mayā

adjective (-˚ only) made of, consisting of
■ An interesting analysis (interesting for judging the views and sense of etymology of an ancient commentator) of maya is given by Dhammapāla at Vv-a.10 where he distinguishes 6 meanings of the word, viz 1 asma -d-atthe, i.e. “myself” (as representing mayaṃ!). 2 paññatti “regulation” (same as (1) according to example given, but constructed syntectically quite diff. by Dhp.). 3 nibbatti “origin” (arising from, with example mano-maya “produced by mind”). 4 manomaya “spiritually” (same as 3) 5 vikār’ atthe “alteration” (? more like product consistency, substance), with example “sabbe-maṭṭikāmaya-kuṭikā.” 6 pada-pūraṇa matte to make up a foot of the verse (or add a syllable for the sake of completeness with example “dānamaya, sīlamaya” (= dana, sīla).

1. made of: aṭṭhi˚ of bone Vin.ii.115; ayo˚ of iron Snp.669; Pv.i.10#4; Ja.iv.492; udum- bara˚ of Ud. wood Mhvs.23, Mhvs.87; dāru˚ of wood, Vv-a.8; loha˚ of copper Snp.670; veḷuriya˚ of jewels Vv.2#1
2. consisting in: dāna˚ giving, alms Pv-a.8 Pv-a.9; dussa˚ clothes Vv.46⁷
3. dhamma˚ righteousness SN.i.137
4. (more as apposition, in the sense as given by Dhp above under 6) something like, a likeness of, i.e. ingredient, substance, stuff; in āhāra˚ food-stuff, food Ja.iii.523; utu˚ something like a (change in) season Vism.395; sīla˚ character, having sīla as substance (or simply-consisting of) Iti.51 (dāna˚, sīla˚, bhāvanā˚).

Vedic maya

feminine

1. deceptive appearance fraud, deceit, hypocrisy Snp.245, Snp.328 (˚kata deceit), Snp.469, Snp.537, Snp.786, Snp.941 (: māyā vuccati vañcanikā cariyā Mnd.422); Vb.357, Vb.361, Vb.389; Mil.289; Vism.106 (+ sātheyya, māna, pāpicchatā etc.), Vism.479 (māyā viya viññāṇaṃ); Vb-a.34 (in detail), Vb-a.85, Vb-a.493 (def.). Is not used in Pali Abhidhamma in a philosophical sense.
2. mystic formula, magic, trick MN.i.381 (āvaṭṭanī m.) khattiya˚; the mystic formula of a kh. Ja.vi.375; Mil.190; Dhp-a.i.166. In the sense of “illusion” often combined with marīci, e.g. at Ja.ii.330; Ja.v.367; Cnd.680#a ii
3. jugglery, conjuring Mil.3
   ■ On māyā in similes see J.P.T.S. 1907, 122; on term in general Dhs trsl.² 255 (“ilḷusion”); Expos. 333, 468ⁿ
   ■ As adj. in amāya (q.v. & in; bahu-māye rich in deceit Snp-a.351
   ■ Note. In the word maṃ at Kp-a.123 (in pop. etym. of man-gala) the ed. of the text sees an acc. of mā which he takes to be a contracted form of māyā (= iddhi).

• -kāra a conjurer, magician SN.iii.142; Vism.366 (in comparison); Vb-a.196.

cp. Vedic māyā. Suggestions as to etym. see Walde, Lat. Wtb. s. v. manticulor