The appearance of multiplicity is attributed to 'Maya' - a power which is assumed to be inherent in "Reality". Why the multiplicity? This cannot be answered from the level of multiplicity. When once "Reality" is understood, the multiplicity disappears. The multiplicity is mere appearance. Reality is 'Swaroopa' and 'Appearance' is 'swabhava'.
Maya is said to be "indeterminable ignorance". There are three terms (i) 'Avidya' (non-understanding); (ii) 'Adyasa' (misunderstanding) and (iii) 'Vidya' (understanding), connected with Maya. 'Avidya' conceals the Swaroopa; 'adyasa' confuses the Swaroopa and swabhava, superimposing one on another; and 'vidya' reveals the Swaroopa.
The analogy of 'sanke and rope' is often used by vedantins to explain 'adyasa' -'misunderstanding'. The common man (without understanding) thinks 'he is the body' ('appearance' is the only reality); the book-learned man endowed with intellectual knowledge, confuses himself with the mixture of appearance and Swaroopa, while, those who are endowed with wisdom knowledge, realize 'Swaroopa' alone, everywhere.
"Swaroopa' (Reality) is described as 'mayatheetha', Swabava is an expression known by the term 'mahamaya'; the appearance of universe is 'jaganmaya', and the reflection as 'individual' is 'avidya'. Another school equates "Paramashiva" with Swaroopa (Reality), "Parashakthy" with mahamaya , 'Athysakthy' with jaganmaya, and 'Iccha- kriya-gnana sakthy' with the individual. Yet another school describes these terms as 'Awareness'(Reality), 'I-Consciousness'(expressing Reality), 'I am the Universe'(appearance) 'I am the individual'(Reflection) and 'Individuality'(illusory reflection).
REALITY is 'Fullness', and Its expression is 'I-Consciousness', (difference between the two is only similar to "Light" and "day-light"). 'I- Consciousness' causes the universe and the individual. Water alone forms the Ocean, and the Ocean, in turn, appears as Waves and reflects as Individual Wave. One can understand this truth intellectually, but wisdom-knowledge is needed to realize the One Reality permeating everywhere. On realization of Reality, Maya disappears, similar to darkness in the presence of Sun.
Regarding the appearance of world, there are different schools of thought. One school assumes 'chit' and 'jadam' associating with Reality and causing a world as it appears. Another school holds the view that 'Maya', an inherent power in Reality, is the cause. Yet, another school brings in Shiva-Sakthy concept, and Shiva with the power of Sakthy, performs the dance of creativity.
Sri Sankara advises to relinquish ' world-appearance' by seeing Reality permeating all manifested things. Yoga-vasishta declares that just as Reality and Soul are non-different, the Soul and the Mind are the same; similarly, the Mind and the Universe are identical. Isavasya upanishad begins with the statement that all this, whatsoever moves in the moving world, is pervaded by God. In Kenopanishad, it is declared that Reality is beyond known and unknown. Kathopanishad declares "Knowledge of Self can be gained only by those whom He chooses". In 'upadesa sahasri', Sri Sankara says that one should clearly realize the Self in all being, having for an example, the relation between water and waves.
Reality is beyond Maya and beyond Vidya and Avidya. Vidya is only a pointer to Reality and not Reality as such. Reality reveals by Itself.
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