Class 105, vivekacūḍāmaṇi

In this philosophically rich class on verse 108, Acharya Tadany introduced the concept of māyā as the third name of kāraṇa śarīram (causal body), describing it as kārya anumeyā — that which is never directly perceptible and can only be inferred through scripture-based reasoning (śāstra pramāṇa), because in the kāraṇa avasthā (causal/unmanifest state) the entire manifestation is resolved, including the sense organs themselves, making perception impossible. 

Acharya Tadany established two foundational principles: (1) destruction is never non-existence but a change of condition (manifest → unmanifest), illustrated by burning candles, wooden desks turning to ashes, and nuclear explosions converting matter to energy; and (2) ex nihilo nihil fit (“nothing comes from nothing”), supported by everyday examples (mobile phones, food production) and extended cosmically — the manifest universe (kārya) must have an unmanifest cause (kāraṇa), namely māyā or avyakta avasthā. Tadany emphasized that kāraṇa avasthā is undifferentiated (no vyaṣṭi/samaṣṭi distinction), beginningless (anādi), and experienced most closely in deep sleep (suṣupti or mahā suṣupti), where everything exists in potential form (memories, knowledge, worries “load back” upon waking), proving it is not nothingness. 

Then, Acharya Tadany introduced māyā as triguṇātmikā (possessing three faculties/śaktis): jñāna śaktiḥ (sattva/knowing), kriyā śaktiḥ (rajas/acting), and dravya śaktiḥ (tamas/inertia), inferred from the universe (cause pervades effect), manifesting in gradations across life forms — full in humans (crown of creation through intelligence), reduced in animals, minimal in plants, and pure inertia in inert objects — underscoring that these powers are Bhagavān’s blessings to be refined toward mokṣa. The class concluded that māyā is inexplicable (anirvācya), beginningless, and the dependent, non-substantial cause of all manifestation, setting the stage for verse 109’s deeper explanation.

Vivekacuḍamaṇi_विवेकचूडामणि_Classes_AI-Generated-Summary_Class-105_Acharya-Tadany