From the Advaitic perspective, Maya means an illusion. On the dualistic perspective, Maya has many meanings.+

Maya literally means illusion. Maya has multiple meanings in Indian philosophies depending on the context. In ancient Vedic literature, Maya literally implies extraordinary power and wisdom. 

 Maya connotes an illusion where things appear to be present but are not what they seem.

Maya is also a spiritual concept connoting "that which exists, but is constantly changing and thus is spiritually unreal", and the "power or the principle that conceals the true character of spiritual reality.

From the Advaitic perspective, Maya means an illusion. On the dualistic perspective, Maya has many meanings.  

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Sage Sankara explains darkness and light are distinct from each other in their nature and in their functions. Darkness has no existence of its own; it is merely the absence of light, whereas, the light is positive and helps vision. Darkness and light can neither coexist nor share their functions or nature. Darkness is an error that can be removed.

A person, seeing a rope in dim light, mistakes it for a snake. He is as much frightened as he would have been if there had been a real snake there. The snake is said to have ‘illusory reality’. 

The illusory snake is described as a superimposition on the rope. The snake is not real, because, it is found on examination with a light that it never existed there. At the same time, it was experienced as a reality till ignorance prevailed.

Similarly, this waking experience (universe) experienced as reality due to ignorance. When wisdom dawns then the unreal nature of the waking experience is exposed. At the dawn of Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the waking experience has no existence apart from consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The waking experience is therefore said to be superimposed on consciousness the same way as the dream is superimposed on consciousness. The waking experience is the practical reality because it is a reality until the attainment of ‘Self’-realization. 

Consciousness alone is the absolute reality; because it is absolutely changeless because it is formless, timeless and spaceless existence. The Soul, the 'Self' reveals ‘what is real’ and ‘what is unreal” when the seeker is receptive and ready.

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Superimposition means mistaking one thing for another. The dualistic illusion (universe) is the Superimposed over the nondualistic reality. The universe is superimposed over the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The ‘I’ is superimposed over the Soul, the Self. (infinite) and we limit the ‘I’ to an individual whereas the ‘I’ is the whole universe. The universe is the dualistic illusion.  Until we limit the ‘I’ to an individual we will never be able to realize the Self’ hidden by the ‘I’. This ‘I’ itself is ignorance and ‘I’ itself is the dualistic illusion.

Without ignorance, the universe will never prevail as reality.  The relation between the universe and the Soul, the Self-non-existent is in reality. 

The relation is false since there cannot be any real relation between the Soul, the Self, and the universe because the universe is nothing but an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The purpose of acquiring Self-knowledge is to remove the ignorance and once it is removed, the Soul, the 'Self'  will reveal on its accord. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the only reality.

The dreamworld is superimposed on the Soul, the Self. Similarly, the waking world is also is superimposed on the Soul. In deep sleep, there is neither the superimposition neither of the dream world nor of the waking world.

The dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly, the waking becomes unreal when wisdom dawns.

The wisdom dawns when you realize the ‘Self is not you but the ‘Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

When you realize the ‘Self is not you but the ‘Self is the Soul then you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Let Advaitic wisdom annihilates ignorance (I) and reveals Soul, the Self the God in truth.  Let your ears become deaf to the untruth propagated by the religion as a reality; enable you to realize the truth hidden by the ignorance (I).  Let your eyes become blind to illusion to receive the Soul as the Self as it is in the midst of the dualistic illusion.

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Sage Sankara said: Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman or the Soul, the Self. If one gets knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if he gets knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish.

The snake is only an idea: it disappears on inquiry but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the rope is also an idea and its reality will be exposed when wisdom dawns. There is neither snake nor the rope in reality because, from the ultimate standpoint, the duality is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self. 

The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.  Consciousness is the root element of the universe. From consciousness, the universe comes into existence. In consciousness, the universe resides. And into consciousness, the universe is dissolved.  Consciousness is the parent of all that is there is.  Consciousness is the only reality, and the universe too but an illusory manifestation. 

The Veda serves only at the starting point. What one has to learn from Veda must be understood through the exercise of reason, as far as reason might go. And what one has understood must be realized in one’s life. 

It is not that one should pore over the ancient scriptures.  There is no need to study first then realize. One has to realize first then only he will know ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar