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What exactly is Yogamaya and Mahamaya?
- Thread starter Terese
- Start date
तत्त्वप्रह्व
स्वभावस्थं निरावेशम्
The term māyā refers to nārāyaṇa's will, that which functions thru' the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas) is referred to as mahāmāyā and that which is kṛṣṇa's personal potency that is beyond the guṇas is called yogamāyā. The former binds the jīvas, the latter is employed by kṛṣṇa when say, taking avatāra, therefore, kṛṣṇa has no prākṛta (~material) body even during avatāras like rāma, varāha etc. Jīvas on the other hand depend on the māyā of guṇas for every aspect of their functioning.
Guṇamayī (~imbued with guṇa) māyā reverts upon achieving mokṣa, but the īśvara governs even the muktajīvas thru' yogamāya, nevertheless, both are equally real. Again guṇamayī māya is of two types - svarūpācchādika (~that which stops jīvas from realising their true form) and paramācchādika (~that which makes the vision of antaryāmin impossible). These are the causes of the effects of various paraphernalia of bondage of jīvas - dehābhimāna (identifying with the body), kartṛtvābhimāna (assuming doer-ship) etc; these are so strong that many chant nārāyaṇa charaṇau (at holy feet of nārāya.ã) śaraṇaṁ prapadye (i surrender) and then claim that "I" chanted 36 rounds of so and so mantra, the exact opposite of what surrender means! Chanting is sattva-guṇa but the assumption of doer-ship leads only to further bondage.
नारायणायेतिसमर्पयामि ।
Guṇamayī (~imbued with guṇa) māyā reverts upon achieving mokṣa, but the īśvara governs even the muktajīvas thru' yogamāya, nevertheless, both are equally real. Again guṇamayī māya is of two types - svarūpācchādika (~that which stops jīvas from realising their true form) and paramācchādika (~that which makes the vision of antaryāmin impossible). These are the causes of the effects of various paraphernalia of bondage of jīvas - dehābhimāna (identifying with the body), kartṛtvābhimāna (assuming doer-ship) etc; these are so strong that many chant nārāyaṇa charaṇau (at holy feet of nārāya.ã) śaraṇaṁ prapadye (i surrender) and then claim that "I" chanted 36 rounds of so and so mantra, the exact opposite of what surrender means! Chanting is sattva-guṇa but the assumption of doer-ship leads only to further bondage.
नारायणायेतिसमर्पयामि ।
Yogamaya (and maybe Mahamaya) are also names given to Durga when she took birth along with Krishna, in order to fool Kamsa. When Kamsa grabbed the baby (Durga) to throw her on the ground to kill her, she flew up out of his hand, took on her divine multi-armed form and told him "you fool, the agent of your death is already born and safely hidden away". Then she disappeared (with Kamsa probably pooping in his dhoti). Because she was born as Krishna's sister, she is called Nārāyanī, sister of Nārāyana. Srimad Bhagavata Purana Canto X
When you stop and think about it, Vishnu and Shiva are brothers-in-law, Lakshmi and Durga/Parvati are sisters-in-law. So yeah, one big happy divine family. That also makes Ganesha and Murugan Vishnu and Lakshmi's nephews. I don't even want to think about how Ayyappa fits in there.
When you stop and think about it, Vishnu and Shiva are brothers-in-law, Lakshmi and Durga/Parvati are sisters-in-law. So yeah, one big happy divine family. That also makes Ganesha and Murugan Vishnu and Lakshmi's nephews. I don't even want to think about how Ayyappa fits in there.
Thank you for your detailed answer
May i ask is yogamaya and mahamaya higher than each other in any way? Does Lord Krishna only have yogamaya? Is there a part of a scripture i can read about this?
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Vinidra
Jai Mata Di!
I think "Mahamaya" is used for a lot of forms of Shakti. I know it's included in Maa Saraswati's 108 names, and it shows up in various forms in the Chandi, too, I believe.Yogamaya (and maybe Mahamaya) are also names given to Durga when she took birth along with Krishna, in order to fool Kamsa. When Kamsa grabbed the baby (Durga) to throw her on the ground to kill her, she flew up out of his hand, took on her divine multi-armed form and told him "you fool, the agent of your death is already born and safely hidden away". Then she disappeared (with Kamsa probably pooping in his dhoti). Because she was born as Krishna's sister, she is called Nārāyanī, sister of Nārāyana. Srimad Bhagavata Purana Canto X
When you stop and think about it, Vishnu and Shiva are brothers-in-law, Lakshmi and Durga/Parvati are sisters-in-law. So yeah, one big happy divine family. That also makes Ganesha and Murugan Vishnu and Lakshmi's nephews. I don't even want to think about how Ayyappa fits in there.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Fits variously as everything in Hinduism does (as Ganesha and Murugan do).I don't even want to think about how Ayyappa fits in there.
Sure, 'Mahā', as the name indicates and as Tattva has explained (Paramāchhādikā) is greater, so to say, the final shadow'er. All 'maya' is Krishna's only, who else is there? (Note: I am a village Hindu and do not claim to be a 'shastragna', one who knows shastras in and out).Thank you for your detailed answer
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तत्त्वप्रह्व
स्वभावस्थं निरावेशम्
Yogamāya is higher, being the personal power of bhagavān. Mahāmāyā functions powered by bhagavān's will thru' lakṣmī.
Kṛṣṇa = nārāyaṇa = rāma = (say) varāha alone possesses yogamāyā for the even lakṣmī and other jīvas derive their potencies thru' nārāyaṇa alone, yet are never considered to be possessors of yogamāyā.
Pāncarātra texts (most have english translations available online) would be best references, esp. lakṣṃī tantra (relatively easier to understand yet introduces many usually unrevealed aspects).
भारतीरमणमुख्यप्राणान्तर्गतश्रीकृष्णार्पणमस्तु ।
What do you mean personal power? Why through Lakshmi? Thank you for pointing the direction to the Pancharatra texts.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Simple answer - the conduit in Hinduism is only through Shakti, female power. Even the Male Gods powered by females, so to say. Balance.