Author Description
The Idea Of Māyā Pervades Indian Philosophy. It Is Enigmatic, Multivalent, And Foundational, With Its Oldest Referents Found In The Rig Veda. This Book Explores Māyā's Rich Conceptual History, And Then Focuses On The Highly Developed Theology Of Māyā Found In The Sanskrit Bhāgavata Purāṇa, One Of The Most Important Hindu Sacred Texts. Gopal K. Gupta Examines Māyā's Role In The Bhāgavata's Narratives, Paying Special Attention To Its Relationship With Other Key Concepts In The Text, Such As Human Suffering (duḥkha), Devotion (bhakti), And Divine Play (līlā). In The Bhāgavata, Māyā Is Often Identified As The Divine Feminine, And Has A Far-reaching Influence. For Example, Māyā Is Both The World And The Means By Which God Creates The World, As Well As The Facilitator Of God's Play, Paradoxically Revealing Him To His Devotees By Concealing His Majesty. While Vedānta Philosophy Typically Sees Māyā As A Negative Force, The Bhāgavata Affirms That Māyā Also Has A Positive Role, As Māyā Is Ultimately Meant To Draw Living Beings Toward Krishna And Intensify Their Devotion To Him.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the complex theological function and conceptual evolution of Māyā within the Sanskrit Bhāgavata Purāṇa. Author Gopal K. Gupta examines the historical trajectory of this term from its Vedic origins to its specific application in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. He argues that the text presents a unique, positive interpretation of Māyā, framing it not merely as an illusory force but as a divine instrument that facilitates devotion and connects the living being to Krishna.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A conceptual history of Māyā from the Rig Veda to the Puranic period.
- An analysis of the relationship between Māyā and concepts such as duḥkha (suffering), bhakti (devotion), and līlā (divine play).
- An examination of the divine feminine aspect of Māyā within the Bhāgavata narrative framework.
Scope Limits
- The study does not provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of Māyā across all schools of Indian philosophy.
- The text focuses primarily on the Bhāgavata Purāṇa rather than a broad survey of all Puranic literature.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of Hindu theology recognize this work as a focused contribution to the study of Vaishnava philosophy. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the prose and the author's ability to synthesize complex Sanskrit concepts for a contemporary audience.
Page Count:
256
Publication Date:
2020-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192599054
ISBN-13:
9780192599056
Religion
Philosophy
Sanskrit
Hinduism
Theology