Nichols details and surveys the historical transformations of the M?ra figure and demonstrates how different Buddhist communities at different times have used this symbol to react to changing social and historical circumstances. From ancient India to later Buddhist thought in East Asia to more recent representations in Western culture and media, M?ra has been used to satirize Hindu divinities, taken the form of wrathful Tibetan gods, communicated psychoanalytic tropes, and appeared as a villain in episodes of Doctor Who. Portrayed as a combination of god and demon, M?ra serves as a key antagonist to the Buddha, his followers, and Buddhist teaching in general. This is the first book to examine the development of the figure of M?ra, who appears across Buddhist traditions as a personification of death and desire. NicholsĪnalyzes the breadth of representations of the mythic figure of M?ra in Buddhism to reveal how closely tied such narratives are to the social and historical concerns of Buddhist communities.
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