The appearance of things is due to the infinite pure knowledge of consciousness, expressed through the potential power māyā, and manifested in and as īśvara.

Note: Illusion does not mean, it does not exist. Illusion means it is not the object in itself that I see, but unchanged consciousness, myself. The most accurate definition is: The change of consciousness into an appearance, which is not a real change. It is a sham, or false transformation. It is used to express apparent changes from the cause (kāraṇa) 'consciousness' into the effect (kārya) 'objects', while consciousness does not actually change. Hence the title "causeless cause (nirmitta nirmāṇa kāraṇa)," for brahman-consciousness, which is therefore self-existent or self-manifesting (svayambhū).

Vivarta therefore means 'false' or 'apparent'.

Vivarta upādāna kāraṇa is a material (upādāna) cause (kāraṇa) in which a different form is assumed without the cause intrinsically changing the nature of consciousness. All objects are vivarta, apparently, because consciousness does not become an independent object, it only seems so.

This is in contrast to pariṇāma upādāna kāraṇa, where changes in the apparent transactional (vyāvahārika) world are irreversible. Like milk churned in cheese. On a global level, everything is a big mess of irreversible change. From the symbiosis of egg and cell to old man, to his or her deathbed. Apparent change is irreversible change. On a true level, there is no change whatsoever. So from real level to worldly level there seems to be change, but this is only an appearance (vivarta). This is how the jñānī (connoisseur) looks.

This is also evident from deep sleep. Every night we fall back on the experience of consciousness without objects. Back to square one, wonderful with ourselves, in the hole of infinity. Because it is a reflected experience in the potential mind that is switched off, sleep is unfortunately temporary.

But it is even better shown by the silent witness, who is always self-evidently present as the consciousness (of all or nothing).