A term of Vedanta philosophy denoting a limitation imposed upon the Self or upon Brahman through ignorance.

( Bhagavatha Vahini) The difference between man, beast, bird, worm, insect and even a god is but a difference of the 'vessel' (BV-1), His Upadhi. That is to say, Maya obstructs the Reality; its nature is to hide the reality and make it appear as the unreal ( BV-42). But, Rama said, the instant the Individual discovers and knows that It is but the image of the Supreme, and that the distinction between the Supreme and Itself has no basis in Truth, Maya will disappear, like fog before the risen sun. This is the genuine Atmajnan, for, the Supreme is Param-atma and the Individual is the same Param-atma seen as an Image in the Body-with-name-and-form, the Upadhi. ( RRV2-2).

The thing from which characteristics are falsely transferred to an entity that is close by

material designation.