Indrajala
It may refer to:
- Indrajala, a Sanskrit word common to most Indian languages, means Indra's net, deception, fraud, conjuring, jugglery, sorcery, trick in war etc.,
The first performer of maya in this universe was Indra. Indrajala was used for maya in the ancient days. Since Indra signifies God and God’s creation of this universe is quite a magical act, this whole world is Indrajala (a net of Indra), an illusion. Apparently the human magician applies the magic called Indrajala in imitation of his divine forerunners and thus, spreads his net of maya over those he has chosen to be the object of his manipulations. He creates something before the eyes of the spectators which does not really exist, or which does exist in the spectators’ minds as a result of his fallacious powers. If one confines Indrajala to its stricter sense of creation of illusory appearances before the public, it is understandable that this activity was very apt to become an image for the great "Illusion" which holds ignorant mankind in its grasp according to the Advaita philosophers there being no difference between avidya (ignorance) and moha ("delusion") as factors which lead to "human bondage". Magic and Religion sometimes go together. The most important source for the knowledge of Vedic magic is Atharvaveda. Those mantras of the Vedas that are meant for shanti, for allaying fears and evils, for greater welfare and for extension of life, etc., are called Pratyangiramantrah or Atharvanah, but those which are meant for harming others i.e. abhichara, are called Angiramantrah or Angirasah. The fundamental power (of Brahman) which penetrates existence is neutral by itself, it is contended that the same can be utilised by qualified specialists for good as well as for evil ends. To scare the enemy is the aim of Indrajala.
And, Kamandaka and the Puranas include Upeksha, Maya And Indrajala as sub-methods of Diplomacy. Indrajala is the use of stratagem for victory over the enemy and according to Kautilya it comes under Bheda.
