mara Synonyms
Another word for mara
• noun (Context 1)
In Buddhist cosmology, a demonic celestial king who tempted Gautama Buddha with visions of beautiful women in an attempt to prevent him from achieving enlightenment; also representing generally any evil spirit or spiritual obstacle.
"The ancient scriptures recount how the Buddha remained undisturbed beneath the Bodhi tree despite the fierce illusions conjured by the demon."
• noun (Context 2)
A large, long-legged South American rodent of the genus Dolichotis, native to the arid grasslands and scrublands of Argentina and Patagonia, distinguished by its hare-like appearance.
"During their trip to Patagonia, the biologists observed a group of maras grazing among the scrub, their long ears twitching alertly."
• noun (Context 3)
A malignant female spirit or demon in Germanic and Scandinavian folklore believed to sit upon the chest of a sleeping person, causing feelings of suffocation and terrifying dreams.
"According to the old village tales, the persistent bad dreams were caused by a nightmare creeping into the bedroom at night."