Vidya Maya and Avidya Maya in the Shakta Path of Tantra

Playing with Maya by Applying Shakti on the Illusion of Life

Vidya Maya in AI image creation: Nothing seems real, but it’s really cool to play with.

If we are stepping into the world of Shakta Tantra, where both Vidya Maya (विद्या माया) and Avidya Maya (अविद्या माया) form the essence of the teachings and tradition, the guru emerges as a master illusionist, crafting a spectacle so compelling that it draws you deeper into a labyrinth of questions, each twist and turn designed to ensnare but ultimately enlighten.

I absolutely believe in the necessity of sadhana, in both Vedic and non-Vedic practices, whether left- or right-handed. But I also understand when it is necessary to throw it all into the fire. Being in your own flow and without a religious mindset is essential in the time of Kali Yuga, where we are all deeply constrained in the ocean of pseudo-esoteric knowledge, engrossed in our karmic complexities, sexual distractions, and modern world fantasies—where almost everything you desire can be bought, where half-knowledge rules, and the one-eyed giants are kings.

Take KAP, for example, the so-called Kundalini Activation Method. It would be a super fun leisure activity if it weren’t being made into something it is not. There’s just a small problem with this KAP: it’s not about Kundalini rising at all. They are working with your emotional body, which wants to rid itself of impurities through expansive and uncontrolled movement. In Brazil, this method has been known for a long time. If you tell people this has nothing to do with Kundalini rising, they simply ignore you or even look down on you. But this is Kali Yuga, the epoch of absolute nonsense, and from this perspective, this is all perfectly OK. So KAP is a beautiful example of Vidya Maya (विद्या माया), the harmless Maya.

For beginners in Indian spirituality, the Shakta path—often considered the little brother of Kashmir Shaivism—doesn’t shy away from Maya. It embraces it, plays with it, and seduces you with its layers. The guru, with a sly smile, knows that rituals and symbols are beneficial but, if applied incorrectly, can lead you further into the web of divine misdirection. Rituals are not tools to open the treasure box; they are not goals in themselves.

Vidya Maya (विद्या माया), the beautiful one—the world of endless beauty, nature, and sensual experiences—is the true home of the Shakta Tantras. We have been the protectors of Earth since time immemorial. We know that this beautiful Maya is not real, and while we worship it, we also know the methods to transcend it and go beyond our sensual sensations. But most of the time, we are willingly trapped in this Maya, even if it costs us another lifetime. Fools we are forever.

In Shakta Tantra, we distinguish between two types of Maya. Actually, we Shaktas take it as our own invention, but it should actually be credited to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who apparently came up with this distinction. So Avidya Maya (अविद्या माया) is the ignorance that keeps you bound, like believing that alcohol increases your creativity while it slowly kills your brain cells. “Why not drink every day? The world is an illusion anyway,” Charles Bukowski might argue from the grave. Yes, absolutely. However, this is what we would call Avidya Maya (अविद्या माया), just for the sake of clarification.

Jai Maa