| “ | So this successful prince Siddhattha wishes to escape from my sphere of influence, straight away I will make him unsuccessful
- Mara
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Mara (Sanskrit: मार, Māra) is a demon in Buddhism, he is malicious Asura king who tried to seduce Buddha from achieving Awakening by sending hordes of his celestial army and his beautiful lustful daughters. He is associated with death, rebirth and desire.[1]
Myth and Background[]
Mara is first mentioned in the text Atharvaveda, in which he is named Agha Mara. He is called "Papiyan" meaning a being who is not only evil, but also full of sorrowful, in pain and agony. In the same text, he is said to have mounted the elephant demon, Girimekhala.[2]
His three daughters, Tanha (thirst), Arati (aversion, discontentment) and Raga (greed, passion and desire) all come to aid him in seducing Buddha, all of them failed as Buddha merely swept them away.[3]
References[]
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_(demon)#cite_note-6
- ↑ Atharvaveda, Maharsi Atharwan
- ↑ Samyutta Nikaya