Discernment: A story about Maya
Eastern Wisdom Weekly #5: A beautiful story on Maya, that shows us the difference between the real and imaginary.
Happy Tuesday everyone🌞 Let’s delve into a story about Maya. The Sanskrit word Maya (pronounced Maaya) means an illusion. Illusion of how things work in reality, of what we think is always permanent, and what’s not. This story begins with Lord Krishna (8th avatar of Lord Vishnu) and Narada (a sage and ardent devotee of Vishnu), who were once having a conversation. Sage Narada was confused about the concept of Maya, so he wanted to ask the master about it.
Narada: Lord, I had some confusion about the concept of Maya. I am not able to understand it. What is Maya? I have heard Maya can influence not only humans but even gods.
Krishna: Narada, Maya is a very tricky concept. It needs a very elaborate understanding. I can explain you but first let’s go on a trip. Do you mind coming with me?
Narada: Lord, I will be really glad to go on a trip with you.
Sage Narada is one of the most beloved devotees of Lord Vishnu.
Narada made all the preparations for the trip, and Krishna and Narada started this trip on a chariot. For many days they came across beautiful rivers, sceneries and landscapes. After a few days, they entered a very dry desert area. Krishna started feeling thirsty, and the chariot was stopped.
Krishna: Narada, I am feeling very thirsty can you bring some water for me from nearby?
Narada: Surely my Lord, I will try my best to get you water.
And thus, Narada stepped out of the chariot and started searching for water amidst a dry desert area with scorching heat. After a few hours of his search, Narada came across an old house where a family lived. Narada went to the family home, and was invited by the family. He was received with great respect. Narada saw a very beautiful young woman in the home. After receiving a warm welcome, meal and some rest, Narada was approached by the young woman’s father. He wanted Narada to stay there and marry the woman as she was still unmarried.
Narada accepted the proposal and agreed to the marriage. Meanwhile, he forgot completely about Krishna’s thirst. Narada married the woman with a huge celebration and settled down in the same village. He received many gifts from the woman’s father and started living happily with his wife.
Time went by and they were happy, they started cultivating crops in the same village. Things went on, and within a few years, they were blessed with 3 children. Everything was going just fine. One day, the village was threatened with a massive flood. In the flood, slowly all the homes were destroyed. Narada tried to secure his family, but one by one his wife and his 3 children drowned due to the flood. Somehow, Narada managed to save his own life but the whole village was drowned.
Narada after saving his life from the flood, stood alone and realized that all that he cared for and was involved in for 10 years was all lost within a moment. Heartbroken he stood crying when someone just patted on his shoulder. It was Krishna.
Narada: Lord, I am broken, I lost my lovely family, please help me out of this situation.
Krishna: Narada, that’s all right, but I thought you were searching for water as I was thirsty.
Narada: Yes my Lord, I was searching for water, but I forgot everything, married a beautiful wife, earned a livelihood through farming, had 3 beautiful children, but all is lost now. An effort of 10 years was lost in a moment. I don’t know what to do, please save me from this situation.
Krishna: 10 years? But it has only been half an hour since I told you to search for water….
Narada realized this was the play of Krishna all along. Krishna taught him Maya in the most practical way one can. Finally, Narada was relieved of his misery and understood Maya completely.
Lord Vishnu and his power of illusion personified as Goddess Vishnu Maya.
So what is Maya? And what was the point of the story? Is everything a big illusion? Is nothing real in this world? Well I don’t want to break it to you but, for starters, the one obvious lesson of this story is: nothing is permanent. Read it carefully, I usually break it down as no ”thing” is permanent. Physical things, situations, people, all of this material is subject to change. Without change, things can’t exist peacefully and some ”thing” that changes is not permanent. And that which is not permanent should be dealt with an attitude of indifference. That is all the wisdom from our scriptures.
But wait, then what’s the point of acting out and making efforts if everything is an illusion? I would like to mention again, that illusion is not in things, but the fact that the thing is going to be with you forever. It’s all a big play, but identifying ourselves with things that are not permanent is a big deception (illusion) and that is Maya. So it’s your choice, we are already in a big dream, which might end soon, how you want to play it up is upto you. You can be indifferent to these changes, totally desperate and sad about the happenings, or just accept the fact and stay happy carrying out your duties that you are required to do. Your attitude towards Maya is important in your quality of life, and this ignorance of Maya is burnt by knowledge. Surprisingly as you receive this edition, India will be celebrating Basant Panchami, the birthday of Goddess Saraswati (goddess of learning, intelligence and knowledge).
दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया |
मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ||
Maya is my divine energy, it consists of the three gunas of nature. It is very difficult to overcome, but those who surrender to me will cross it very easily.
— Bhagawad Geeta 7.14 🌞
Wonderfully written 🙏