dayanmaya

Dayānmaya is a term found in Indian religious and philosophical discourse. The word combines dayā, meaning compassion or mercy, with māyā, a term that can denote illusion, magic, or the manifested world. Depending on tradition, Dayānmaya is used to describe a reality or disposition in which compassionate activity is expressed within the illusory or transient world. In bhakti and devotional literature, Dayānmaya may be used as an epithet for a merciful form of the divine who alleviates suffering and guides devotees.

In classical Sanskrit sources, the compound is not widely attested as a fixed doctrinal category, and its interpretation is often contextual. In modern devotional writings and regional religious poetry, Dayānmaya appears as a descriptor of divine mercy or as a title for spiritual teachers who emphasize compassion as a central practice. The term is also encountered as a proper noun in some contemporary organizations, temples, or literary works, where it signals a focus on mercy and compassionate action.

Etymology notes: dayā denotes mercy; māyā denotes the perceptual or practical world as experienced, sometimes illusionary, though some traditions treat maya as a creative power of the divine. See also dayā, māyā, bhakti, and avatāra. Given the term’s flexible usage, readers should consult specific texts or regional contexts to understand its intended meaning.