Meaning and elaboration
Meaning: Salutations To The one who is the master of cosmic illusion and magical creative power.
Elaboration
The name Māyā refers to the cosmic power of illusion, a fundamental concept in Hindu philosophy.
The Cosmic Illusion Māyā is an intrinsic power of the divine, specifically of Shiva (and also Vishnu in other traditions), through which the universe is manifested. It is not unreal in the sense of being non-existent, but rather refers to that which is impermanent, ever-changing, and of a lower order of reality compared to the ultimate, unchanging Truth (Brahman or Paramashiva). It is the veil that makes the phenomenal world appear as distinct and separate from the Absolute. The entire cosmos, with its endless forms, names, and activities, is a play of Māyā.
Creative Power Māyā is also the magical, creative power of the Absolute. It is the Sakti (divine energy) through which the unmanifest becomes manifest. This creative potential is astonishing and limitless, giving rise to the mind, the senses, the elements, and all the diverse objects and experiences of the world. Therefore, Salutations to Māyā is an acknowledgment of Bhairava as the ultimate source and orchestrator of this cosmic creativity.
Master of Illusion As the "Master of Māyā," Bhairava is not deluded by this illusion; rather, He controls it directly. He wields Māyā as His instrument for creation, preservation, and dissolution. For ordinary beings, Māyā binds them to the cycle of birth and death (samsāra) by creating a sense of individuality and attachment to the transient world. However, for the divine, Māyā is a leelā (divine play), a conscious expression of power.
Liberator from Maya By offering salutations to Bhairava as Māyā, devotees seek knowledge and liberation from the binding power of illusion. He is the one who can lift the veil of Māyā, revealing the true nature of reality and the unity of the individual soul with the Universal Self.
-