(a) The first time, when the Goddess appeared before Mara, he recognised her immediately as the divine mother and fell at her feet. He was struck by her grandeur, and this is evident from the graphic description he gives to the king of the tresses, the stars in her coronet and the ruby on the forehead of the Goddess.
(b) The second time, Mara sees the Goddess in her destructive mood. Her tresses are wild, her eyes gleam with a strange light, her forehead is splashed with vermilion and she carries a sword. This time too Mara falls at her feet, but this time he is frightened and pleads for mercy.
