The Buddhist Deity Tara: Mother of Liberation
In the vast pantheon of Buddhist deities, Tara stands as one of the most beloved and revered figures, embodying the quintessence of compassion, action, and enlightened activity. She is known as the “Mother of all Buddhas,” the swift liberator who saves beings from worldly suffering and fear.
Her Origin: How She Became Tara
Tara’s origin story is a powerful narrative that underscores the Buddhist principles of compassion and the spiritual potential of all beings, regardless of gender. According to popular legend, she was born from the tears of compassion of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who wept upon seeing the immense suffering of the world. From his tear, a lake formed, and from its waters sprang a lotus blossom, from which Tara emerged.
A more detailed story from the Tara Tantra reveals her previous life as a princess named Yeshe Dawa (Wisdom Moon). She was a devoted disciple of a Buddha, who encouraged her to pray for a male rebirth to progress on the path, as it was commonly believed that only men could attain enlightenment. The princess respectfully declined, making a profound and revolutionary vow:
“Here, no one exists as a man or a woman; no ‘self,’ no ‘person,’ and no consciousn ess. Labelling someone as ‘male’ or ‘female’ is hollow. Oh, how worldly fools delude themselves!”
She then vowed to always attain enlightenment in a female form to help all beings. After meditating for countless aeons, she became the fully enlightened Buddha, Tara. This story establishes her as a symbol of the ultimate emptiness of gender distinctions and the power of compassionate action.
Her Qualities: The Swift Savior
Tara’s primary quality is her active compassion. While Avalokiteshvara hears the cries of the world, Tara acts upon them immediately. She is renowned for her swiftness in answering calls for help, especially in protecting from the “eight great fears”—both literal and psychological—such as lions (pride), elephants (ignorance), fires (hatred), and thieves (false views).
Her core attributes include:
Compassionate Ferocity: She is a tender mother to all beings but fierce in her determination to destroy the roots of suffering.
Fearlessness: She grants courage to her devotees, helping them overcome inner and outer obstacles on the spiritual path.
Enlightened Activity: She facilitates success in all virtuous endeavors, from spiritual practice to worldly tasks, when they are undertaken with a pure intention.
Her Manifestations: The Many Faces of Compassion
Tara is most famously manifested in two primary forms, Green Tara and White Tara, who represent different aspects of her enlightened energy. In total, she is said to have 21 major forms, each with a specific color, posture, and function.
Green Tara (Shyamatara): The “Swift Heroine,” Green Tara is the most active manifestation. She is typically depicted with her right leg slightly extended, ready to step down from her lotus throne to aid suffering beings. She represents the night, the wind element, and active compassion. Her right hand is in the boon-granting gesture (varada mudra), while her left holds a lotus. She is invoked for protection, overcoming fear, and removing obstacles.
White Tara (Sitatara): The “Mother of Long Life,” White Tara embodies longevity, healing, and serenity. She is depicted in a posture of meditation, with seven eyes—on her palms, soles of her feet, and forehead—symbolizing her watchful compassion that sees all suffering in the universe. She represents the day, the water element, and pacifying energy. Devotees pray to her for health, long life, and the pacification of diseases and inner poisons.
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Other significant manifestations include:
Red Tara (Kurukulla): Associated with magnetizing and subjugating energy, often invoked for attracting positive conditions and powerful spiritual connections.
Black Tara (Ugra-Tara): A fierce manifestation who destroys negative forces and deep-seated ignorance.
Yellow Tara (Bhrikuti): Associated with wealth and abundance, both material and spiritual.
Through her myriad forms, Tara remains a timeless and accessible figure in Buddhism, offering a path of devotion, protection, and swift enlightenment through the power of unwavering compassion.
The Twenty-One Taras
The Swift Heroine (Nyang Öma Ma)
Description: The central figure, often Red Tara. She is the essence of speed and fearless compassion, crushing all obstacles and delusions. She is the embodiment of the prayer itself.
The Tara Supreme & Victorious (Wang Chug Gyalma)
Description: She conquers all negative forces and harmful influences. By merely remembering her, one can defeat all demons and evil spirits.
The Tara Who Subdues Conflict & Opponents (Shinje Topkyi Ma)
Description: She pacifies all conflicts, legal disputes, and negative energy from others. She is invoked for harmony and to overcome powerful adversaries.
The Tara Who is Praised with the Syllables TUTTARA & HUM (Türe Humje Ma)
Description: Her mantra (TUTTARA and HUM) destroys the inner demons of desire, hatred, and ignorance, and protects from external dangers.
The Tara Who Summons with the Sound TRAT (Trat Nyepe Ma)
Description: She summons the blessings of all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and protectors. She fills the environment with positive, virtuous energy.
The Tara Who Saves from the Three Poisons (Dug Sum Drölma)
Description: She liberates beings from the three root poisons: desire (attachment), anger (aversion), and ignorance (confusion).
The Tara Who Subdues All Maras & Evil Spirits (Düde Dün Drub Ma)
Description: She completely overcomes the four Maras (the demons of emotional defilements, death, the skandhas, and divine pride), and all evil forces.
The Tara of the Melodious Sound of HUM (Hukye Drawe Ma)
Description: The powerful sound of her HUM mantra dispels all negative magic, curses, and spells, turning them into the path of enlightenment.
The Tara Who is the Matrix of the Three Jewels (Könchok Nyingpo Ma)
Description: She is the very source or “womb” of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha (the Three Jewels). She bestows blessings for taking refuge.
The Tara Who Crushes All Obstacles with TURE (Barchad Jomma Ma)
Description: The syllable TURE is the essence of her compassion, which pulverizes all outer and inner obstacles, including sickness and poverty.
The Tara Who Brings Happiness & Prosperity (Gyepe Deje Ma)
Description: She brings joy, merit, wealth, and prosperity, creating the conducive conditions for spiritual practice.
The Tara Who Increases Wealth & Merit (Nyerme Pöje Ma)
Description: She specifically increases life, merit, wisdom, and wealth, like a wish-fulfilling jewel.
The Tara Who Grants All Wishes & Siddhis (Dönno Drupje Ma)
Description: She fulfills all virtuous wishes and bestows both ordinary and supreme spiritual attainments (siddhis).
The Tara Who Subdues All with the Syllable HUM (Hukye Chönde Ma)
Description: With the fierce HUM mantra at her heart, she subdues all negative forces, including the most powerful worldly gods and demons.
The Tara Who is the Mistress of the Three Worlds (Jigten Sumdze Ma)
Description: She has power over the entire universe (the desire, form, and formless realms) and can command all beings within it for the sake of the Dharma.
The Tara Who Treads on the Head of the Enemy (Mikpa Gubpa Ma)
Description: With her foot pressing down, she tramples the personified figures of negative forces, symbolizing the destruction of ego and hatred.
The Tara with the Syllable HUM on her Palm (Hukye Tlabkyi Ma)
Description: The HUM syllable on her palm radiates a massive, fiery vortex (a mandala of wind and fire) that burns away all obstacles and diseases.
The Tara of the Eternal Knot (Dueye Zhabpe Ma)
Description: Adorned with the eternal knot, a symbol of infinite compassion and wisdom, she binds and subdues all harmful beings, turning their minds towards enlightenment.
The Tara Who Pacifies All Suffering (Ngenjang Shiwai Ma)
Description: She perfectly pacifies all negative karma, misery, and the lower realms of existence (hell, hungry ghost, animal realms).
The Tara Who is the Source of All Auspiciousness (Tashi Kunye Ma)
Description: She is the root of all that is virtuous and auspicious. Her practice ensures that one’s environment, activities, and companions are always positive
The Tara Who Destroys All Negative Forces (Düde Pöpe Ma)
Description: The final, fierce manifestation. She utterly annihilates the armies of negative forces and protects practitioners from the very last trace of obstacles.
( explained to students during museum education program and guided tour)
Complied by
Sangay Tashi
Dy.Chief Curator,
The Royal Heritage Museum, Trongsa