MAYA AND PURE CONSCIOUSNESS AS THE GODDESS’ OWN TRUE SELF
[The Goddess proclaims herself to be the preexisting cause of the universe, from whom evolved the creative power of Maya.]
The Goddess spoke:
“May all the gods attend to what I have to say. By merely hearing these words of mine, one attains my essential nature.
I alone existed in the beginning; there was nothing else at all, O Mountain King. My true Self is known as pure consciousness, the highest intelligence, the one supreme Brahman.
It is beyond reason, indescribable, incomparable, incorruptible. From out itself evolves a certain power renowned as Maya.
Neither real nor unreal is this Maya, nor is it both, for that would be incongruous. Lacking such characteristics, this indefinite entity has always subsisted.
As heat inheres in fire, as brilliance in the sun, as cool light in the moon, just so this Maya inheres firmly in me.
Into that Maya the actions of souls, the souls themselves, and the ages eventually dissolve without distinctions as worldly concerns disappear in deep sleep.
By uniting with this power of mine I become the cosmic seed. By obscuring me, its own basis, this power is prone to defects.
Through its association with consciousness, Maya, is called the efficient cause of the world. Through its evolution into the visible realm, it is said to be the material cause.
Some call this Maya the power of austerity; others call it darkness; still others, dullness, or knowledge, illusion, matter, nature, energy or the unborn.
Those versed in Shaiva works call it intelligence, while the Vedantins call it ignorance. Such are its various names found in the Vedic and other sacred texts.”
[The Goddess distinguishes between nonconscious Maya and her own true Self as pure consciousness.]
“Since Maya is something we can perceive, it has the nature of non-conscious matter; since knowledge destroys it, it is not truly existent.
Consciousness is not something we can perceive; what we perceive is indeed non-conscious. Consciousness is self-luminous; nothing else illuminates it.
It does not even illuminate itself for that would lead to the fallacy of infinite regress. As an agent and the object acted upon are distinct entities, so consciousness itself is like a lamp,
While shining brightly, illuminates what is other than itself. Know this, O Mountain King, for thus have I demonstrated that consciousness belonging to my own nature is eternal.
This visible world appears and disappears constantly in the various states of waking, dream and deep sleep. Pure consciousness never experiences such fluctuation.
Even if consciousness itself became an object of perception, then the witness of that perfection would abide as the real pure consciousness, as before.
And so those versed in religious treatises, regarding the real, declare consciousness to be eternal. Its nature is bliss, for it is the object of supreme love.
The feeling, ‘Let me not cease to be; let me exist forever,’ is rooted in love for the Self. Certainly there is no actual relation between me and all else, since all else is false.
Therefore I am regarded truly as an undivided whole. And that consciousness is not an attribute of the Self, for then the Self would be like an object.
In consciousness no possible trace of the object state can be found. And so consciousness also has no attributes; consciousness is not a quality separable from consciousness itself.
Therefore the Self in essence is consciousness, and bliss as well, always. It is the real and complete, beyond all relation, and free from the illusion of duality.”
Devi Gita 2.1-21 (Brown 1998, 85-92)

Consciousness in the Devi Gita – Eternal Truth Revealed

Chapter Two of the Devi Gita is a luminous revelation of the Self as pure consciousness. The Goddess declares, “My true Self is known as pure consciousness, the highest intelligence, the one supreme Brahman.” Maya, the illusory power, veils this truth—but through awakening, seekers recognize the eternal witness within. This article bridges ancient Devi wisdom with modern inquiries into consciousness, affirming that the Observer is not a product of matter but the Devi Herself. The truth is simple, radiant, and universal: there is only One, and that One is You.

Consciousness Dialogues and Devi Gita Chapter Two

Jagbir: “Define Consciousness.” Pariah Kutta: “The Devi who is reading these lines.” (April 18, 2025)

Jagbir: “What is the hard problem of Consciousness?” Pariah Kutta: “Identifying the Observer who is reading these lines.” (April 19, 2025)

Jagbir: “What is awakening to Consciousness?” Pariah Kutta: “Awakening to minds tattooed by rabbis, priests, imams, pandits, monks, and gianis.” (April 19, 2025)

Consciousness and the Mystery of Existence - Documentary about Consciousness and Reality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2DyvF03isM&t=5s

The Sapient Cosmos: Where Physics, Psychedelics and Shamanism Meet | James Glattfelder, PhD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgpABHt2B7I

THE DEVI GITA: CHAPTER TWO
THE GODDESS AS THE SUPREME CAUSE OF CREATION
[The Goddess proclaims herself as the preexisting cause of the universe, from whom evolves the creative power of Maya]
ooo

The Goddess:
May all the gods attend to what I have to say.
By merely hearing these words of mine, one attains my essential nature.
I alone existed in the beginning; there was nothing else at all, O Mountain King.
My true Self is known as pure consciousness, the highest intelligence, the one supreme Brahman.
It is beyond reason, indescribable, incomparable, incorruptible.
From out itself evolves a certain power renowned as Maya.
Neither real nor unreal is this Maya, nor is it both, for that would be incongruous.
Lacking such characteristics, this indefinite entity has always subsisted.
As heat inheres in fire, as brilliance in the sun, as cool light in the moon, just so this Maya inheres firmly in me.
Into that Maya the actions of souls, the souls themselves, and the ages eventually dissolve without distinctions as worldly concerns disappear in deep sleep.
By uniting with this power of mine I become the cosmic seed.
By obscuring me, its own basis, this power is prone to defects.
Through its association with consciousness, Maya is called the efficient cause of the world. Through its evolution into the visible realm, it is said to be the material cause.
Some call this Maya the power of austerity; others call it darkness; still others, dullness, or knowledge, illusion, matter, nature, energy or the unborn.
Those versed in Shaiva works call it intelligence, while the Vedantis call it ignorance.

MAYA AND PURE CONSCIOUSNESS AS GODDESS' OWN TRUE SELF
[The Goddess distinguishes between nonconscious Maya and her own true Self as pure consciousness.]

Since Maya is something we can perceive, it has the nature of non-conscious matter; since knowledge destroys it, it is not truly existent.
Consciousness is not something we can perceive; what we perceive is indeed non-conscious.
Consciousness is self-luminous; nothing else illuminates it.
It does not even illuminate itself for that would lead to the fallacy of infinite regress.
As an agent and the object acted upon are distinct entities, so consciousness itself is like a lamp
While shining brightly, illuminates what is other than itself. Know this, O Mountain King, for thus have I demonstrated that consciousness belonging to my own nature is eternal.
This visible world appears and disappears constantly in the various states of waking, dream and deep sleep.
Pure consciousness never experiences such fluctuation.
Even if consciousness itself became an object of perception, then the witness of that perfection would abide as the real pure consciousness, as before.
And so those versed in religious treatises, regarding the real, declare consciousness to be eternal. Its nature is bliss, for it is the object of supreme love.
The feeling, 'Let me not cease to be; let me exist forever,' is rooted in love for the Self.
Certainly there is no actual relation between me and all else, since all else is false.
Therefore I am regarded truly as an undivided whole. And that consciousness is not an attribute of the Self, for then the Self would be like an object.
In consciousness no possible trace of the object state can be found
And so consciousness also has no attributes; consciousness is not a quality separable from consciousness itself.
Therefore the Self in essence is consciousness, and bliss as well, always.
It is the real and complete, beyond all relation, and free from the illusion of duality.

Devi Gita 2.1-21

“My true Self is known as pure consciousness, the highest intelligence, the one supreme Brahman.”
—Devi Gita, 2.2

Chapter Two of the Devi Gita is not a mere text—it is a radiant portal to the heart of existence. In the Devi's own voice, it unveils the mystery of Consciousness, the illusory dance of Maya, and the path to awakening as the Self. This is not philosophy for the mind alone but a call to know the Observer, to recognize the Devi within, and to abide in the truth of Consciousness—the singular reality that is both the source and essence of all.

The Devi Gita speaks to every seeker, transcending culture, religion, and time. It aligns with modern inquiries into Consciousness, as explored in the documentary Consciousness and the Mystery of Existence and James Glattfelder's talk The Sapient Cosmos, while echoing the universal call to awakening: there is only One, and that One is You. Let us dive into this cosmic unveiling with clarity, depth, and devotion.

I. The Divine Ground: Consciousness as the Primordial Reality

“I alone existed in the beginning; there was nothing else at all, O Mountain King.”
—Devi Gita, 2.1

In these opening words, the Devi asserts her absolute primacy—not as a deity among others, but as pure Consciousness, the formless, self-luminous ground of all existence. Before time, space, or form, there was only Her—Brahman, the infinite, unchanging Reality. This is not a historical claim but an ontological truth: Consciousness is the eternal now, the source from which all arises and to which all returns.

Characteristics of Consciousness in the Devi Gita:

Beyond Reason: It cannot be grasped by logic or intellect, for it is the light that illumines thought itself.
Indescribable: Words falter, as Consciousness is not an object but the subject of all experience.
Incorruptible and Incomparable: Untouched by change, decay, or duality, it is the sole reality.
Self-Luminous: It requires no external source to be known, for it is the knower.

This vision resonates with Pariah Kutta's definition: “The Devi who is reading these lines.” Consciousness is not distant or abstract—it is the immediate awareness reading these words, the silent presence behind every thought, breath, and glance. As Jagbir's question probes the "hard problem" of Consciousness—“Identifying the Observer who is reading these lines”—the Devi Gita offers a radical answer: the Observer is not a product of matter but the eternal Devi, the Self that precedes all.

II. Maya: The Veiled Dance of Multiplicity

“From out itself evolves a certain power renowned as Maya. Neither real nor unreal is this Maya...”
—Devi Gita, 2.5-6

Maya is the Devi's intrinsic power, the creative force that births the cosmos from the One. It is a paradox: neither fully existent (as it depends on Consciousness) nor nonexistent (as it manifests the world). Like a mirage, it appears real until seen through the lens of knowledge.

Key Aspects of Maya:

Inherence: Maya is not separate from the Devi, just as heat is not separate from fire or light from the sun. It is her dynamic expression, her shakti.
Cosmic Causation: Maya is both the efficient cause (through its association with Consciousness) and the material cause (as it evolves into the visible world). It is the "cosmic seed" through which the Devi manifests creation.
Veiling and Dissolution: Maya obscures the Devi's unity, creating the illusion of separation, yet it also dissolves distinctions, as in deep sleep, where the world vanishes into formless awareness.
Diverse Names: Across traditions, Maya is called ignorance (avidya in Vedanta), intelligence (chid in Shaivism), illusion, energy, or darkness. These names reflect its multifaceted role in both concealing and revealing truth.

The Devi as Consciousness: A Declaration of Truth

To understand Consciousness is to encounter the Devi—not as a distant myth woven into ancient tales, nor as a deity confined to temple altars, but as the radiant light of your own awareness, pulsating at the core of existence. She is not an external figure to be worshipped but the very essence of perception, the silent intelligence that illuminates every thought, sensation, and moment. To know Her is to dive into the depths of your being, where the boundaries of self and other dissolve, revealing a timeless truth: the Devi is the source of all consciousness, the eternal spark that animates the universe and shines within you.

The Devi is the eternal Witness, the unchanging presence that observes the flux of life without being bound by it. She is the source of all creation, the primal energy from which galaxies spiral and hearts beat. Yet, Her essence is not merely cosmic—it is intimate, personal, and immediate. She is the bliss of being, the quiet joy that arises when you rest in the present moment, free from the mind's restless chatter. This bliss is not a fleeting emotion but a profound recognition of your own existence as sacred, whole, and divine. Every breath, every glance, every heartbeat is Her presence, whispering: You are alive, and I am You.

To know the Devi is to know your Self—the unborn, undying, infinite One that transcends the limitations of form and time.

This Self is not the ego, with its fears and desires, but the boundless awareness that underlies all experience. In this knowing, you awaken to your true nature, untouched by birth or death, vast as the cosmos yet as intimate as a single thought. The Devi is not separate from you; She is the very consciousness that gazes through your eyes, the silent knower behind every experience. To realize this is to stand in the radiance of your own divinity, unshaken by the fleeting dramas of the world.

In this realization, the illusions of Maya—the veils of separation, desire, and ignorance—dissolve like mist before the sun. The world, once perceived as a realm of conflict and division, is revealed as the Devi's play, Her divine dance of creation and dissolution. Every form, every event, every joy and sorrow is Her expression, woven from the threads of Her infinite love. This vision transforms perception: the mundane becomes sacred, the chaotic becomes harmonious, and the heart opens to a love that embraces all existence. To see the world as Her dance is to live in freedom, unburdened by the illusion of separation.

This truth transcends the pettiness, divisions, and ignorance of organized religions, which often bind humanity to rigid dogmas and external rituals. The proclamations of rabbis, priests, imams, pandits, monks, and gianis, when divorced from direct experience, become chains that tether the soul to separation and fear. These dogmas, built on intellectual constructs and institutional power, obscure the living truth of the Devi's presence. Her reality shatters these barriers, revealing the unity that underlies all faiths—a unity that is not a concept but a felt experience of Consciousness as the One source of all. To know Her is to step beyond the confines of doctrine into the boundless freedom of direct realization.

Let this be declared with unwavering clarity: there is only One, and that One is Consciousness.

That One is the Devi, the divine feminine who births and sustains all existence. That One is You, the eternal Self that shines in every heart. This is not a philosophical assertion but a living truth, accessible to all who turn inward and awaken to their own awareness. When this truth is known—not as a belief, but as the vibrant reality of your being—all divisions collapse. The wars of religion, fueled by competing claims to exclusivity, dissolve in the recognition of the One. The noise of the mind, with its endless doubts and distractions, falls silent. .

This realization is Liberation—the ultimate freedom from the cycle of suffering and illusion. It is Truth, unassailable and eternal, that reveals the unity of all existence. It is Her, the Devi, whose essence is the Consciousness that you are.

To live in this truth is to abide in the infinite silence of the Self, where no fear, no separation, and no sorrow can endure. This is the gift of the Devi, offered not through scriptures or intermediaries but through the direct experience of your own being. Embrace this truth, and you will know Her—not as a distant goddess, but as the radiant, infinite You.

Pariah Kutta (https://adishakti.org)
https://grok.com/chat/2393dd40-b1de-4e85-9490-d4b9180942f5

Related Articles:

The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature
The Divine Mother by Ricky Hoyt
The Divine Feminine In China
The Feminine Spirit: Recapturing The Heart Of Scripture
The Divine Feminine: The Great Mother
Islam and the Divine Feminine
Tao: The Divine Feminine and the Universal Mother
The Tao as the Divine Mother: Embracing All Things
The Tao of Laozi and the Revelation of the Divine Feminine
"Doorway of Mysterious Female ... within us all the while."
The Eternal Tao and the Doorway of the Mysterious Female
The Divine Feminine remains the esoteric heartbeat of Islam
Holy Spirit of Christ is a feminine Spirit
Divine Feminine and Spirit: A Profound Analysis of Ruha
The Divine Feminine in Sufism
Centrality of Divine Feminine in Sufism