ईसाई और इस्लाम परम्पराओं की तरह
बोद्धों में भी शैतान-तुल्य एक धारणा है, जिसे
मार की संज्ञा दी गयी है। मार को 'नमुचि' के नाम
से भी जाना जाता है क्योंकि "नमुचीति
मारो", अर्थात् जिससे कोई नहीं बच
सकता वह 'मार' है।
कहा जाता है कि कंठक पर सवार गौतम जब अपने महानिष्क्रमण-काल
में (अर्थात् जब गृहस्थ-जीवन त्याग कर) नगरद्वार पर पहुँचे तो
मारने उनके समक्ष प्रकट हो उन्हें सात दिनों के
अन्दर ही चक्रवर्ती सम्राट बनाने का प्रलोभन दे डाला था। सिद्धार्थ उसके प्रलोभन
में नहीं आये और अपने लक्ष्य को अग्रसर होते चले गये।
मार की दस सेनाएँ होती है : राग (लिप्सा); असंतोष
या भूख-प्यास; तृष्णा; आलस्य (दीन-मिद्ध);
भय; शंका, झूठ और मूर्खता; झूठी शान और
शोकत; दम्म। उन दस सेनाओं में तीन - तृष्णा, अरति और
राग मार की तीन पुत्रियाँ भी शामिल हैं।
बोधिवृक्ष के नीचे गौतम ने जब
सम्बोधि-प्राप्ति तक बैठ तप करने की प्रतिज्ञा
ली तो मार अपने दसों प्रकार के सेनाओं के
साथ स्वयं एक विकराल हाथी गिरिमेखल पर सवार हो
बुद्ध पर आक्रमण कर बैठा। मार के विकराल और
भयंकर सेनाओं को देख समस्त देव, नाग आदि जो गौतम की स्तुति कर रहे थे,
भाग खड़े हुए। गौतम ने तब अपने दस पारमियों को
बुला मार की सेना को खदेड़ दिया। खिन्न
मार ने अपना अंतिम शस्र चक्कायध से गौतम पर प्रहार किया, जो
उनके सिर पर एक फूलों की छत्र बन स्थिर हो गया। अपने अंतिम
वार को भी जब मार ने खाली जाते देखा तो उसने चिल्लाकर कहा, "ओ गौतम! तुम जहाँ
बैठे हो वह आसन मेरा है। अत: तुम्हें वहाँ
बैठने का दुस्साहस न करो।"
मार के इस मिथ्याभियोग को सुन गौतम ने अपनी
मध्यमा अंगुली से भूमि-स्पर्श कर धरती
से साक्षी देने को कहा। धरती ने तब
भयंकर गर्जन के साथ बुद्ध के वहाँ
बैठे रहने की साक्षी दी जिससे मार की हार पूर्णतया
सत्यापित हो गयी; और अंत में गौतम
संबोधि प्राप्त कर बुद्ध बने।
M ara in the Buddhist
tradition can be best understood as Satan, who always tried to dissuade
the Buddha or any one from the righteous path. He is also called
Namuchi as none can escape him ( Namuci iti Maro ); and Vasavatti as he rules all (Maro nama
Vassavati sabbesam upari vasam vattati).
When Gotama renounced the world and passed through the city gates on his horse Kanthaka, Mara appeared before him and tempted him by the offer to make him a universal monarch in seven days, if he was to change his mind. Siddhattha, however, did not pay any attention to him.
Mara
and his army attacking the Buddha
Mara riding on his elephant Girimekhala to attack the Buddha with his army
The origin of the
legend of Mara is first noticeable in the Padhana Sutta (See Samyutta
Nikaya vs.425-49). His ten-fold army is Lust; Aversion; Hunger; Thirst;
Craving; Stoth and Torpor; Cowardice; Doubt; Hypocrisy and Stupidity;
False Glory; and Conceit. He has three daughters, Tanha, Arati and Raga
representing the three out of the ten forces of Maras army. These
daughters were employed to tempt the Buddha after his Enlightenment; and
they could assume numerous forms of varying age and charm.
The Buddhavamsa Commentary and Nidanakatha of the Jataka commentary, particularly in the Singhalese versions, unfold a very lively and detailed account of the Maras visit to the Buddha just before his Enlghtenment, when he was sitting under the Bodhi tree. Seeing Gotama seated with a firm resolve to become a Buddha, he summoned all his forces to attack Sakyamuni. The forces extended twelve leagues in front and back; and nine leagues on right and left. Mara himself with thousand arms riding on his elephant Girimekhala, attacked Gotama. His followers armed with deadly weapons and assuming various frightening forms joined him in his attack. The Devas, Nagas, and others who had gathered round Gotama to pay him homage and sing his praises then fled at the sight of the frightening army of Mara. The Bodhisatta then called the ten paramis , which he had perfected in various births, for his defense. Each of the ten divisions of Maras army was then defeated and routed by one parami . Eventually, Maras army had to flee. Vanquished Mara then hurled his last weapon the chakkavudha (disc), which stood over the Bodhisattas head like a canopy of flowers. Still Mara tried to dissuade Gotama from the path of the Buddhahood by falsely claiming the Gotamas seat as his own; and by asking him to prove his right to the seat on which he was sitting. All the Maras followers then testified Maras claim by shouting that the seat actually belonged to Mara. As the Bodhisatta had no other witness to bear testimony on his behalf he asked the Earth to speak for him by touching the ground with his middle finger. The Earth then roared in response and bore the testimony for the Bodhisatta by thundering, I stand his witness. Thus, the Maras defeat was final; and he and his followers had to flee. The Devas and other celestial beings then besieged him and celebrated his victory.
The Buddha and the Mara's army and his three daughters
The Buddha touches the ground with his fingers ( bhumi-sparshan mudra ) to ask the earth to bear
testimony for him to refute the Mara's claim