remember one movie- maya muchander.

Maya- also means 'wealth'. Hence there is a Hindi proverb- maya mili na raam )meaning you got neither wealth nor God)

Yes Maya is also found in form of magical power but in current day we can say money, world, persons ,houses etc everything is form of Maya.

In Vedic philosophy, maya (Sanskrit: ma: not, ya: this) is the illusion of a limited, purely physical and mental reality in which our everyday consciousness has become entangled, a veiling of the true, unitary Self. One must seek to “pierce the veil” in order to glimpse the transcendent truth.In Hinduism, Maya must be seen through in order to achieve moksha (liberation of the soul from the cycle of death and rebirth). Maya is seen as the phenomenal universe, a lesser reality-lens superimposed on the one Brahman that leads us to think of the phenomenal cosmos as real. Maya is also visualized as part of the Divine Mother (Devi) concept of Hinduism. Maya is a lesser reality that must be overcome so that one is able to realize his or her true Self.

Dear Smirity

You define Maya well . One other Maya we know very well is Mayavati (Chief minister of Uttar pradesh)

Yeah.She is a Maya for which I have no definition nor any explanation....... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Dear Smirity

You define Maya well . One other Maya we know very well is Mayavati (Chief minister of Uttar pradesh)

I wish 'mayavati' could make the people of U.P. mayavan (wealthy) by inspiring them to be more skillful and hardworking.

Yes Gulshan Sir has explain this word maya in well manner i think you problem might be solved.

Everything is Maya so it will never resolved it will continue till the END. To understand Maya is fully is difficult.

I think with a software engineer's point of view this is Maya. I am sure you'r not talking about moh-maya here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk_Maya

I think with a software engineer's point of view this is Maya. I am sure you'r not talking about moh-maya here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk_Maya

:laugh: :lol: :D when i seen the post i too think about maya software., i missed this thread totally. Very nice wonderful information shared here. Kalyani mam link is very useful thanks.