In the Hindu religion, Maya is a principality goddess centered around the concept of "illusion" and has multiple meanings. In fact, Maya's very name is "illusion" in Sanskrit. She manifests, perpetuates and governs all forms of illusion as well as the dream of duality in the universe and the mystic arts. By extension, it later came to mean the powerful force that creates the cosmic illusion that the phenomenal world is real.
She brings to mankind the ignorance and enlightenment of the individualism, the concept of ownership and the awareness of otherworldly phenomena. For the Nondualists, Maya is thus that cosmic force that presents the infinite Brahman (the supreme being) as the finite phenomenal world. Maya is reflected on the individual level by human ignorance (Ajnana) of the real nature of the self, which is mistaken for the empirical ego but which is in reality identical with Brahman.
It is believed by some schools of thought that the Burmese mother goddess Maya also holds some connection to the Hindu goddess of illusion. She has also been known as an epithet for goddess, and the name of a manifestation of Lakshmi, the goddess of "wealth, prosperity and love," or the mother of Gautama Buddha. She was also known as Mother Maya, Mother of Illusions and Maya of the Night.
Her interpretation in the Shin Megami Tensei series, particularly in Strange Journey, is a combination of all of the aforementioned interpretations.
"The Hindu personification of Illusion. It is said to have the power to make humans aware and become enlightened about "phenomena" caused by things on earth. A Maya of Burmese lore was a mother goddess and may have some relation to the goddess of illusion."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
Maya serves as the Sector Boss of Sector Grus. It was her power that twisted Grus' landscape to its warped form; she also threatens Zelenin and the protagonist with her vicious illusions until the protagonist encounters Commander Gore and makes him awaken to the true power of the Ubergestalt. As a result, the two muster enough strength to cast them away.
Upon breach of her sanctum, a twisted blend of the first four sectors, she appears, sarcastically asking whether the protagonist's repeated defeat of the Mothers was some form of entertainment, and if the protagonist had enjoyed the act of "matricide" so much she was next in line.
Upon defeat, she claims that she is too a child of Mem Aleph and then drops her Exotic Matter. Maya can then be produced from a special fusion of Hariti, Succubus, Incubus and Airavata.
Battle[]
The battle against her can be dangerous for a party specialized in spellcasting, as her own special skills allow her to negate any form of offensive magic and instantly kill the offender. However, she is weak to Gun damage. Befitting the goddess of illusions, she can cast Illusion Ritual, buffing her evasion stats. Remove this if possible, as increased evasion rates are extremely dangerous and can potentially cause loss of valuable turns.
Other than that, she knows strong elemental magic (-dyne spells, Gate spells) and Ultraviolence, an exceedingly strong Physical attack that will hit the entire party, and Evil Vortex, a damaging attack that can inflict Stone status. Dekunda is also in her repertoire.
When a party member is Muted: Cures all party members of Mute, then inflicts Almighty (Magic) damage (Power: 100) on all enemies.
Innate
Glamorous Allure
Auto
The effect of normal Attacks will be changed to the following: Inflicts Almighty (Magic) damage (Power: 80) on all enemies with 30% chance to inflict Charm on hit enemies.
Innate
Megidolaon
8 MP
Inflicts Almighty (Magic) damage with 120 power on All Enemies.
Aragami (Awaken)
Butcher
Auto
+20% damage to skills that target all or random enemies.
Aragami (Gacha)
Luster Candy
8 MP
Increases ATK, DEF, EV/AC of All Party Members by 20% for 3 turns.
Protector (Awaken)
Insanity
Auto
+20% chance to inflict status ailments.
Protector (Gacha)
Null Bind
Auto
Adds Null Bind.
Psychic (Awaken)
Rattle
9 MP
Inflicts Almighty (Magic) damage with 100 power on All Enemies and reduces all enemy EV/AC by 20% for 3 turns.
