.jpg "Mara interfered with the practice")
As the would-be Buddha came to know by himself that he would certainly become the Buddha, he made a great effort to practice without a pause. Sakka paid his respects to him by blowing the conch. The great brahma sheltered the would-be Buddha under a white umbrella. (Pancasikha) Pyinsa-thikha deva expressed his devotion by playing on a veluva, a celestial harp.
At that time, Mara, a deva who did no want to see the coming of the Buddha, made an attack on the would-be Buddha. Mara held various weapons in the thousand hands of his body that he had created for this purpose. He had with him many troops of devas. He made the attack to foil the attempt to become the Buddha.
But the would-be Buddha who was about to become the genuine Buddha received Mara’s attack with equanimity and continued with his meditational practice.
Concepts and terminology:
Sakka (Sak-ka) : King of the devas
Deva (De-va) : Celestial beings that are more powerful and live longer than human beings. They have angelic forms and possess maigical powers. They are not gods, and are neither omniscient, omnipotent, nor morally perfect. Link: Wikipedia
Mara (Ma-ra): An evil deva. The lord of misfortune, destruction and death. Links: Wikipedia