About Mara

Mara, a key figure in Buddhism, represents the adversarial forces hindering enlightenment. As a malevolent celestial being, Mara famously attempted to thwart Prince Siddhartha's path to enlightenment by employing tactics like tempting visions and celestial armies. Associated with death, rebirth, and desire, Mara symbolizes the obstacles encountered on the journey to spiritual awakening. Across different cultures and languages, Mara is known by various names like Māra, Tenma, and Thiên Ma. In Buddhist cosmology, Mara serves as a potent symbol, embodying the challenges individuals must overcome to attain enlightenment.