Avarana

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title: "Avarana" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["advaita-vedanta", "sanskrit-words-and-phrases"] description: "Sanskrit term for obstruction" topic_path: "general/advaita-vedanta" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avarana" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Sanskrit term for obstruction ::

Avarana (आवरण) is a Sanskrit term that translates as 'covering' or 'obstruction'. It is considered to be one of the three defects of the mind that hinder spiritual progression. Avarana is a veil of ignorance that dulls the mind and prevents people from seeing their true/higher self. Without lifting the veil of avarana, it is not possible to know Atman or Brahman.

Avarana is identified as one of the attributes of maya in Advaita Vedanta. Adi Shankara mentions in his Vivekacūḍāmaṇi (verses 115–118) that avarana is an effect of the tamas guna.

References

References

1. "What is Avarana? - Definition from Yogapedia".
2. "Vedanta and the Phenomenal World".
3. "The Powers of mAyA".
4. (1 January 2019). "Vivek-Choodamani". Prabhat Prakashan.

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