Maya in the Bhagavata Purana : Human Suffering and Divine Play Hardback
by Gopal K. (Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Gupta
Part of the Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs series
Hardback
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Description
The idea of Maya pervades Indian philosophy. It is enigmatic, multivalent, and foundational, with its oldest referents found in the Rig Veda.
This book explores Maya's rich conceptual history, and then focuses on the highly developed theology of Maya found in the Sanskrit Bhagavata Pura?a, one of the most important Hindu sacred texts.
Gopal K. Gupta examines Maya's role in the Bhagavata's narratives, paying special attention to its relationship with other key concepts in the text, such as human suffering (du?kha), devotion (bhakti), and divine play (lila).
In the Bhagavata, Maya is often identified as the divine feminine, and has a far-reaching influence.
For example, Maya is both the world and the means by which God creates the world, as well as the facilitator of God's play, paradoxically revealing him to his devotees by concealing his majesty.
While Vedanta philosophy typically sees Maya as a negative force, the Bhagavata affirms that Maya also has a positive role, as Maya is ultimately meant to draw living beings toward Krishna and intensify their devotion to him.
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Available to Order - This title is available to order, with delivery expected within 2 weeks
- Format:Hardback
- Pages:288 pages, 6 black-and-white illustrations
- Publisher:Oxford University Press
- Publication Date:22/10/2020
- Category:
- ISBN:9780198856993
Information
-
Available to Order - This title is available to order, with delivery expected within 2 weeks
- Format:Hardback
- Pages:288 pages, 6 black-and-white illustrations
- Publisher:Oxford University Press
- Publication Date:22/10/2020
- Category:
- ISBN:9780198856993