World-appearance According to Acharya Shankara

Concept of “Maya” (Illusion)

Acharya Shankara, the great Advaita philosopher, introduced the concept of Maya, which refers to the world as an illusion. According to him, the world we perceive is not the ultimate reality but an appearance that obscures the true, non-dual consciousness (Brahman).

Perception of the World

• Phenomenal World: Shankara explains that the world appears as separate and diverse, but this multiplicity is illusory. The diversity we see is a result of ignorance (Avidya), which clouds our understanding of the underlying unity.
• Analogy: He often uses the analogy of a rope mistaken for a snake. Just as the snake doesn’t truly exist, the separate entities we see around us don’t have independent existence—they are projections of Maya.

Unity of Brahman

• The ultimate reality, Brahman, is formless, timeless, and infinite. The world, in its apparent form, is an illusion created by Maya. The apparent world is sustained by this illusion, but it has no ultimate reality apart from Brahman.

Conclusion

In Shankara’s view, realizing the illusory nature of the world is the key to spiritual liberation. The world appears to exist, but true knowledge reveals its non-substantial nature. Understanding Maya leads one to recognize the oneness of all existence with Brahman.