212 SKETCH OF THE 



whilst in the Veddnta philosophy, and the popular sects, such as that of 

 Kabir, and others, in which all created things are held to be illusory, the 

 SaMi, or active will of the deity, is always designated and spoken of as 

 Maya or Mahhmaya, original deceit or illusion.* 



■ 

 Another set of notions of some antiquity which contributed to form 

 the character of the Sakti, whether general or particular, were derived from 

 the Slinkhya philosophy. In this system, nature, Prakriti, or Mida Prakri- 

 ti, is defined to be of eternal existence and independant origin, distinct 

 from the supreme spirit, productive though no production, and the plastic 

 origin of all things, including even the gods. Hence Prakriti has come 

 to be regarded as the mother of gods and men, whilst as one with matter, 

 the source of error, it is again identified with May A, or delusion, and as 

 co-existent with the supreme as his Sdkti, his personified energy, or his 

 bride. f 



fcfr*P3 *wht mJf TT^fa4 ^sN u 



-* r>. ■ ..*■* 



The Lord was alone invested with the Supreme form, and beheld the whole world, with the sky 

 and regions of space, a void. Having contemplated all things in his mind, he, without any assistant, 

 began with the will, to create all things. He, the Lord, endowed with the wish for creation. 



* So also in the authority last quoted. 



She (Prakriti,) one with, Brahma, is Maya, eternal, everlasting ; and in the Kalika Purdna 



Prakriti is termed Inherent Mayd, because she beguiles all beings. 



f In the Gita, Prakriti is identified with all the elementary predicates of matter. 



