Mara

**Mara** is the main-antagonist of *Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye*. He is voiced by James Earl Jones and on occasions by Neil Patrick Harris.

## History

### Biography

#### Background

Mara is an ancient deity who was worshiped around 65 BC. Mara inhabited a large temple known as the Temple of the Forbidden Eye in what would become the Lost Delta of India. This temple contained Mara's apparent source of power, a mysterious artifact known as the Jewel of Power. The Jewel of Power was stored in a part of the temple known as, "The Gates of Doom".

Mara gave out gifts of fortune, eternal youth and prophecy to their followers though anyone who gazed into the Eyes of Mara would be killed. Most of these victims were dragged past the Gates of Doom to a dark fate. Some others were killed by snakes, rats, bugs, and booby-traps. According to some accounts, Mara would lure pilgrims into the temple to make victims out of.

Around 65 BC, the Temple of the Forbidden Eye was flooded and lost. Around the late July/August of 1891, the temple ruins were visited by British colonial explorer Dr. Albert Falls. Falls briefly explored the temple and applied for university funding to excavate the ruins, a request which apparently never went through. The temple went back to being considered lost after this.

#### Lost Delta Archaeological Expedition

The temple's location was sought after by archaeologist Indiana Jones whose estranged mentor Abner Ravenwood was keenly interested in the temple and reignited contact with Jones to aid him in finding it. While exploring the *Temple of Sherdil* in Bengal, he came upon a portion of a map to the temple. In the June of 1935, Jones' friend and frequent affiliate Sallah Mohammed Faisel el-Kahir sent Jones the missing portion of the map after his brother-in-law found it on the black-market. In the October of that year, Jones' rival archaeologist René Belloq learned of the excavation by manipulating Jones' contact Prof. Kauffman at the *Universitatis Sigillium*.

In 1935, Indiana Jones and Sallah discovered the Temple of the Forbidden Eye and collaborated with *British Colonial Affairs* and the *Jungle Navigation Company* to excavate the ruins via the, "Lost Delta Archaeological Expedition". To earn additional revenue, Sallah established the company, "Sallah Tours" which lead tourists through the temple. Sallah also contacted Jones' friend and frequent affiliate Trader Sam to bring patrons of his bar to the temple. Jones objected to the high number of tourists travelling to the temple for Mara's gifts, however British Colonial Affairs forced the expedition to continue this business for proift.

#### Temple Tours

Indiana Jones returned to the temple by 1936 and had learned of the Jewel of Power from his former mentor Abner Ravenwood. On the July 6 of 1936, Indiana Jones disappeared in the temple while seeking after the Jewel of Power past the Gates of Doom. In his absence, Sallah amplified the number of tours brought in as a means of getting more eyes in the temple to find Jones. One of these tours happened upon Jones after gazing into the eyes of Mara and being doomed to be dragged past the Gates of Doom.

Indiana Jones forced the gates of doom shut, saving the guests. The guests then navigated the temple in their jeep while pursued by Mara's forces. Ultimately, Jones and the guests were able to escape the temple with their lives. The further fate of the temple is unknown but it stayed standing by the year 1938.

### Development history

Mara is likely based on the demon Mara of Buddhist myth. The mythological Mara was a male demon who attempted to destroy the spiritualism of Gautama Buddha through the use of temptation.

## Jungle Cruise appearances

### Disney Parks

Indiana Jones appeared live in Adventureland for a limited time to tie in with *Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny*(2023). In these appearances he had a journal and etching of artwork of the Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

#### Adventure Trading Company

The Eye of Mara Juju was modelled after the Eye of Mara and represented knowledge. Players earned it via deciphering maraglyphs from the temple.  The Daily Gnus newspaper has a community posting for an, "Unclaimed baggage sale" at the temple. Additionally, there are advertisements for tours of the temple on the newspaper's next page.

#### Bengal Barbecue

To tie-in with *Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny*, Bengal Barbecue served four Indiana Jones themed meal items. One was the *Forbidden Turnover*, modelled after the Eye of Mara.

#### Club 33

The, "Guards of Mara" drink served at the Tiki Takeover event was modelled after the snake statues of Mara's temple. The menu paired the drink with a ticket belonging to Sneh Falls for a trip to India in 1937.

#### Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye

Mara is the main-antagonist of this attraction.

#### Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries‏‎

One mission had guests finding hieroglyphs throughout Adventureland which when assembled translated to, "*To survive the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, beware the eyes of Mara*".

##### Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Stone Tiger

At the end of this show, Indiana Jones left the Temple of Sherdil with the fragmented map to the Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

#### Jungle Cruise

In the queue for Disneyland's Jungle Cruise are stone tablets with Mara's likeness. The Temple of the Forbidden Eye is a feature on Disneyland's Jungle Cruise. A map within the Jungle Navigation Company's boathouse identifies Dr. Albert Falls as having visited the temple on his expedition to map the rivers of Adventureland.

#### Skipper Canteen

There are two books referencing Mara within the library of the Skipper Canteen. One is titled, "The Eyes of Mara" by Indiana Jones while the other is, "Seeking Knowledge" by Mara.

#### Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

Sam has a photograph of himself outside of the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. There is a map of the temple with illustrations of Mara in Trader Sam's possession, sent to him by Sallah. There is also a newspaper speaking on the subject of tourists who disappeared in the temple. Letters to Sam from characters such as Marcus Brody and Sallah also reference the temple.

### Paraphernalia

#### Jungle Cruise Adventure Game

Stone sculptures of Mara's head are transported as cargo in this game.

## Other appearances

### Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar

A map of the temple appears in the lost & found of this bar. On a map in the bar is the Eye of Mara overtop of a region of India, implying Jock visited the Delta.

## Trivia

* The *Eye of Providence* popular in conspiracy-theories is often used to represent the Eye of Mara.
	+ The eye is often subject to conspiracies such as being (falsely) identified with the 18th century German secret-society *The Illuminati* and connected to a symbol used by the Freemasons (albeit without the triangle).
		- The Freemason figure of Hiram Abiff is referenced in the Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Liberty Belle Riverboat via a crate with masonic symbols labelled, "H. Abiff".
	+ In the parks, this eye has also been used on the vardo of Madame Leota from the Haunted Mansion.
	+ In broader Disney media, the eye is most frequently affiliated with the character of Bill Cipher from the TV series *Gravity Falls*.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2023/06/30/photos-video-indiana-jones-in-adventureland/
2. ↑ https://dlnewstoday.com/2023/06/the-forbidden-turnover-and-more-indiana-jones-food-coming-to-disneyland/
3. ↑ http://disneylanddiva.blogspot.com/2008/09/indiana-jones-and-summer-of-hidden.html
4. ↑ https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2021/07/16/photos-new-jungle-cruise-characters-introduced-as-guests-enter-attraction-queue/
5. ↑ https://www.endorexpress.net/parks/disneyparks/disneyland-disneyland/2011/11/trader-sams-enchanted-tiki-bar/
6. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B5\_NNB9A0Zc/
7. ↑ https://insidethemagic.net/2016/01/d-tales-14-hidden-disney-history-at-big-thunder-mountain-railroad/
8. ↑ http://www.mainstgazette.com/2009/05/wherever-you-dwell.html