maya
UK[ˈmaɪə]US[ˈmɑːjə]
n
The supernatural power wielded by gods and demons to produce illusions in Hinduism.
n
The illusion or appearance of the phenomenal world, regarded in Vedantic philosophy as ultimately unreal.
Etymology
The word 'maya' is a direct borrowing from Sanskrit माया (māyā), which originally denoted supernatural power, magic, or illusion. In Vedic texts, it referred to the creative power of the gods to shape reality. Within the philosophical framework of Vedanta, the term evolved to signify the fundamental cosmic illusion—the veiling power that causes the phenomenal world to be perceived as separate from the ultimate reality of Brahman. This journey from a concept of divine magic to a profound metaphysical principle illustrates the term's deep integration into Indian spiritual thought before its adoption into English.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Sanskrit. It is not productively segmented using English morphemes.
Examples
The concept of maya teaches that the physical world is not the ultimate truth.
The guru spoke about seeing beyond the veil of maya to achieve enlightenment.
In the story, the demon used his maya to create a magnificent but illusory palace.