Abhasa-Vada
Ābhāsa-Vāda (IAST)Translation: "the theory of appearance / manifestation"
A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy
Sanskrit: आभासवाद
Transliteration: Ābhāsa-Vāda
Translation: "theory of appearance or manifestation"
Definition:
- A causation theory in Advaita Vedānta which posits that the individual soul (Jīva) is a seeming or illusory appearance of the Absolute (Brahman). It maintains that all manifestation of name and form is an appearing-to-be in the place of an actual existence. The unity of Being appears to be a multiplicity in the sense of its seeming to appear as such. Those ignorant of the underlying unity (Brahman) behind this apparent diversity assume the diversity to be real, whereas it has no real independent status. It is a variation of the reflection theory. (See Pratibimba-Vāda; Avaccheda-Vāda; Satkārya-Vāda.)
- The creation theory of the Śiva and Śākta schools, which posits that the universe consists of appearances which are all real in the sense that they are aspects of the ultimate reality. The world is an effect and Śiva is the cause.
- The basic creation theory of Kashmir Śaivism. It explains the absolute freedom and autonomy of the Lord to manifest externally the world of names and forms, which always exists within Him. Accordingly, the world is the effect and Śiva is the cause. The world is real, not an illusion, as taught in Advaita Vedānta.
Reference:
- Grimes, John (1996). A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English. Albany: State University of New York Press
