Early Buddhism speak of both a literal and
psychological interpretation of Mara. I prefer to interpreted the
literal form as those environmental conditions such as gambling
houses, prostitution dens, that are created by us, to cause such
psychological state of mind as greed, desire to arise in us.
There are different conceptions to the nature
of a bodhisattva in the Mahayana traditions. Some speak of the
bodhisattva as someone on the path to full Buddhahood. Others speak
of bodhisattvas renouncing Buddhahood. Bodhisattvas who aspires to
delay Buddhahood until all other sentient beings achieve Buddhahood
is the usual category we heard of most often.
If one looks at the ten stages of the Mahayana
bodhisattva's path of awakening, by the 2nd Bhumi, the Stainless
stage, the bodhisattva is free from the stains of immorality,
therefore, he would have perfected his moral discipline (śīla). He
would not be affect by Mara.
By the 8th Bhumi, the Immovable stage, he
would be able to choose his place of rebirth. Again here, Mara is a
non-issue on whether he wants to attained to Buddhahood or not.
Of course in the Theravada tradition when we
talk about the Bodhisattva, it is usually in reference to the
historical Buddha’s past lives as recorded in Jataka tales whilst
on his way to Buddhahood.