The mythic and psychological narratives of Mara

The first event to arise during Gautama's contemplations was the temptation by Mara, who challenged him to abandon his quest for enlightenment

• Mara's chief role was to ensure that all existence was driven by the delusions of pleasure and attachment, and the threat to any disruption of this through Gautama finding an escape from samsara was serious

Earlier texts describe a simple enounter: Mara encouraging Gautama to seek a more religious path of ceremony and good works in order to strengthen karma -  Gautama simply resisted and Mara vanished

Later texts give more detail, with more mythological elements, for example, the Buddhacarita by Ashvaghosha, which depicts two main parts of the Buddha's temptation: the battle with Mara's army and the confrontation with Mara's three daughters

The final element of Mara's temptation involves Mara telling Gautama that no one could bear witness to his good works; Gautama, in response to this claim, placed his hand on the ground and touched the earth with his middle finger as a witness to his good works

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