Indrajala (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

: इन्द्रजाल) is a

word common to most Indian languages that means Indra's net, magic, deception, fraud, illusion, conjuring, jugglery, sorcery etc. In

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

the first creator of ''

maya Maya may refer to: Ethnic groups * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Mayan languages, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (East Africa), a p ...

'' in this universe was

Indra Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes Indra is the m ...

. The term ''Indrajala'' was used instead of ''maya'' in the ancient days. Since Indra represents God and God's creation of this universe can be considered a magical act, this whole world is ''Indrajala'' (a net of Indra), an illusion. In a similar fashion, the human magician applies the magic called ''Indrajala'' in imitation of his divine forerunners, and thus spreads his net of ''maya'' over those he chooses as the object of his manipulations. He creates something before the eyes of the spectators that does not really exist, or only exist in the spectators’ minds as a result of his skill. If one confines ''Indrajala'' to its stricter sense of illusory appearances created for the public, it is understandable that this activity was apt to become an image for the great ''illusion'' to hold ignorant mankind in its grasp. According to the Advaita philosophers there is no difference between '' avidya'' (''ignorance'') and ''moha'' ("delusion") as factors that lead to human bondage. Magic and

Religion Religion is a range of social system, social-cultural systems, including designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics in religion, ethics, or ...

sometimes go together. The most important source for the knowledge of

Vedic upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed ...

magic is

Atharvaveda The Atharvaveda or Atharva Veda (, , from ''wikt:अथर्वन्, अथर्वन्'', "priest" and ''wikt:वेद, वेद'', "knowledge") or is the "knowledge storehouse of ''wikt:अथर्वन्, atharvans'', the proced ...

. Those ''

mantra A mantra ( ; Pali: ''mantra'') or mantram (Devanagari: मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words (most often in an Indo-Iranian language like Sanskrit or Avestan) belie ...

s'' of the

Vedas FIle:Atharva-Veda samhita page 471 illustration.png, upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the ''Atharvaveda''. The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of relig ...

that are meant for ''shanti'', for allaying fears and evils, for greater welfare and for extension of life, etc., are called ''pratyangiramantrah'' or ''atharvanah'', but those meant for harming others, i.e., ''abhichara'', are called ''angiramantrah'' or ''angirasah''. Hindu belief contends that the fundamental power of

Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the ...

—which penetrates existence and is neutral by itself—can be used by qualified specialists for good or evil ends. To scare the enemy is the aim of Indrajala. Kamandaka and the

Puranas Puranas (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
(1995 Editio ...

include '' Upeksha'', ''Maya'' and ''Indrajala'' as sub-methods of

diplomacy Diplomacy is the communication by representatives of State (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international syste ...

. ''Indrajala'' is the use of stratagems for victory over the enemy and according to

Kautilya ''Kautilya's Arthashastra'' (, ; ) is an Ancient Indian Sanskrit treatise on statecraft, politics, economic policy and military strategy. The text is likely the work of several authors over centuries, starting as a compilation of ''Arthashas ...

it comes under ''Bheda''.

References

{{Reflist Indian philosophy Deception Weapons of Indra

See also

References