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Maya is a five act work based on an Indian mythological story – a parable to illustrate the illusory nature of the material, or ‘phenomenal’ world.

Narad, a sage, who can travel the cosmos, arrives in heaven at the abode of Lord Vishnu, the preserver. Lord Vishnu enquires of him about the world of humans. Narad tells him that people are far too busy with greed, corruption, fornication, warring etc., to think of him at all. He, on the other hand, always has him in mind and is his greatest devotee.

Lord Vishnu points to the river Ganges and asks Narad to fetch a glass of water as he is feeling thirsty. Narad immediately rushes off to the riverbank. As he is filling the glass he looks up and sees the most beautiful woman in the world bathing in the river. He is smitten with desire for her. He approaches and asks her name. She tells him she’s called Maneka. He asks her if she will marry him. She agrees.

Time passes. They have four children and lead a blissfully happy life. Narad collects timber from the jungle and sells it in the city to earn a living. One day, on his way home from the jungle, he sees smoke coming from the direction of his house. He is alarmed and starts to run. As he approaches, he sees that his house is ablaze, and discovers that all his loved ones have been consumed by the fire. He is distraught and inconsolable.

He visits heaven and complains bitterly to Lord Vishnu about his misfortune. He cannot understand why the Lord has found it necessary to make him, his best devotee, suffer so grievously. Lord Vishnu says, ‘Who is this Maneka? What is the family you refer to? I only sent you for a glass of water.’

In the last scene all the three characters appear to make the nature of Maya clear. The opera ends with the words, ‘All, all, all is Maya!’

Libretto by Trevor Preston.

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