Adi Shankara Defines Hindu Maya-Short Story

Anecdotes

oi-Priya Devi

By Priya Devi

Friday, July 29, 2011, 19:28

Once Adi Shankara was passing through a forest with his disciples, they encountered an elephant. The great Indian Master who expounded the Advaita theory and explained at length about Maya or illusion, was the first to flee.

Adi Shankara quickly climbed a tree in order to save himself from the elephant to the shock of his devotees.

Later the perplexed devotees enquired the Master, “You were the one enlightened us about Maya. The elephant is undeniably the form of Maya. Why did you flee from it?"

Adi Shankara answered, “If you call the elephant Maya, then why can't you treat this also as Maya?"
A beautiful story that gives a deep insight of Maya.