Hare Krishna,
Even though Maya is an expansion of Subhadra Maharani, Subhadra Maharani is NOT Maya! Just like the living entity is an expansion of Krishna, but the living entity is NOT Krishna.
Indeed, Maya IS dangerous, even if she is an expansion of Subhadra Mayi. :-) And to say so is not an offense unto Maya or Subhadra Maharani.
In fact, Yoga Maya and Maha Maya are very very different. Completely different. Like day and night. Both come and go based on the movement of the sun. Similarly both Yogamaya and Mahamaya act under the direction of Krishna. Someone might say that day and night are the two sides of the same coin, and therefore they are actually the same. So they may say that Yogamaya (Lord's internal potency), and Mahamaya (Lord's external potency) are on the same level. To claim that they are the same is actually Mayavada, or the "all is one" philosophy.
No energy of Krishna, including the humblest little living entity inhabiting the body of an ant, is to be disrespected.
However, we should know things as they are.
The duty of Mahamaya, is to keep the conditioned living entities away from the spiritual world. It is a thankless job, but she performs her service perfectly and Krishna is very pleased by her service. The Vaishnava Acharyas call Maya a witch. That doesn't mean they "hate" her, but that they are aware of what her purpose is. She bewilders and imprisons anyone who is inclined to accept her traps as a sweet form of enjoyment.
She is very very strong, and the living entity is very weak. The only way is as Krishna says, "maam eva ye prapadyante" from Bhagavad Gita. The only way to overcome Mahamaya or Maya is to take shelter of Krishna fully and completely.
daivi hy esha guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it." BG 7.14
In the purport, Srila Prabhupada writes:
quote
The living entities belong to the eternal superior nature of the Lord, but due to contamination by the inferior nature, matter, their illusion is also eternal. The conditioned soul is therefore called nitya-baddha, or eternally conditioned. No one can trace out the history of his becoming conditioned at a certain date in material history. Consequently, his release from the clutches of material nature is very difficult, even though that material nature is an inferior energy, because material energy is ultimately conducted by the supreme will, which the living entity cannot overcome. Inferior, material nature is defined herein as divine nature due to its divine connection and movement by the divine will. Being conducted by divine will, material nature, although inferior, acts so wonderfully in the construction and destruction of the cosmic manifestation. The Vedas confirm this as follows: mayam tu prakritim vidyan mayinam tu mahesvaram. "Although maya [illusion] is false or temporary, the background of maya is the supreme magician, the Personality of Godhead, who is Mahesvara, the supreme controller." (Svetasvatara Upanishad 4.10)
unquote
Later on in the same purport, Srila Prabhupada writes:
quote
The words mam eva are also significant. Mam means unto Krishna (Vishnu) only, and not Brahma or Siva. Although Brahma and Siva are greatly elevated and are almost on the level of Vishnu, it is not possible for such incarnations of rajo-guna (passion) and tamo-guna (ignorance) to release the conditioned soul from the clutches of maya. In other words, both Brahma and Siva are also under the influence of maya. Only Vishnu is the master of maya; therefore He alone can give release to the conditioned soul. The Vedas (Svetasvatara Upanishad 3.8) confirm this in the phrase tam eva viditva. or "Freedom is possible only by understanding Krishna." Even Lord Siva affirms that liberation can be achieved only by the mercy of Vishnu. Lord Siva says, mukti-pradata sarvesham vishnur eva na samsayah: "There is no doubt that Vishnu is the deliverer of liberation for everyone."
unquote
Hope that this helps. We are here to understand the conclusions of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya perfectly, not to give our own opinions.
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Comments
Hare Krishna Prabhuji...
Thanks for posting this discussion. It is really informative in helping to know about Maha Maya (external potency of Lord Krishna) and her activities in service of the Supreme.
Can you please tell us about Yoga Maya (internal potency of Lord Krishna)as well? Whose expansion is Yoga Maya? What are her activities? Like Maha Maya should the living enntity also overcome Yoga Maya.
The reason I am asking is because Sri Radharani is said to be internal pleasure potency of Lord Krishna. So does it mean that Sri Radharani and Yoga Maya are same, though I have never heard of this. Please forgive me if I have asked an offensive question.
Also why are both the energies of the Lord called as 'Maya'?
Thanking you in advance. Hari bol.
Regards,
Artha Kadamb