Māyā in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa

Download or read book Māyā in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa written by Gopal K. Gupta and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Maya is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic concepts in Indian philosophy, encompassing mystery, illusion, devotion, and indeed, the world itself. Maya is found throughout Hindu texts, from the earliest scriptures, such as the Rg - Veda, up to the most recent. This book explores maya's rich conceptual history, and then focuses on the highly developed theology of maya found in the Sanskrit Bhagavata Purana, one of the most influential Hindu sacred texts. Gopal K. Gupta examines maya's role in the Bhagavata, paying special attention to its relationship with human suffering (dukkha) and divine play (lila). While Indian traditions typically see maya as a negative force that mires living beings in the phenomenal world, Gupta explores how the Bhagavata identifies maya as the divine feminine and affirms that maya also has a positive role, as maya is ultimately meant to draw living beings toward God (Krishna) and intensify their love for him. Book jacket.