Tattvabodha | The Universe and Maya Flashcards
Māyā
The power of illusion; creates the appearance of duality in the non-dual Brahman.
Brahman
The ultimate reality
Trigunātmikā
The threefold nature of Māyā
Consisting of the three guṇas: sattva, rajas, and tamas.
Guṇas
The fundamental qualities of nature
Sattva (purity), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia).
Sattva
The quality of balance, light, and purity
Rajas
The quality of activity, desire, and dynamism
Causes movement and change.
Tamas
The quality of darkness, inertia, and ignorance
Causes confusion and inactivity.
Upādhi
A limiting adjunct
Something that conditions or limits the infinite Brahman.
Ishvara
Brahman associated with Māyā
The controller and creator of the universe.
Jīva
The individual soul
Jagat
The universe or world
The manifested creation of Māyā.
Sṛṣṭi
Creation
The process by which the universe is manifested through Māyā.
Avidyā
Upādāna Kāraṇa
Material cause
The substance from which something is made, here referring to Māyā as the material cause of the universe.
Nimitta Kāraṇa
Efficient cause
The agent or intelligence behind creation, here referring to Īśvara.
Vikshepa Śakti
The projecting power of Māyā
Creates the illusion of the world and duality.
