In Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, the illusion or illusive power that hides the true nature of reality from human perception.
From Sanskrit 'māyā,' possibly derived from the root 'mā' meaning 'to measure' or 'to create.' The concept developed in Vedantic philosophy around 1500 BCE and remained central to Eastern spirituality.
Maya isn't just 'illusion'—it's the creative power that makes illusion feel real, which is why some philosophers see video game designers as modern creators of maya, literally programming convincing false realities.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.