9/19/2016

MayaInMahabharataAncientVoice

AncientVoice

CreateaccountorSignin

Eternal Voices from the past

Searchthissite
Wikis

mailto.ancientvoice@gmail.com
3DTagCloud
WHATISNEW?

TotalPages:23785SiteMap
TotalVisitors
+Translate

Nouns

Videos

Articles

Bharatavarsha

Search

Forum

MayaInMahabharata
Share:

VisitorStats

GuestAuthors,VisitorsContributions

ThisarticleisapartofaseriesofarticlesonindividualsdescribedintheVedas,EpicsandPuranas,
withthename'Maya'andrelatedconceptslike'Maaya'.TheirconnectionwiththeMesoAmerican
Mayanstooisexploredindetail.Readthemainarticle:DanavaMayaandMayansofAmerica

FollowMeonTwitter:
Fold
TableofContents

Share:

SimilarPages:
Updated(100)
TheHumanSoul
AncientVoiceTV
TheMahabharata
TimesNews
Paper
AryanInvasion
TheoryA
Reappraisal
RigvedaAnd
AvestaTheFinal
Evidence
ShrikantTalageri's
OITPPTPart3
ShrikantTalageri's
OITPPTPart2
ShrikantTalageri's
OITPPTPart1
ShrikantTalageri's
AITPPTPart2
ShrikantTalageri'S
AITPPTPart1
AdwaitaIn
Einsteinean4d
SpaceTime
Consciousness
ValmikiRamayana
Kalachakra2
KumariKandam2
KumariKandam
TheFourteen
WorldsPart3
TheFourteen
Worlds
Kalachakra
OtherIndian
TribesinAmerica
ThousandYear
LongChaturYuga
DanavaMayaAnd
MayansOfAmerica
MayaChola
Connection
MayaInRamayana
MayaIn
Mahabharata
Maya'sTheoryof
Sun
IndianMaayans
AndTheMeso
AmericanMaayans
MayaInTheVedas
IkshwakuYadava
Rivalry
RigVeda
ThePandava
Dynasty
Mahabharata
Lineages
ValmikiRamayana
NounsFrequency
Wise
ValmikiRamayana
NounsAlphabetical
ValmikiRamayana
NounsAlphabetical
2
Ramayana
ValmikiRamayana
NounsFrequency
Wise2
VishnuPurana
VishnuPurana
NounsFrequency
Wise
VishnuPurana
NounsAlphabetical
YajurVeda
AtharvaVeda

Created(100)
TheHumanSoul
AncientVoiceTV
TheMahabharata
TimesNews
Paper
AryanInvasion
TheoryA
Reappraisal
ShrikantTalageri's
OITPPTPart3
ShrikantTalageri's
OITPPTPart2
ShrikantTalageri's
OITPPTPart1
ShrikantTalageri's
AITPPTPart2
RigvedaAnd
AvestaTheFinal
Evidence
ShrikantTalageri'S
AITPPTPart1
AdwaitaIn
Einsteinean4d
SpaceTime
Consciousness
KumariKandam2
KumariKandam
Kalachakra2
Kalachakra
OtherIndian
TribesinAmerica
IndianMaayans
AndTheMeso
AmericanMaayans
MayaIn
Mahabharata
MayaInRamayana
MayaInTheVedas
MayaChola
Connection
Maya'sTheoryof
Sun
DanavaMayaAnd
MayansOfAmerica
ValmikiRamayana
NounsAlphabetical
2
ValmikiRamayana
NounsFrequency
Wise2
ValmikiRamayana
NounsFrequency
Wise
ValmikiRamayana
NounsAlphabetical
ValmikiRamayana
VishnuPurana
NounsFrequency
Wise
VishnuPurana
NounsAlphabetical
VishnuPurana
KrishnaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Noun2
KrishnaYajurVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Noun
KrishnaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
SuklaYajurVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns2

MayainMahabharata
Mayamentionedamonggreatkings
Maya'sassociationwiththePandavas
ExoticarticlescollectedbyMaya
TheMayaSabha:ThePalatialHallcreatedbyMaya
TankinsidethePalace
TheundergroundMansionofMaya
ThecityofHiranyapurabuiltbyMaya
BattlesbetweenMayaandIndra
ThespacecitiescreatedbyMaya
Thelakethatcanrevivethewoundedanddead
Destructionofthecities
Maaya
References

Maya in Mahabharata
Maya/Maayaismentionedaround61timesinMahabharata.ThusMahabharatacontainsthelargest
referencetoMaya.HereoneMayabelongingtotheMayatribeispraisedasagreatarchitectand
creatorofmanytechnologicalillusions.AnotherMayaiscreditedwiththecreationofspacecrafts
rotatingaroundEarthinpreciseorbits.OnearchitectMayaconstructedawonderfulassemblyforthe
PandavakingYudhisthira.Hewasrespectedbythekingasagreatman.LikeinRamayana,in
MahabharatatoothereisvaryingreferencesthatmakeMayaaDaityaoraDanava,butundoubtedly
andAsura.MahabharataalsocontainsreferencestoabattlebetweenIndraandMaya,whereIndra
defeatedorkilledMaya.ThiscorroboratewithsomeofthereferencesinRigVedawhereabattle
betweenIndraandGandharvaismentioned.Thedesignation'Gandharva'inthiscasemaybepointto
thelocationofthisMaya'sterritoryinGandhararegion(northwesternPakistan).

Maya mentioned among great kings

MahabharatagivesthehighestrespecttoamemberoftheMaya/MaayantribeofancientIndiaby
countinghimamonggreatkingsasfoundinthefollowingpassage:
(Mbh.1.55)LikethesacrificeofMaya,ofkingSasavindu,orofkingVaisravana,ofthesacrificeof
Nriga,ofAjamida,ofthesonofDasaratha,isthissacrificeofthineOsonofParikshit.

Maya's association with the Pandavas

Chapter229oftheBook1(AdiParva)ofMahabharatagivesthedetailaccountofhowonearchitect
belongingtotheMayatribebecameafriendofthePandavas.Duetotheenormityofthenarrationit
isdescribedinasummaryhere:DanavaMaya(around3100BCE)wasdwellingintheterritoryof
NagakingTakshakacalledtheKhandava(moderndayDelhianditssurroundings).Hewasthereto
constructsomebuildingsforTakshaka.SincetheterritoryofNagaTakshakawasathreatforthe
newlycreatedcityofthePandavas,viz.Indraprastha(nowtheDelhicity),Arjuna(brotherofKing
YudhisthirarulingatIndraprastha)andhisfriendKrishnadecidedtoburntheNagasettlementsat
Khandava.Whiletheterritorywasthusburned,MayasoughttheprotectionofKrishnaandArjuna.
Theygavehimprotectionanddidnotslayhim.InreturnMayaaskedwhatheshalldoforthem.Then
Krishnasaid:"LetapalatialSabha(meetinghall)asthouchoosest,bebuiltbythee,ifthou,Oson
ofDiti,whoarttheforemostofallartists,desiresttodogoodtoYudhishthirathejust(Mbh.2.1)".
Havingheardthosewords,Mayabecameexceedinglyglad.ThenKrishnaandArjunaafterhaving
narratedeverythinguntokingYudhishthirathejust,introducedMayauntohim.Yudhishthirareceived
Mayawithrespect,offeringhimthehonourhedeserved.Mayaacceptedthathonourthinkinghighly
ofit.

Exotic articles collected by Maya

FordetailsseeMayaatKailasa
(2.3)ThenMayaDanavaaddressedArjuna,thatforemostofsuccessfulwarriors,saying,Inowgo
withthyleave,butshallcomebacksoon.OnthenorthoftheKailasapeaknearthemountainsof

http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:mayainmahabharata

1/5

9/19/2016
SamaVeda
KrishnaYajurVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Noun
KrishnaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Noun2
KrishnaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
SuklaYajurVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns2
SuklaYajurVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns
SuklaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns3
AtharvaVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
NounsPart2
SuklaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
SuklaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns2
AtharvaVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
AlienPresence
During
Mahabharata
AtharvaVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns
RigVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns
SamaVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns
SamavedaRigveda
NounComparison
SamaVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
UfoCaseFilesOf
Russia
RigVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
RigVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns2
RigVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Verbs
RigVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Keywords
IkshwakuKingsIn
Mahabharata
IkshwakuKingsIn
MahabharataPart2
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Michael
Witzel
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Sarama
AndThePanis
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:
Misinterpretations
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Europeans
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Iranians
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:History
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Geography
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Chronology
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Composers
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:
Anukramanis
Rigveda,Talageri:
CategorizedNouns
Rigveda:Talageri:
Uncategorized

MayaInMahabharataAncientVoice
SuklaYajurVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns
SuklaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns3
SuklaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns2
SuklaYajurVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
YajurVeda
AtharvaVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns
AtharvaVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
NounsPart2
AtharvaVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
AtharvaVeda
SamavedaRigveda
NounComparison
SamaVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns
SamaVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
SamaVeda
RigVeda
FrequencyWise
Uncategorized
Nouns
RigVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns2
RigVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Verbs
RigVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Keywords
RigVeda
Alphabetical
Uncategorized
Nouns
Rigveda:Talageri:
Uncategorized
Nouns
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Sarama
AndThePanis
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Michael
Witzel
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:
Misinterpretations
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Europeans
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Iranians
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:History
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Geography
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Chronology
Rigveda,Talageri:
CategorizedNouns
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Composers
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:
Anukramanis
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Preface
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:
Acknowledgements
RigVeda
FromSindhuTo
Hindu
ThousandYear
LongChaturYuga
TheFourteen
WorldsPart3
TheFourteen
WorldsPart4
TheFourteen
WorldsPart2
TheFourteen
Worlds
IkshwakuKingsIn
MahabharataPart2
IkshwakuYadava
Rivalry

Mainaka,whiletheDanavaswereengagedinasacrificeonthebanksofVindulake,Igathereda
hugequantityofdelightfulandvariegatedvandaakindofroughmaterialscomposedofjewelsand
gems.ThiswasplacedinthemansionofVrishaparva.Thereisalso,Ithink,afierceclubplacedin
thelakeVindubytheKingoftheDanavasafterslaughteringtherewithallhisfoesinbattle.Besides
beingheavyandstrongandvariegatedwithgoldenknobs,itiscapableofbearinggreatweight,and
ofslayingallfoes,andisequalinstrengthuntoanhundredthousandclubs.Itisafitweaponfor
Bhima,evenastheGandivaisforthee.Thereisalsointhatlakealargeconchshellcalled
Devadattaofloudsound,thatcamefromVaruna.Ishallnodoubtgiveallthesetothee.
HavingspokenthusuntoPartha,theAsurawentawayinanortheasterlydirection.Onthenorthof
KailasainthemountainsofMainaka,thereisahugepeakofgemsandjewelscalledHiranyasringa.
NearthatpeakisadelightfullakeofthenameofVindu.
Mayabroughtbacktheclubandtheconchshellandthevariouscrystallinearticlesthathadbelonged
tokingVrishaparva.AndthegreatAsura,Maya,havinggonethither,possessedhimselfofthewhole
ofthegreatwealthwhichwasguardedbyYakshasandRakshasas.Bringingthem,theAsura
constructedtherewithapeerlesspalace,whichwasofgreatbeautyandofcelestialmake,composed
entirelyofgemsandpreciousstones,andcelebratedthroughoutthethreeworlds.Hegaveunto
Bhimasenathatbestofclubs,anduntoArjunathemostexcellentconchshellatwhosesoundall
creaturestrembledinawe.

The Maya Sabha: The Palatial Hall created by Maya

ThepalacethatMayabuiltconsistedofcolumnsofgold,andoccupiedanareaoffivethousand
cubits.Thepalace,possessinganexceedinglybeautifulform,likeuntothatofAgniorSuryya,or
Soma,shoneingreatsplendour,andbyitsbrillianceseemedtodarkeneventhebrightraysofthe
sun.Andwiththeeffulgenceitexhibited,whichwasamixtureofbothcelestialandterrestriallight,it
lookedasifitwasonfire.Likeuntoamassofnewcloudsconspicuousinthesky,thepalaceroseup
comingintoviewofall.Indeed,thepalacethatthedexterousMayabuiltwassowide,delightful,and
refreshing,andcomposedofsuchexcellentmaterials,andfurnishedwithsuchgoldenwallsand
archways,andadornedwithsomanyvariedpictures,andwaswithalsorichandwellbuilt,thatin
beautyitfarsurpassedSudharmaoftheDasarharace,orthemansionofBrahmahimself.Andeight
thousandRakshasascalledKinkaras,fierce,hugebodiedandenduedwithgreatstrength,ofred
copperyeyesandarrowyears,wellarmedandcapableofrangingthroughtheair,usedtoguardand
protectthatpalace.

ArchitectMaya(right)withthefivePandavasandKrishna(left),aftertheConstructionof'MayaSabha'(right).F

Tank inside the Palace

WithinthatpalaceMayaplacedapeerlesstank,andinthattankwerelotuseswithleavesofdark
colouredgemsandstalksofbrightjewels,andotherflowersalsoofgoldenleaves.Andaquaticfowls
ofvariousspeciessportedonitsbosom.Itselfvariegatedwithfullblownlotusesandstockedwith
fishesandtortoisesofgoldenhue,itsbottomwaswithoutmudanditswatertransparent.Therewasa
flightofcrystalstairsleadingfromthebankstotheedgeofthewater.Thegentlebreezesthatswept
alongitsbosomsoftlyshooktheflowersthatstuddedit.
Thebanksofthattankwereoverlaidwithslabsofcostlymarblesetwithpearls.Andbeholdingthat
tankthusadornedallaroundwithjewelsandpreciousstones,manykingsthatcametheremistookit
forlandandfellintoitwitheyesopen.

http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:mayainmahabharata

2/5

9/19/2016
Nouns
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:Preface
Rigveda:Talageri:
Nouns:
Acknowledgements
FromSindhuTo
Hindu
ComparisonOf
AncientIndian
Texts
PuruLineage
TretaYuga1
Emergenceofthe
YugaSystem
TheFourteen
WorldsPart4
TheFourteen
WorldsPart2
KaliYuga2
IkshwakuLineage
Sanjaya'sWorld
PuruLineagePart2
YugasMappedto
CommonEra
VedicFamily
NamesInPre
HistoricGreece
KritaYuga1
EventsafterChatur
Yuga1
YugaDefinitionsin
Mahabharata
DwaparaYuga2
TretaYuga2
KritaYuga2
KaliYuga1

LiveStats
ForAdminOnly

MayaInMahabharataAncientVoice
IkshwakuKingsIn
Mahabharata
PuruLineagePart2
PuruLineage
IkshwakuLineage
ThePandava
Dynasty
Mahabharata
Lineages
UfoCaseFilesOf
Russia
Sanjaya'sWorld
VedicFamily
NamesInPre
HistoricGreece
KaliYuga2
DwaparaYuga2
TretaYuga2
KritaYuga2
KaliYuga1
DwaparaYuga1
TretaYuga1
KritaYuga1
EventsafterChatur
Yuga1
EventsinChatur
Yuga1
YugasMappedto
CommonEra
YugaDefinitionsin
Mahabharata
Emergenceofthe
YugaSystem
Ramayana

Manytalltreesofvariouskindswereplantedallaroundthepalace.Ofgreenfoliageandcoolshade,
andeverblossoming,theywereallverycharmingtobehold.Artificialwoodswerelaidaround,always
emittingadeliciousfragrance.Andthereweremanytanksalsothatwereadornedwithswansand
KarandavasandChakravakasBrahminyducksinthegroundslyingaboutthemansion.Andthebreeze
bearingthefragranceoflotusesgrowinginwaterandofthosegrowingonlandministereduntothe
pleasureandhappinessofthePandavas.
AndMayahavingconstructedsuchapalatialhallwithinfourteenmonths,reporteditscompletionunto
Yudhishthira.

The underground Mansion of Maya

FordetailsseeVanara'ssearchingforSita
TheRikshacavitiesofMayamentionedinRamayanaisalsomentionedinMahabharata,inapassage
describingthehistoryofRama:
Havingsearchedthesouthernregionwithallitshills,forests,andminesforsometime,webecame
veryweary.Atlengthwebeheldagreatcavern.Weenteredthatcavernwhichextendedovermany
Yojanas.Itwasdarkanddeepandovergrownwithtreesandinfestedbyworms.Andhavinggonea
greatwaythroughit,wecameuponsunshineandbeheldabeautifulpalace.Itwastheabodeofthe
DaityaMaya.AndtherewebeheldafemaleasceticnamedPrabhavatiengagedinasceticausterities.
Andshegaveusfoodanddrinkofvariouskinds.Andhavingrefreshedourselvestherewithand
regainedourstrength,weproceededalongthewayshownbyher.Atlastwecameoutofthecavern
andbeheldthebrinysea,andonitsshores,theSahya,theMalayaandthegreatDarduramountains.
AndascendingthemountainsofMalaya,webeheldbeforeusthevastoceanAndbeholdingitwefelt
sorelygrievedinmind.
ThenarrationmatcheswiththosefoundinRamayanaexceptthatthenameoftheguardianofthe
palacewasmentionedasPrabhavati(theglowingone)insteadofSwayamprabha(theselfglowing
one).Fromthenarrationandgeographydescribed,Maya'sabodewassomewherecloseto
Kanyakumari(thesoutherntipofIndia),withseashore(Indianocean)andmountains(Malaya,
Sahya)nearbyinTamilnaduKeralaboarder.

The city of Hiranyapura built by Maya

ThisisadialogbetweensageNaradaandMatali,thechariotdriverofIndra.Theywerelookingfora
brideforMatali'ssonGomukha.FordetailsseeThecityofHiranyapura.
HereintheseregionscalledPatalaisthatspaciousandcelebratedcityofcities,calledHiranyapura,
oftheDaityasandDanavas,possessingahundreddiversekindsofillusion.Ithathbeenbuiltwith
greatcarebythedivineartificer,andplannedbytheDanavaMaya.ManyDanavaslivedhere,
exhibitingathousanddifferentkindsofillusion.
TheywereincapableofbeingvanquishedbySakra(Indra)oranyothercelestial.Heredwell,Those
AsurascalledKalakhanjasandthoseRakshasasalsocalledYatudhanas.Allofthemareendued
withfrightfulteeth,terribleimpetus,thespeedandprowessofthewind,andgreatenergydepending
onpowersofillusion.Besidesthese,anotherclassofDanavascalledNivatakavachas,whoare
invincibleinbattle,havetheirabodehere.ThouknowesthowSakraisunabletovanquishthem.
Manytimes,OMatali,thou,withthysonGomukha,andIndrawithhisson,hadtoretreatbefore
them.Beholdtheirhomes,OMatali,thatareallmadeofsilverandgold,andwelladornedwith
decorationsdoneaccordingtotherulesofart.Allthosemansionsaredeckedwithlapislazuliand
corals,andmadeeffulgentwiththelustreoftheArkasphatika(solarglass),andtheradianceof
gemcalledVajrasara.Andmanyofthosepalatialresidencesseem,asif,theyhavebeenmadeof
theshineofthesegemscalledPadmaragas,orofbrightmarble,orofexcellentwood.Andtheyare
alsopossessedoftheradianceofthesun,orblazingfire.
Andalltheedifices,adornedwithgemsandjewels,areveryhighandstandclosetoanother.Of
spaciousproportionsandgreatarchitecturalbeauty,itisimpossibletosayofwhatmaterialthese
mansionsarebuiltortodescribetheirstyleofbeauty.Indeed,theyareexceedinglybeautifulin
consequenceoftheirdecorations.BeholdtheseretreatsoftheDaityasforrecreationandsport,these
bedsoftheirsforsleep,thesecostlyutensilsoftheirssetwithpreciousstones,andtheseseatsalso
fortheiruse.Beholdthesehillsoftheirs,lookinglikeclouds,thosefountainsofwater,thesetrees
alsothatmoveoftheirownwillandthatyieldallfruitsandflowersthatonemayask.
HerewhenNaradaasksMatalitosearchforabride,Matalireplied:"Itbehovethmenottodo
anythingthatmaybedisagreeabletodwellersofheaven.TheDevas(gods)andtheDanavas,though
brothers,areeverathostilitywitheachother.HowcanI,therefore,makeanalliancewiththosethat
areourenemies?"ThisvindicatesouranalysisthattheDaityas,DanavasandDevassharedclose
kinship.

Battles between Maya and Indra

AsacorroborationofthebattlesmentionedinRigvedabetweenMayaandIndrawehavesomeof
themmentionedinMahabharata,BhishmaParva(Book6):(6.101)Routingthatlargearmyand
causingmanymightycarwarriorstotremble,hegladdenedhisfriendslikeVasavagladdeningthe
celestialsaftervanquishingMaya.(6.102)ThesonofSubhadrathen,inthatbattle,withhisstraight
shafts,obligedtheRakshasatoturnhisbackuponthefield,likeSakrarepulsingMayaindaysof
old.(6.111)AndtheyencounteredeachotherindreadfulbattlelikeMayaandSakraindaysofold.
ThisisalsorepeatedinDronaParva(Book7),wherethebattleismentionedasbetweenMayaand
Vishnu:(7.172)SeizingthenthatgiganticprinceofRakshasas,viz,Alamvusha,whothusstruggled
withhim,hepressedhimdownontheearth,likeVishnuslayingtheAsuraMayainbattle.

http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:mayainmahabharata

3/5

9/19/2016

MayaInMahabharataAncientVoice
InShalyaParva(Book9)BhimaandDuryodhanaabouttocommenceadualfightwithmaceis
comparedtoIndraandMaya(9.53).

The spacecities created by Maya

FormoredetailsseeTheThreeSpaceCities
ThethreeDaityas,sonsofAsuraTaraka(theonebelongingtothestars)namedTarakaksha(thestar
eyedone),Kamalaksha(thelotuseyedone)andVidyunmalin(theoneadornedwithelectricity)
askedDanavaMaya,whowasrespectedbyDaityasandDanavasalike,tomakethreespacecities
forthem.ThenMaya,ofgreatintelligence,bytheaidofhisownasceticmerit,constructedthree
cities,oneofwhichwasofgold,anotherofsilver,andthethirdofblackiron.Thegoldencitywasset
inheaven,thesilvercityinthewelkin,andtheironcitywassetontheEarth,allinsuchawayasto
revolveinacircle.
Eachofthosecitiesmeasuredahundredyojanasinbreadthandahundredinlength.Andthey
consistedofhousesandmansionsandloftywallsandporches.Andthoughteemingwithlordly
palacesclosetoeachother,yetthestreetswerewideandspacious.Andtheywereadornedwith
diversemansionsandgateways.Eachofthosecitieshadaseparateking.Thebeautifulcityofgold
belongedtotheillustriousTarakaksha:thesilvercitytoKamalaksha,andtheirononeto
Vidyunmalin.Mayabecamethesupplierofeverythingtheywanted.Whoeveramongstthoseresiding
inthetriplecitywishedforanyobjectinhishearthadhiswishfulfilledbyMayaaidedbythelatter's
powersofillusion.

The lake that can revive the wounded and dead

Hari,sonofTarakaksha,createdalakeinhiscitythatwascapableofrevivingthedead.Inwhatever
formandwhateverguiseaDaityamighthavebeenslainbymeansofweapons,ifthrownintothat
lake,hewasrestoredtolife,intheselfsameformandguiseandwithredoubledstrength.

Destruction of the cities

TheAsurasinthesecitiesbegantoshamelesslyexterminatethecitiesandtownsestablishedallover
theuniverse.Sakra,surroundedbytheMaruts,battledagainstthethreecitiesbyhurlinghisthunder
uponthemfromeveryside.However,Purandrafailedtopiercethoseimpenetrablecities.Thecities
werefinallydestroyedbySivawithasingleprojectileweaponshotfromEarth,whiletheycame
alignedinastraightline,whileintheirrespectivecircularorbits:(8.34)ThenSarva,havingstringed
hisbowandaimedthatshaftwithwhichhehadunitedthePasupataweapon,waitedthinkingofthe
triplecity.Thethreecitiesduringthattimebecameunitedlosingtheirseparatecharacters.Siva,then
drawingthatcelestialbow,spedthatshaftwhichrepresentedthemightofthewholeuniverse,atthe
triplecity.TheybegantofalldowntowardstheEarth.BurningthoseAsuras,hethrewthemdowninto
theWesternocean.

Maaya
MahabharataalsocontainsextensivementionoftheconceptofMaaya(illusion)usedinthesenseof
thedivineillusionthatdeludesallthesentientbeingsgivingthemasenseoflivinginauniverse.
ThesereferencesarefoundinBook12and13(SantiandAnusasanaParvas)whicharehuge
philosophicaldiscoursesandwellknownaslateradditions.Someexamplesareasfollows:(12.47)
SalutationstotheeinthyformasMayaillusion!(12.231)ThentheoriginalCreatorofallbeings,
havingbyhisMayadividedHimself,entersthatsubtileformforsurveyingoroverlookingeverything.
(12.248)ThouartconcealedinconsequenceofbeinginvestedwithMayaorillusion.(12.320)..the
seventeenthandtheeighteenthprinciplescalledPrakritiandVyaktiie,MayaandPrakasa.(12.320)
thefourtogetherviz,PurushaandhisMayaandJivaandAvidya.(13.17)consciousnessenduedwith
Maya.(13.149)thedeitythatoverwhelmstheuniversewithHisMaya(illusion).

References
1.MayainMahabharata

CreatedbyJijithNadumuriat8Jan2012,10:22andupdatedat8Jan2012,11:18

Share:

http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:mayainmahabharata

4/5

9/19/2016

MayaInMahabharataAncientVoice
Like 12peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

PoweredbyWikidot.com

Help|TermsofService|Privacy|Reportabug|Flagasobjectionable

Unlessotherwisestated,thecontentofthispageislicensedunderCreativeCommonsAttributionShareAlike3.0License

http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:mayainmahabharata

5/5