Saptamaya

Saptamaya is a Sanskrit term meaning “sevenfold Maya,” where Maya denotes illusion, power, or the fabric of reality. The compound appears in Hindu and related Indian traditions to describe a sevenfold principle, layer, or aspect connected with consciousness, creation, or cosmology. Because Maya has many senses in Indian thought, saptamaya is similarly polyvalent and its precise sense varies by context.

In philosophical and yogic contexts, saptamaya is often used to indicate seven aspects of manifestation or seven strata of existence. Some schools employ a layered view of the self or reality in which consciousness is examined through multiple coverings or levels; in such uses, saptamaya may function as a framework for analyzing how perception and awareness are structured. In tantric or devotional lineages, the term can also refer to seven forms of divine power or energy associated with the universal creative force, the goddess, or Shakti.

Because there is no single canonical list, the exact interpretation of saptamaya depends on the tradition and text. The concept illustrates a broader pattern in Indian philosophy of organizing reality into multiple levels or powers that can be studied, practiced, or realized through spiritual discipline.

See also Maya; Sapta; Kosha; Lokas; Shakti.