Māyā and the Sanātana Reality: The Eternal and the Apparent in Indian Metaphysics
This essay explores the intricate relationship between Sanātana (the Eternal Reality) and Māyā (the Power of Manifestation or Appearance) within the broader Indian philosophical spectrum. Drawing from the Upaniṣads , Vedānta (Advaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Dvaita) , Sāṃkhya-Yoga , Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika , and Śākta traditions , it examines whether Māyā is an integral part of the Sanātana order or whether even Sanātana is subsumed within the play of Māyā. The discussion also extends to metaphoric parallels between energy–matter reciprocity in physics and Brahman–Māyā dynamics in metaphysics. The conclusion suggests a layered truth: from the empirical standpoint, Māyā and Sanātana interact in cosmic reciprocity; from the absolute standpoint, Māyā is merely Brahman’s play, and Sanātana remains forever unchanged. 1. The Enigma of Māyā Among the many concepts in Indian thought, few have provoked such sustained reflection as Māyā. From the earliest Upaniṣadic whispers to Śaṅkara’s diale...