Māyā in Śaṅkarācārya’s Advaita Vedānta

 1. Māyā — Neither Real nor Unreal (Anirvacanīya)

Śaṅkara describes Māyā as indefinable (anirvacanīya):

न चास्ति न नास्ति न च भिन्नं न चाभिन्नम्। अनिरवचनीयं हि मायामित्युपाध्यते॥
na cāsti na nāsti na cha bhinnaṃ na cābhinnam | aniravacanīyaṃ hi māyāmiti upādhyate||
Meaning: “Māyā is not real, not unreal; not different, not non-different—it defies categorization.”

This means the world is empirically seen, but ultimately veils Brahman.

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2. The Two Powers of Māyā: Concealment and Projection

In Vivekacūḍāmaṇi (vv. 110–118), Śaṅkara outlines:

A. Avarana-Śakti (Concealing Power)

Veils Brahman, causing spiritual ignorance (avidyā).

B. Vikṣepa-Śakti (Projecting Power)

Projects names and forms, leading to attachment and bondage.

**स एव मायायाः परमे शक्रियः …**
sa eva māyāyāḥ parame śaktiḥ …
— (Vivekacūḍāmaṇi 110)

विक्षेपश्चैवास्य क्षेत्रं ज्ञानविपरीतम्।
(Vivekacūḍāmaṇi 113–14)

Example: A dim light makes a rope look like a snake:

• Avarana hides the knowledge it’s a rope.

• Vikṣepa projects the snake-image onto it.

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3. Three Levels of Reality

Śaṅkara’s distinctions:

Reality Level	Sanskrit	Description
Illusory	Prātibhāsika	E.g., snake-rope error—real in appearance, false in reality.
Empirical	Vyāvahārika	The world in pragmatic experience.
Absolute	Pāramārthika	Ultimately only Brahman exists.

Ultimately, only Brahman—unchanging, pure consciousness—is real.

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4. Discrimination (Viveka): The Path to Truth

Śaṅkara urges seekers to cultivate viveka—discrimination between real and unreal.
He says:

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्येत्येवं रूपो विश्वासः।
brahma satyaṃ jaganmithyety evaṃ rūpo viśvāsaḥ|
(Vivekacūḍāmaṇi 20)

 

“A firm conviction that Brahman is real and the world is unreal: this is vero‐discrimination.”

Then:

**अर्थस्य निश्चयो दृष्टो विचारेण हितोक्तितः …**
arthasya niścayo dṛṣṭo vicāreṇa hitoktitaḥ…
(22)
“The truth is known by reflection, reasoning, and instruction—not by ritual or mere religious acts.”

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5. Everyday Examples That Shine Light on Māyā

Example	What It Teaches
Dream	Seemed real until dawn—like Maya.
Mirage in desert	Appears real—yet has no substance.
Movie	Emotions stirred—yet you return to the theatre exit unchanged.

In each case, initial conviction is overturned by knowledge.

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6. Path of Realization: Hear → Reflect → Meditate

Śaṅkara stresses the Sādhana Chatuṣṭaya and Shravana-Manana-Nididhyāsana:

• Śravaṇa (श्रवण) – Hear Mahāvākyas (“Tat tvam asi”).

• Manana (मनन) – Reflect: “If Brahman is changeless, can it be the body?”

• Nididhyāsana (निदिध्यासन) – Meditate: “I am Brahman.”

Once ignorance is removed, the illusion dissolves and Self‑realization dawns