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Great — let’s dive into Yogamāyā in Hindu philosophy.
Meaning of Yogamāyā
- Etymology: “Yoga” = union / divine power, “Māyā” = illusion, creative energy.
- Yogamāyā is not ordinary illusion (avidyā-māyā), which binds beings in ignorance, but the divine power of the Supreme (Ishvara) that makes creation, preservation, and dissolution possible.
- She is often described as the inner power of the Goddess (Devi) or the Lord (Vishnu/Krishna), responsible for divine play (līlā).
Key Philosophical Roles
- In the Bhagavad Gītā (7.25):
Krishna says he is veiled by his Yogamāyā, meaning only those with devotion can truly perceive him. - In the Bhāgavata Purāṇa:
- Yogamāyā helps in the divine birth of Krishna. She transfers Balarāma from Devakī’s womb to Rohiṇī’s and causes the birth of the goddess who escapes from Kansa.
- She is seen as Krishna’s śakti (divine energy), making his earthly pastimes possible.
- In Shakta Philosophy:
- Yogamāyā is identified with Durgā, Pārvatī, or Lalitā Tripurasundarī, representing the Goddess’s power to manifest and withdraw creation.
- She is the cosmic enchantress, but her enchantment is divine, leading ultimately to liberation when understood.
- Contrast with Mahāmāyā:
- Mahāmāyā (great illusion) binds beings to saṃsāra (worldly cycle).
- Yogamāyā hides the Absolute but also guides devotees toward God—she is both concealing and revealing.
Symbolic Understanding
- She is the veil that hides the transcendent reality, while also the bridge that connects the finite to the infinite.
- Without Yogamāyā, divine līlā (cosmic play) would not be possible.
✨ In short: Yogamāyā is the divine, creative, and illusory power of God/Goddess—she enables the universe, conceals the divine, yet also helps devotees reach liberation.
Would you like me to also show how Yogamāyā is worshipped (rituals, temples, mantras), or keep it purely philosophical?
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