adhyasa

Indian philosophy

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July 23, 2026

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In Indian philosophy, adhyasa refers to the human tendency to superimpose one concept onto another, leading to misapprehension. This is a core concept within the Advaita Vedanta school, particularly emphasized by the philosopher Shankara.

Advaita Vedanta posits that ultimate reality, or brahman, is one and without qualities. However, due to ignorance (avidya), humans perceive the world as a multiplicity of distinct objects and selves. This misperception is adhyasa, where we incorrectly ascribe qualities of one thing to another, such as mistaking a rope for a snake. This illusion conceals the true, nondual nature of reality. The goal of Advaita is to overcome this ignorance and realize the identity of the individual self with brahman, leading to spiritual release (moksha).1

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Advaita
…innate habit of superimposition (adhyasa), by which a thou is ascribed to the I (I am tired; I am happy; I am perceiving). The habit stems from human ignorance (ajnana or avidya), which can be avoided only by the realization of the identity of brahman. Nevertheless, the empirical world…
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…innate habit of superimposition (adhyasa), by which a thou is ascribed to the I (I am tired; I am happy; I am perceiving). The habit stems from human ignorance (ajnana or avidya), which can be avoided only by the realization of the identity of brahman. Nevertheless, the empirical world…
Read More

Indian philosophy
Shankara’s theory of error and religious and ethical concerns
This superimposition was sometimes called adhyasa by Shankara and was often identified with avidya. Later writers referred to avidya as the cause of the error. Thus, ignorance came to be regarded as a beginningless, positive something that conceals the nature of reality and projects the false appearances on it. Shankara,…
Read More
This superimposition was sometimes called adhyasa by Shankara and was often identified with avidya. Later writers referred to avidya as the cause of the error. Thus, ignorance came to be regarded as a beginningless, positive something that conceals the nature of reality and projects the false appearances on it. Shankara,…
Read More