‘ The World of Maya ‘ ( Part 1 ) ( Part 2 follows Part 1)
‘ na ma ‘ - in Sanskrit means ‘ that which does not exist ‘ is to be understood as ‘ Maya ‘. For an emancipated person like a Jnani, Maya does not exist or can be considered as zero as it means in Mathematics. A common man who has not reached the ‘self realization’ state, considers himself as an individual, say like number 1 in maths and he adds number of zeros after 1. We can now easily figure out Maya. The zeros after the number 1 in mathematics give a notional value as 10, 100, 1000 and so on. In the context of Maya zeros don’t really exist but added as ad hoc. The common man who was an individual as 1, has now expanded his empire and feels that the zeros he has added really exist and he further considers ’ that state ‘ as his real world - he is certainly under the great influence of Maya.
Whereas a Jnani sees the reality in the things that really exist. In other words he looks at the truth. SUGAR - CANDIES may be many but the substance namely the sugar that makes the candies is only one. There is only one BRAHMAM that has assumed many roles in the world of Maya.
As an illustration, consider that a candy made out of sugar, but in the shape of a bitter gourd, is
placed before a child. 
The child is unaware that it is made out of sugar only. Instead of taking it lovingly, the child runs away from the scene as he knows that bitter gourd is only and after-all bitter - in reality the candy in the shape of the bitter gourd is made from sugar and is absolutely 100% sweet only to taste.
The Jnani realizes that the glittering world full of bliss is only One Brahmam. What is bitter to a common man, is sweet to him and vice-verse.. Lord Krishna says that the Jnani distinguishes the white color from the black, night from the day unlike a common man.
Brahmam is a source of light but an ordinary person is in dark without realizing the light - source.
He is not enlightened or liberated till that time .He is enamored or glamoured by the unnatural or artificial glitters which is nothing but Maya. In one word, it can be summarised as a state of ‘disillusionment ’.
It is necessary to understand one thing at this point of discussion. Maya also leans on Brahmam only and gets benefited by getting some quota of light reflected on her. We see only this shade of reflected light. We are not knowledgeable enough to be aware of the cause and effect of the existence of the only Brahmam as the World of Maya.
No doubt that the letters which are in black can be deciphered with the help of a small torch-light. A book when opened under the illuminating bright sunlight, can not be read or seen whereas we are able to see the happenings in the world by the reflected light which Maya wields. A Jnani is illuminated self and he is able to realize the world is not real but only a Maya or exists under its influence. This is the meaning when it is said that what is called a day to a jnani is only a twilight or a night to a common man.
pn
( Source : “ Arul Vakku “ (in Tamil ) by Jagadguru Kanchi Kamakoti Sri Chandrasekara Saraswathi Shankaracharya - published in the recent edition of Kalki, a Tamil weekly - thanks to Kalki )
The World of Maya ( Part 2 )
‘ The World of Maya ‘ (contd.) - P.Natarajan.
Ma Ya - Ya naMa - She Who does not exist is Maya - this topic was discussed in an article which was dispatched to you in the evening of April 06, 2015.
The power of Maya was illustrated by way of zeros in that article. A mathematical model is now taken upon to bring to light the non existent Maya but at the same time how deceptive and elusive the life becomes under her influence :-
Let us now look at the mathematical puzzle and how the non-existing hand of Maya helps in solving it:-
There are 17 Apples in the basket. All the 17 have to be distributed in some ratios as follows:-
one third goes to A. one fourth of the remaining goes to B. two third of the apples which are available after the first two steps goes to C.whatever now is left over goes to D. There will be no apples left behind in the basket. The important rule that has to be kept in mind is that no fraction of apples is admissible while disbursing in the ratios contemplated and the end game would ensure that no apple is left over in the basket. Pl. solve and you are allowed to take the hand of Maya for rescue. ( pl. don't jump to see the solution below without attempting a fair trial in the spirit of the game )
Solution :-
17 is an odd number and division without fractionation is just not possible. You can take the help of Maya’s hand by borrowing one more apple and adding to the basket. Now you have 17+1 = 18 apples. A would get one third of 18, that is 6 apples. The balance = 18 - 6 = 12. one fourth of 12 , that is 3 apples would now go to B. Balance would come down to 9 apples. Two thirds of now available apples would workout to two thirds of 9 = 6 apples which would go to C. What remains at this stage would be 9 - 6 = 3 apples.Don’t forget you borrowed 1 apple from the hand of Maya. Hence return that one apple to Maya and now you have 3 - 1 = 2 apples only and D takes the 2 apples from the basket , thus emptying the basket.
the one apple which did not exist but which you borrowed explains the hand of Maya. Since you have returned the same to Maya, it does not really exist in the above mathematical model. However the exercise of borrowing an apple has thrown an reflected image by ensuring no fractionalism of the apples
Pl.now read the definition of Maya in the first line and I suppose you will evince interest to read the article sent yesterday prior to the introduction of the mathematical model to rejoice the leela of Maya,
pn
