The unreal (mithya) nature of the universe
Brahman is absolute existence and pure consciousness. It is infinite,
pure, supreme, self-luminous, of the nature of eternal bliss, non-different from
the indwelling self, and without parts.
It is the only reality. The universe which is superimposed on it is not different from it, just as the illusory snake is not different from the rope on which it appears. A pot made of clay is not different from the clay. There is no separate entity as pot apart from clay. The pot is only a name given to clay in a particular shape. When the same clay is given another shape it is given the name ‘plate’. So what really exists is only clay, and names such as pot are imaginary. The Chandogya upanishad, 6.1.4 says, “All modification (of clay) is nothing but name based on words; the clay alone is real”. Similarly everything that is the effect of Brahman is nothing but Brahman. The appearance of the universe as an entity separate from Brahman is due only to delusion caused by nescience. The Mundaka upanishad declares that this universe is nothing but the supreme Brahman. If the universe were real, the statement in the srutis that Brahman is infinite would become invalid, the Vedas would lose their authority and Isvara’s words would become untrue. Such a result is not acceptable. If the world is real it should appear in dreamless sleep also. As it is not at all perceived in dreamless sleep, it is unreal like objects seen in dream. Therefore it is clear that the universe does not exist apart from Brahman.
Therefore the supreme Brahman is the only reality. It is pure
consciousness, without beginning or end, and devoid of any activity. It is pure
eternal bliss. It is free from all differences brought about by Maya. It is
eternal, unchanging, pure, beyond the faculty of reasoning, formless, subtle,
and self-effulgent. It is beyond the trichotomy of knower, knowledge and known.
It is beyond mind and speech.
The explanation of the mahavakya “That thou art” will be taken up in
the next article.