The concept of Yoga in Yoga Upanishads
by Philomina T.L | 2018 | 42,235 words
This page relates ‘The Concept of Maya (according to the Yoga-Upanishads)’ of study dealing with the evolution and significance of Yoga as reflected in the Yoga-Upanishads, a collection of authoritative texts dedicated to the concept of Yoga (spiritual discipline). The thesis traces the origins of the practice back to pre-Vedic times and and suggests that Yoga became a philosophical system following the creation of the Yogasutras.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
4.3. The Concept of Māyā (according to the Yoga-Upaniṣads)
The Yogopaniṣads provide a brief description on the concept of māyā. Based on the vedantic concepts or like.
The Varāhopaniṣad describes the features of māyā as:
ājñānāndhatamorūpa karmadharmādilakṣaṇaṃ || [1]
which means that māyā is ajñāna which is in the form of tamas, karma and dharma that are regarded as the reflections of māyā. This māyā is applied to the one entity jīva that is felt differently.
Again māyāis treated as the cause of jīva and Īśvara.
svapūrṇātmātirekeṇa jagajjīveśvarādayaḥ |
na santi nāsti māyā ca tebhyaścāhaṃ vilakṣaṇaḥ || [2]
This māyā exists only in the vyāvahārika form.
It has real existence. It is stated in the Pāśupatabrāhmaṇopaniṣad as,
svaprakāśaikasaṃsiddhe nāsti māyā parātmani |
vyavahārikadṛṣṭavyeyaṃ vidyāvidyā na cānyathā || [3]
The existence of māyā is felt because of the misconception generated among the people. This upaniṣad ascertains that whatever exists besides ātma is regarded as the outcome of māyā itself.
It is also described in the Darśanopaniṣad as:
nityaḥ sarvagato hyātmā kūṭastho doṣavarjitaḥ |
ekaḥ san bhidyate bhrāntyā māyayā na svarūpataḥ |[4]
Meaning that the only one ātma (kūḍhastaḥ)is treated as different through māyā; and this is mentioned in the Pāśupatabrahmanopaniṣad also.[5]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Var.Up.II. 12
[2]:
Ibid.II.11
[3]:
Ibid 14-15
[4]:
Darśanpaniṣad 10.1-2
[5]:
Pāś.U.2-5