Mara

(skt.: mara; tib.: du) Literally it means murderer. The Tibetan word also means thick. Generally it represents the difficulties and delusions that distract practitioners from Dharma practice and cause suffering. Mara symbolizes the passions that overwhelm human beings as well as everything that hinders the arising of wholesome roots and progress on the path to enlightenment. It is also what Lord Shakyamuni Buddha overcame under the bodhi tree as he attained enlightenment.