ਮਾਈ (maa-ee)
Meaning: noun: Mother, Mother Nature (Maya).
Quote:
ਏਕਾ ਮਾਈ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਵਿਆਈ ਤਿਨਿ ਚੇਲੇ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ॥
ekaa maa-ee jugat viaa-ee tin chele parvaaṇ.
It is believed that a mother (Mother Nature or Maya), by some mysterious method, gave birth to three disciples (offspring). – Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 07
Message: Guru Nanak here refers to ancient mythology, which believes that Mother Nature through some mysterious method conceived and delivered three commonly accepted disciples (principles). These are expressed as the creator of the world (Brahma), the storekeeper and provider (Vishnu), and the destroyer (Shiva).
But in truth, Guru Nanak tells us, the One Itself is hidden behind the manifest (phenomenal world) or universe. Creation, sustenance, and destruction happen as It wills. How strange it is that the Almighty, who operates the universe, watches over everyone but they (Maya and her disciples) cannot see it.
The message is that, the Divine Himself is all in all. He alone is beyond the influence of Maya. Everyone else, whether gods or semi-gods, is under the influence of the world and its snares.
Therefore, bow and seek only the Omnipotent, and shed all other supports.
Etymology: A metaphoric modification of Maya, from Sanskrit maayaa (supernatural power, skill, illusion, fraud) → Pali/Prakrit maayaa (illusion, fraud, trick) → Old Bengali maa (illusion), and maaee (mother), which comes from Sanskrit maatri/maatrikaa (mother) → Pali maataa → Prakrit maayaa/maai → Lahṅdi/Punjabi maaee (woman/mother) and Sindhi maaee (respectful address to a woman); comparable to Bhojpuri/Awadhi/Hindi/Marathi maaee (mother).
