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OF THE HINDUS.
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and spoken of as Máyá or Mahámáyú, original deceit or illusion?
Another set of notions of some antiquity which contributed to form the character of the Sakti, whether general or particular, were derived from the Sánkhya philosophy. In this system nature, Prakriti, or Mula Prakriti, is defined to be of eternal existence and independent origin, distinct from the supreme spirit, productive though no production, and the plastic origin of all things, including even the gods. Hence Prakriti has come to be regarded as the mother of gods and men, whilst as one with matter, the source of error, it is again identified with Máyá, or delusion, and as co-existent with the supreme as his Sakti, his personified energy, or his bride.
So also in the authority last quoted:
सा च ब्रह्मस्वरूपा माया नित्या सनातनी। “She (Prakriti) one with Brahma is Máyá, eternal, everlasting;” and in the Káliká Purana
अभिन्ना प्रकृतिया सा जन्तून्सम्मोहति । Prakriti is termed “Inherent Máyd, because she beguiles all beings."
? In the Gità [VII, 4] Prakriti is identified with all the elementary predicates of matter:
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च ।
अहंकार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा ॥ “This, my Prakriti, is inherently eight-fold, or earth, water. fire, air, ether, mind, intellect, individuality." So also the Kúrma Puráňa (Clapter 12):
तस्य सर्वजगन्मूर्तिः शक्तिमायेति विश्रुता। तदेवं भ्रामयेदीशो मायावी पुरुषोत्तमः ॥
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