The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1513 page)

 
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Mawlid
,
Mawl
d

(Arab.,
walada
, ‘give birth’). The celebration of a birthday, but especially of the Prophet
Mu
ammad
, 12 Rab
‘ I.

 
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(
c.
580–662).
Greek theologian, mystic, and ascetical writer. After a distinguished secular career, he became a monk
c.
612 in Chrysopolis, fleeing to Africa before the Persian advance in 626. A strong opponent of
monothelitism
, he secured its condemnation in Africa and Rome (649). In 653 and again in 661 he was brought to Constantinople, where he refused to submit to monothelitism, was condemned as a heretic, mutilated, and died shortly afterwards in exile.

 
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M
y
.

1
The mother of Gotama who became the
Buddha
. She died within a few days of his birth. Later accounts (e.g.
Buddhacarita
) recount many miracles, including a virgin birth.
2
(
Skt., ‘supernatural power’). In the early Vedic literature, m
y
generally means supernatural power or magic. It also carries the connotation of deceit or trickery. In the
Bhagavad-g
t
, m
y
is the power to bring things into apparent form.
In
Advaita
Ved
nta philosophy,
Gau
ap
da
used the term m
y
for the power of the apparent creation of the world as well as the world so created.
a
kara
extended the term by associating it with
avidy