[Advaita-l] What is the difference between Maya and avidhya ?T

[Venkatraghavan S]

Namaste Ravi Kiran ji,
I haven't followed the thread , but some suggested answers n line.

On 22 Sep 2016 2:55 p.m., "Ravi Kiran via Advaita-l" <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> If there is any further explanation /elaboration behind this mention -
that
> mUlAvidya, which is bhAva rUpa (Ashrita in Brahman), is removed by Sruti
> vAkya janita tattvajnAna alone without need for other abhyAsa, pl share
the
> links or articles.

The bhAva rUpa of avidyA is also vyAvahArika only, not pAramaArthika. The
removal of mUlAvidyA is like the removal of any mithyA vastu - through
jnAna of adhishThAna. Any mithyA vastu has some bhAva rUpa in vyavahAra
right? How do we say that is sublated?  Same way for avidyA too. Whether it
is bhAva rUpa or abhAva rUpa, when jnAna arises it ceases to be. (and it
never was nor will be).

> > And interestingly they say for the adhyAsa upAdAna is this mUlAvidyA,
when
> > adhyAsa goes ( i.e. correct knowledge of rope in place of snake) the
> > knowledge of rajju jnana will not destroy the mUlAvidyA but at that
sandhi
> > samaya (juncture) the sarpa etc. get laya (merged) in their cause i.e.
> > mUlAvidyA that is all.
> >
>
> Interesting..if laya (merge) is accepted, isn't there a possibility to
> emerge back/manifest at a future time ? how it is explained as Atyantika
> avidyA nivrutti ?

I am not sure what Sri Bhaskar is talking about. So I am only answering
your last question above, Atyantika avidyA nivritti is because avidyA like
any mithyA object is traikAlika bAdha pratoyogi. So once jnAna arises one
realises that avidyA never was, is, will be. Whether it is bhAva or abhAva
does not make a difference.

> which also implies mUlAvidya cannot be destroyed like tUlAvidyA (upon
> attaining tattva jnAna), but there is some mystic component (beeja shakti,
> doing its part to release souls?)

mUlAvidyA is indeed destroyed upon jnAna, so this consideration is moot.

Regards,
Venkatraghavan