MĀYĀ AND MEASUREMENT: UNVEILING REALITY THROUGH VEDANTIC AND QUANTUM LENSES

Abstract

This article investigates the compelling parallels between the Vedantic doctrine of Māyā—which describes the phenomenal world as an illusory projection obscuring the non-dual reality of Brahman—and foundational principles in quantum mechanics, particularly those related to measurement and the observer effect. Rooted in Advaita Vedānta, Māyā challenges the reliability of sensory experience and posits consciousness as the substratum of existence. Similarly, quantum theory reveals that the act of observation influences the behaviour of physical systems, as exemplified by wavefunction collapse and quantum indeterminacy. Through a comparative philosophical and scientific inquiry, this article examines how both traditions confront the nature of reality, the limitations of empirical knowledge, and the centrality of the observer. The study highlights convergences in ontological and epistemological concerns, suggesting that despite their methodological differences, Vedānta and quantum mechanics collectively invite a more integrated metaphysical framework for understanding reality.