<p>Mara is seen as a tempter in some Buddhist texts perhaps personifying cravings and hindrances on the path. Perhaps I'll just highlight two references to Mara I am familiar with that point to this </p>

<p><strong>The Enlightenment of the Buddha</strong></p>

<p>During the Buddha's enlightenment Mara came to question, tempt and generally shake Siddhartha's (soon to be Buddha) confidence - sending women, firing missiles etc..</p>

<p>Finally he questioned Siddhartha's right to site on the spot under the Bodhi tree. The Buddha touch the earth as his witness and authority to sit there - put a bit more poetically <a href="http://buddhism.about.com/od/eightauspicioussymbols/a/earthwitness.htm">here</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Mara challenged Siddhartha--who will speak for you? Then Siddhartha
  reached out his right hand to touch the earth, and the earth itself
  roared, "I bear you witness!" Mara disappeared</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is why the Buddha is often seen touching the earth in pictures, rupas etc...</p>

<p><strong>The Dhammapada</strong></p>

<p>Another reference that points to Mara being more of a tempter rather than anything more comes from the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.04.budd.html">flowers verses</a> int the Dhammapada</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>. Realizing that this body is like froth, penetrating its mirage-like
  nature, and plucking out Mara's flower-tipped arrows of sensuality, go
  beyond sight of the King of Death!</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I think it is notable (and evocative) that Mara is described as having flower tipped arrows. They are temptations that fly at you - more remeniscant of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupid">Cupid</a> to my reading here.</p>

<p>So generally though I would hesitate to conflate Mara with evil (as in Satan) but maybe as own own internal obstacles and a personification of that.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-28T19:34:41.170Z
Craving and hindrances fall under "Kilesa Māra". But "Devaputta Māra" is not a personification. He's a god leading a faction in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven.
Sankha Kulathantille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-28T16:55:26.037Z
2014-06-28T17:02:48.720Z
2014-06-28T17:02:48.720Z
Crab Bucket
<p>There are 5 kinds of Maras in Buddhism.</p>

<ol>
<li>Khandha Māra - The five aggregates of clinging</li>
<li>Kilesa Māra - The defilements</li>
<li>Abhisankhāra Māra - The Karmic force</li>
<li>Maccu Māra - The death itself</li>
<li>Devaputta Māra - The god Mara who leads a faction in the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html" rel="nofollow">Paranimmita-Vasavatti</a> heaven.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-27T11:30:06.990Z
They don't! They just enjoy the peacefulness of Arupa Jhana until their life runs out. They can practice in the next life.
Sankha Kulathantille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-28T19:31:43.967Z
2015-06-27T11:05:36.783Z
2015-06-27T11:05:36.783Z
Sankha Kulathantille
<p>Is there any definition for 'Mara' in Buddhism? Islam has a concept called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_%28Islam%29">Shayṭān</a>. They explain it as the devil inside a human (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhIeLXrwGGQ#t=493">Islam explanation</a>). There is something like this in Christianity too. Does Mara represent the bad side of humans or is Mara understood differently in Buddhism? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-28T15:11:06.587Z
Stephen Batchelor researched this and wrote a whole book on the "Devil" of Buddhist cosmology. I haven't read it yet: http://www.amazon.com/Living-Devil-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/1594480877
MatthewMartin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-28T17:35:23.073Z
Mara viewed differently, depending on context, sometimes as type of living being and sometimes as personalization of Evil.
catpnosis
<belief><evil>
What/Who is 'Mara' in Buddhism?
# What/Who is 'Mara' in Buddhism?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-28)

Is there any definition for 'Mara' in Buddhism? Islam has a concept called [Shayṭān](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_%28Islam%29). They explain it as the devil inside a human ([Islam explanation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhIeLXrwGGQ#t=493)). There is something like this in Christianity too. Does Mara represent the bad side of humans or is Mara understood differently in Buddhism?

**Tags:** belief, evil

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Stephen Batchelor researched this and wrote a whole book on the "Devil" of Buddhist cosmology. I haven't read it yet: http://www.amazon.com/Living-Devil-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/1594480877  
> **username_2**: Mara viewed differently, depending on context, sometimes as type of living being and sometimes as personalization of Evil.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-06-28. Score: 8

There are 5 kinds of Maras in Buddhism.

1. Khandha Māra - The five aggregates of clinging
2. Kilesa Māra - The defilements
3. Abhisankhāra Māra - The Karmic force
4. Maccu Māra - The death itself
5. Devaputta Māra - The god Mara who leads a faction in the [Paranimmita-Vasavatti](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html) heaven.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: They don't! They just enjoy the peacefulness of Arupa Jhana until their life runs out. They can practice in the next life.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-06-28. Score: 6

Mara is seen as a tempter in some Buddhist texts perhaps personifying cravings and hindrances on the path. Perhaps I'll just highlight two references to Mara I am familiar with that point to this

**The Enlightenment of the Buddha**

During the Buddha's enlightenment Mara came to question, tempt and generally shake Siddhartha's (soon to be Buddha) confidence - sending women, firing missiles etc..

Finally he questioned Siddhartha's right to site on the spot under the Bodhi tree. The Buddha touch the earth as his witness and authority to sit there - put a bit more poetically [here](http://buddhism.about.com/od/eightauspicioussymbols/a/earthwitness.htm)

> Mara challenged Siddhartha--who will speak for you? Then Siddhartha
> reached out his right hand to touch the earth, and the earth itself
> roared, "I bear you witness!" Mara disappeared

This is why the Buddha is often seen touching the earth in pictures, rupas etc...

**The Dhammapada**

Another reference that points to Mara being more of a tempter rather than anything more comes from the [flowers verses](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.04.budd.html) int the Dhammapada

> . Realizing that this body is like froth, penetrating its mirage-like
> nature, and plucking out Mara's flower-tipped arrows of sensuality, go
> beyond sight of the King of Death!

I think it is notable (and evocative) that Mara is described as having flower tipped arrows. They are temptations that fly at you - more remeniscant of [Cupid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupid) to my reading here.

So generally though I would hesitate to conflate Mara with evil (as in Satan) but maybe as own own internal obstacles and a personification of that.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Craving and hindrances fall under "Kilesa Māra". But "Devaputta Māra" is not a personification. He's a god leading a faction in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven.  

---

