Pāpimā Devaputta Pajāpati Māra Namuci

A forum for beginners and members of other Buddhist traditions to ask questions about Theravāda (The Way of the Elders). Responses require moderator approval before they are visible in order to double-check alignment to Theravāda orthodoxy.
Post Reply
asahi
Posts: 2732
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2020 4:23 pm

Pāpimā Devaputta Pajāpati Māra Namuci

Post by asahi »

Pls explain the difference between them . Are these names refers to same being ?


:thanks:
No bashing No gossiping
User avatar
Dhammanando
Posts: 6492
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:44 pm
Location: Mae Wang Huai Rin, Li District, Lamphun

Re: Pāpimā Devaputta Pajāpati Māra Namuci

Post by Dhammanando »

Māra devaputta is used to specify that you're talking about the deva called Māra, as opposed to the figurative senses of the word: māra as the aggregates, māra as death, māra as the defilements, etc.

The others are epithets.

Māra: Killer

Māroti sattānaṃ kusalaṃ māretīti māro, kāmadevo.

"Māra: a desire-world deity; he kills what is wholesome in living beings, thus he is called "Māra".

Papimā: Evil One.
Pajāpati: Lord of this Generation.
Adhipati: Overlord.
Namuci: Grasper or Captor.
Pamattabandhū: Kinsman of the Heedless.
Antaka: End-maker.
Kaṇha: Dark One.
Maddana: Intoxicator.
Dabbaka: Obdurate / Persistent One.
Kandapa: Drinker of Tears.
Ratipati: Lord of Delight.
Pingalacakkhu: Red-eyed One.
Kāma: Desire
Kusumāyudha: Wielder of Flower Weapons.

Etc., etc.
Yena yena hi maññanti,
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.


In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
Post Reply