Mchn i dont think any higher being can be mara.He must be a very powerful one,Because even to challenge buddha he must be very powerful,dont you think?paranimitta is the highest heaven in kamaloka.I think he must be from that heaven.
yes true. actually I am only agreeing with the last part of that comment. 'maras' think they are doing the best for the world by eliminating the Buddhism. Actually we are also in doubt about some parts of the Buddhism. like, abandoning the family to become monk..ect. I think maras are refusing Buddhism to make sure the world is functioning as it intended. because of that, their 'chethana' are not filled with selfish desires. so, it will make them to stay in the heaven even after their famous bad deeds.
if we talk about the 'mara heaven', I have no clue that why are they after other 'devas' stuff. They might not stealing other deva's stuff, but definitely 'maras' are using those stuff.
But even mara is subject to samsara.At some point he will die and reborn.But one lives so long,may be like a kalpa in earth years.