Category: philosophyPart of speech: nounDifficulty: IntermediateRecommended for ★ UPSC
माया
/māyā/Roman
English meaning: illusion, cosmic illusion, magical power
Sanskrit Definition
(संस्कृतम्)यया जगत् सत्यवत् प्रतीयते सा ब्रह्मशक्तिः।
English Definition
The illusory power that causes the phenomenal world to appear as ultimate reality.
Example
“माया एव जगतः मूलकारणम् अस्ति।”
In English: “Maya is the root cause of the phenomenal world.”
Synonyms
- अविद्या
- मिथ्या
- इन्द्रजालम्
Antonyms / Opposites
- सत्यम्
- विद्या
- ज्ञानम्
Literary Heritage
“मन्दः कवियशः प्रार्थी गमिष्याम्युपहास्यताम्। प्रांशुलभ्ये फले लोभादुद्बाहुरिव वामनः।।”
/Mandah kaviyashah prarthhi gamishyamyupahasytam. Pramshu-labhe phale lobhadud-bahur iva vamanah./
“Feeble-minded yet aspiring to a poet's fame, I go to be ridiculed — like a dwarf reaching for high fruit.”
“रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः”
/Ramo vigrahavan dharmah sadhuh satya-parakramah/
“Rama is righteousness incarnate — virtuous and true in valour.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useLoading images…
Video
Language information
- Language
- संस्कृतम्
- Sanskrit
- Script
- Devanagari
- Family
- Indo-Aryan
- Speakers
- 5M