Bhagavatham says that Jeeva got trapped in “Samsaram” or worldly engagements because it could not discriminate the nature of Prakrithi. Prakrithi causes creation with its association with the Gunas like Sathwa. Jeeva mistakes such created bodies as the Atma. This misconception is called “Moham”. This element of “Chaitanyam” that is submissive to Prakrithi is called “Jeeva”.

The element of Prakrithi that covers the “Swaroopa Bodham” or the Awareness of Truth is called “Avarana Shakthi” – the force that covers. It is called Avidya too. This is the origin of Samsaram.

Note – mistaking a thing for some thing else is called “Moham”. Here ordinary people think that their body is the true Self or Atma. So when the body undergoes birth and death, he thinks that it is the Atma that is born and is dead. Then to the Jeeva, that is the end of life, forgetting that the cycle of births and deaths is merely an illusion. The indescribable pain on the loss of body and the fear of death makes life most miserable.

Prakriti (called “Aja”) and Purusha (called “Ajan”) exist forever. Prakrithi is defined as the balanced combination of Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas. When they mix with each other the balance is lost and get agitated. This causes creation in its multitude.