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TARA
Tara
History
Background
TaraistheGoddesswhorepresentsPerfectedWisdomandteachestheinnerandouterunderstandingsofcompassionandemptiness. TherearemanydifferentrepresentationsofTara,uptotwentyoneinallfoursectsofTibetanBuddhism,butthetwomorefamousTaras worshippedaretheGreenandWhiteTaras.GreenTararepresentsenlightenedactivity,andWhiteTararepresentscompassion,longlife,and serenity(SeebelowforfurtherdetailsoneachoftherepresentationsofTara). ToexplainhowTaracametobe,wemustlookatAvalokitesvara'sstory.Avalokitesvarawaslookingdownattheworldofsamsarafromhis Pureland,andrealizedallthesufferingthelowerthreerealmswereenduring.Heweptatthesight,andfromtwotearsappearedWhiteTara andGreenTara,eachactingashis"guardianangels;"reassuringhimthathemustntstopstrivingtohelpallsentientbeings. Interestinglyenough,theTarafigureoriginatedinHinduism;later,onceMayahanabecameanestablishedpractice,shewastransferred intoBuddhistteachings.ShewasthefirstBodhisattvatoincorporatefeminineprinciplesthusknownasthe"MotherofPerfectedWisdom," andthenlaternoticedasthe"MotherofCompassionofPerfectedWisdom."Herfaceisalwaysdepictedwithasubtlesmileandwelcoming eyes,producingtheinfinitewisdomthatallowslaitytoconnectwithheronapersonallevel;andmakingheroneofthemost worshippeddeitiesamongsttheBuddhistcommunity,especiallywomen. Taraisabeacontolayworshipanddevotion;laitycanspeaktoherdirectly,ratherthanthroughamediatingmonkornun.ButTaratends tofinddeeperfootingamongwomen;sheispartofTantricMeditation,whichismostlypracticedbywomen;andsincewomenin traditionalTibetanhouseholdstendtomaintainthedomesticsphere,theydomostoftheirvenerationsinthecomfortoftheirownhome;so beingabletopraydirectlytoTarapullsstrongdevotionfromlaywomen. Taralooksafterallsentientbeingsandprotectsthem,justasamotherwouldherchildren.SheisthefemalefigureofAvalokitesvara, andcanbemodernlydefinedastheembodimentoffeminism;becausesheisapowerfulgoddess(orBodhisattava)whoisnotonlyactivein protectingallsentientbeings,butalsohasacompassionatesidethatiseasilyidentifiablebyall.
OriginMyths
ThePrincess
TarawasaprincessinanotherworldsystemnamedYesheDawa,whichmeans"MoonofPrimordialAwareness".Shewasdevotedtothe Buddhaofherworldsystemandlearnshowtobeabodhisattvafromhim.Theothermonksofthatsystemrecommendsherequesttobeborn amaninhernextlifesoshecanachievemoreinthewayofenlightenment.Sherepliesthatonly"weakmindedworldlings"seegenderas barriertoEnlightenmentandshevowstoalwaysberebornintheformofawomanuntiltheendofsamsara.
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FromtheTearsofAvalokitesvara
TaraisafemaleformofAvalokitesvara,thebhodhisattvaofcompassion.TherearemanylegendsofhowTaracameintoexistence.One legend,similartothelegendofKuanYinsaysthatasAvalokitesvaraweptforthosesentientbeingstrappedinthelowerrealmsTarawasborn fromalotusflowerthatgrewfromhistears.AnotherversionofthisstorytellsofhowtheGreenandWhiteformsofTarawerebornfrom2 tearsofAvalokitesvara.YetanotherversionofthelegendsaysthatTarawascreatedfromabluebeamoflightemanatingfrom Avalokitesvaraseye.
TheTwoWives
TaraissaidtobeincarnatedinallpiouswomeninTibet.Legendsaysthat2ofthewivesofthegreatKingSrongbtsanSgampoofTibet embodiedtheWhiteandGreenTaras.
Ritual
Tara's Vow
Mantra
Omtaretuttareturesvaha/soha
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Manifestations
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Introduction WhiteTaraisoneofthetwobestknownemanationsofTara(theotherbeingGreenTara).WhiteTaraembodiescompassionand motherliness.Sheisasaviorbodhisattvaandcanbecalledonforhelp,especiallywhenfollowersneedassistanceinovercomingobstaclesin theirlives.WhiteTaraisassociatedwithhealth,strength,longevityandbeauty,andherloveissopowerfulthatitisthoughttocurediseases. OriginofWhiteTara Accordingtolegend,WhiteTaraoriginatedfromthebodhisattvaAvalokiteshvara.WhenAvalokiteshvarawitnessedallofthesufferingin theworld,hewassomovedthathebegantocry.ItissaidthatWhiteTaraemergedfromthetearsflowingfromhislefteye.Heressenceis thecompassionwithinAvalokiteshvara'stears. Artisticportrayal WhiteTarawearssilkengarmentsalongwithtraditionalbodhisattvaornamentsandjewels.WhiteTara'sskiniswhiteasanautumn moon;clearasastainlesscrystalgem,radiatinglight(1).Itswhitenessisalsocomparedtotheradianceoftheeternalsnows(1).Whiteis symbolicofselflessnessandpurity;additionally,itshowsthatsherepresentsdharma,orunbiasedtruth.Shesitsuprightonacircleofthe moonwithherlegsfoldedindiamondposture,demonstratinghergraceful,calmnature.Withherrighthand,sheismakingthegiftbestowing gestureasasymbolofhercompassion.Withherlefthand,sheholdsalotusflower(utpala)betweenherthumbandfourthfinger(the protectionmudra).Theutpalainherhandhasthreeblooms:onesymbolizingtheBuddhaofthepreviouseon(Kashyapa);thesecond representingthepresentBuddha(Shakyamuni);andthethirdrepresentingthefutureBuddha(Maitreya),WhiteTaraissaidtobetheessence ofthepast,presentandfutureBuddhas.Hence,sheisknownastheMotherofallBuddhas. WhiteTarahasatotalofseveneyesonherbody.TheserepresenttheSevenEyesofKnowledgeandshowhervigilanceTaraseesall humansuffering.Thelocationsofthedifferenteyestellwhatkindofsufferingshesees.Onherface,therearethreeeyes:twoareinthe samelocationsashumaneyes,representingapparent(external)suffering,andonesitsjustabovehernoseinthespiritual"thirdeye" position.ManySoutheastAsianswearbindissmalldotsormarkingsindicatingthelocationofthethirdeyeontheforehead.Inartistic depictionsofTara,thiseyerepresentspsychologicalandspiritualsuffering.Taraalsohasaneyeinthepalmofeachhand(representing
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sufferinginactivity)aswellasoneonthesoleofeachfoot(representingsufferinginprogress). ItisalsosaidthatWhiteTararadiateswhitelight.Whitelightresultsfromcombiningalloftheothercolorsoflighttogether.Whenwhite lightisshonethroughthe"prism"oflife,arainbowappears.Themultitudeofdifferentcolorsarerepresentativeoflife'sdiversity.Tara's whitelightunifiesallofthecolors,makingalllivingthingsone. WhiteTaraisalsoassociatedwithRainbowBodypractice,orDzogchen,amysticaltraditionpracticedbyTantricBuddhists(thoughisnot exclusivetoBuddhism).DzogchenoriginatedintheBnreligion,anindigenousreligionoftheHimalayanpeoples.TheTantricsagePadma SambhavaeventuallybroughtBuddhismtoTibet,andthenativesreadilyadoptedBuddhismbecauseBuddhistbeliefsfitwellwiththeBn beliefsystem.Accordingtolegend,whenPadmaSambhavadied,hisbodydissolvedbackintothenaturalelementsandleftnorelics.This miraculouseventgaverisetotheNyingmatradition,whichledtothedevelopmentofTibetanBuddhism. DzogchenisanintegralfeatureoftheNyingmatradition.ThefinalpracticeofDzogchenistodissolveonesbodybackintotheelementsat thetimeofdeath,asPadmaSambhavadid.Whenthisoccurs,itissaidthatthephysicalbodyliterallyradiateslight,andthepractitioner disappearsintothatlight,transcendingthephysicalformtobecomeawisdombody.ThisisknownastheRainbowBodyattainment,and TantricBuddhistsseeitasasignofextremesanctity.TheRainbowBodyattainmentisenlightenment,inasenseitisawarenesswithout obscurations;itisomniscience;itispurespace.Itistheultimatefruitofspiritualcultivation.(16) HowisWhiteTaradifferentfromGreenTara? ThereareafewwaysinwhichWhiteTaradiffersfromGreenTara.First,comparedwithGreenTara,whoisdepictedasbeingyouthfuland girlish,WhiteTaraiswomanlyandmature.SheismorefullbodiedthanGreenTara;herfullbreasts,inparticular,givetheimpressionof motherliness.Secondly,WhiteTararepresentsday,whileGreenTararepresentsnight.Finally,thetwoTarasaidfollowersindifferentways. GreenTararespondstoimmediateconcerns(e.g.wealthandotherworldlyconcerns),whileWhiteTararespondstolongertermproblems(e.g. physicalandmentalhealth). WhiteTara'sMantra OMTARETUTTARETURE,MAMAAYURJANAPUNTINKURUSOHA. Roughlytranslated,themantraisanappealtoTaraforlongevity,meritandwisdom. WhiteTaraMantra
GreenTara
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Introduction GreenTaraistheBodhisattva'smostdynamicmanifestation.Hercolorsymbolizesyouthfulvitalityandactivity.TheBuddhistLordofkarma, Amoghasiddhi,isalsoassociatedwiththegreencolor;suggestingfamilialaffiliation,andmoreoveraffirmingtheperceptionthatGreenTara isagoddessofaction.[4] OriginofGreenTara PrecedingBuddhism,TarawasworshippedasamanifestationofthegoddessParvatioftheHindureligion;thoughsheprobablyhadnot beenintroducedtoBuddhismuntilthe6thcentury,CE. Thoughsheisthemoreintensemanifestation,herroleofsaviorgoddessofcompassionhasnotdeviated.AsaconsortofAvalokiteshvara, someconsiderGreenTaratobetheoriginalTara.AndlikeAvalokiteshvara,GreenTaraisbelievedtobeanemanationofthe"selfborn" BuddhaAmitabha,andanimageofAmitabhaisoccasionallyillustratedinTara'sheaddress.[17] ArtisticPortrayal Thoughherlegendsororiginationvary,herdepictionstendtoremainconsistent.Sheisoftendepictedinapostureofroyalease characteristicofBodhisattvas.Withherrightlegextended,sheisreadytoleapintoaction.Theleftlegfoldsinthecontemplativepositionon thelotuspedestal;thetwotogetherthussymbolizingtheintegrationofwisdomandart. Herlefthand,heldintherefugemudra,holdsthestemofabluelotusthatfloatsoverherleftshoulderasasymbolofpurityandpower; andfurthermorerecallinglegendsofherorigination,andfullybloomedrealization.Herrighthandissplayedinthegenerositymudra, signifyingbestowalofbothmundaneanddivineblessings.[18]
21 Taras
FromthetantraknownastheTwentyOnePraisesofTara,arisesasystemofpracticewith21emanationsofTara1foreachverse.Each
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formofTaraexhibitsauniquecolor,andischargedtorealizeapreciseaction. Thereare3eminentanddistinctrootsforthesetof21Taras:PanditaSuryagupta,LordAtishaandthelineagefromtheNyingmaLama Longchenpa.Butthese3lineagesdonotsharethesameiconographicforms.IntheAtishaassembly,alltheTarasappearinthesamebasic posture,andonlydifferwiththecolorofthebody.These3lineagesnotwithstanding,thereareother,thoughlesserknownseriesofthe21 Taras.[9] 4colorsbasicallyserveasciphersfortheir4activities:pacifying,enriching,subjugating,andeliminating.Mixedcolorssuchasorange signifyablendofqualities,temperedbystrongassociations.Forexample,#3isbluishyellow,thecolorofanoldTibetanturquoise;and#20, whowearsthetraditionalrobeofanIndianmendicant.[10] Epithetsandcolormanifestations: 1.TheSwiftHeroinered 2.Saraswatiwhite;Tara"TheGreatPacifier"(ofkleshas: negativeobscurations) 3.TheGiverofSupremeVirtueyellow(bluetinged);"Tara whoIncreases" 4.TheAllVictoriouswhite;"TaraoftheLifeForce" 5.TheGiverofIntelligencereddishyellow(orange);"Tara ResonatingwithHUM" 6.TheTerrifierblack(reddish);"Tara,VictoriousOverthe ThreeWorlds" 7.TheInvincibleblack;"TaraWhoCrushestheForcesof Others" 8.TheConquerorofOthersreddishblack;"Tara,Pulverizer oftheMaras" 9.TheSavioroftheScentedForestwhite;"Tara, EmbodimentoftheThreeJewels" 10.TheConqueroroftheThreeWorldlyRealmsred;"The GreatSubduer" 11.TheGiverofWealthyelloworange;"TaraEliminatorof Poverty" 12.TheAuspiciousorange;"TaraBestowerofAuspicious Conditions" 13.TheDestroyerofOpposingForcesred;"TaraBlazingin Flames" 14.TheWrathfulreddishblack;"TaraofWrathfulGaze" 15.TheVeryPeacefulwhite 16.TheBlazingLightred;"TaraWhoSavesbyMeansof HUM" 17.TheSubduerofCountlessHarmfulForcesorange;"Tara TrembleroftheThreeWorlds" 18.ThePeahenwhite;"TaraWhoEliminatesPoisons" 19.TheInvincibleQueenwhite;"Tara,Eliminatorof ConflictsandBadDreams" 20.TheMountaindwellingMendicantsaffronyellow;"Tara EliminatorofDiseases" 21.RaysofLightwhite;"TaraAccomplisherofAll EnlightenedActivities"[11]
21 Praises of Tara
OMIprostratetothenobletranscendentliberator. 1
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HomagetoTaraswiftandfearless Witheyeslikeaflashoflightning Lotusborninanoceanoftears OfChenresig,threeworlds'protector. 3 Homagetoyoubornfromagoldbluelotus Handsadornedwithlotusflowers Essenceofgiving,effortandethics, Patience,concentrationandwisdom. 5 HomagetoyouwhoseTUTTAREandHUM Filltherealmsofdesire,formandspace. Youcrushsevenworldsbeneathyourfeet Andhavepowertocallallforces. 7 HomagetoyouwhoseTREYandPEY Destroyexternalwheelsofmagic. Rightlegdrawninandleftextended, Youblazewithinaragingfire. 9 Homagetoyoubeautifullyadorned BytheThreeJewels'gestureatyourheart. Yourwheelshinesinalldirections Withawhirlingmassoflight. 11 Homagetoyouwithpowertoinvoke Theassemblyoflocalprotectors. WithyourfiercefrownandvibratingHUM, Youbringfreedomfromallpoverty. 13 Homagetoyouwhodwellsinablazingwreath Likethefireattheendofthisage. Yourrightlegoutstretchedandleftdrawnin, Joysurroundsyouwhodefeatshostsoffoes. 15 Homagetotheblissful,virtuous,peacefulone Objectofpractice,nirvana'speace PerfectlyendowedwithSOHAandOM Overcomingallthegreatevils. 17 HomagetoTUREwithstampingfeet WhoseessenceistheseedletterHUM YoucauseMerus,MandaraandVindaya Andallthreeworldstotrembleandshake. 19 Homagetoyouonwhomthekingsofgods, Thegodsthemselvesandallspiritsrely. Yourarmorradiatesjoytoall Yousootheconflictsandnightmaresaswell. 21 Homagetoyou,adornedwiththreenatures Perfectlyendowedwithpeacefulstrength Youdestroydemons,zombiesandyakshas OTURE,mostexaltedandsublime!
Homagetoyouwhosefaceislike Onehundredautumnmoonsgathered Andblazeswiththedazzlinglight Ofathousandconstellations. 4 HomagetoyouwhocrownallBuddhas Whoseactionsubdueswithoutlimit Attainedtoeveryperfection Onyouthebodhisattvasrely. 6 HomagetoyouadoredbyIndra, Agni,Brahma,VayuandIshvara. Praisedinsongbyhostsofspirits, Zombies,scenteatersandyakshas. 8 HomagetoyouwhoseTUREdestroys Thegreatfears,themightydemons. Withawrathfulfrownonyourlotusface, Youslayallfoeswithoutexception. 10 Homagetoyou,radiantandjoyful Whosecrownemitsagarlandoflight. You,bythelaughterofTUTTARA Conquerdemonsandlordsoftheworld. 12 Homagetoyouwithcrescentmooncrown Allyouradornmentsdazzlingbright. Fromyourhairknot,Amitabha Shineseternalwithgreatbeamsoflight. 14 Homagetoyouwhosefootstampstheearth Andwhosepalmstrikesthegroundbyyourside. WithawrathfulglanceandtheletterHUM, Yousubdueallinthesevenstages. 16 Homagetoyouwithjoyousretinue Yousubduefullyallenemies'forms Thetenlettermantraadornsyourheart AndyourknowledgeHUMbringsliberation. 18 Homagetoyouwhoholdsinyourhand Amoonlikeacelestiallake SayingTARAtwiceandtheletterPEY Youdispelallpoisonswithoutexception. 20 Homagetoyouwhoseeyes,thesunandmoon, Radiatewithpurebrilliantlight UtteringHARAtwiceandTUTTARA Dispelsextremelyfearfulplagues. Thustherootmantraispraised Andtwentyonehomagesoffered[7]
Iconography
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WhiteTara StatuesitsinKarmaKagyuschoollocatedinadharmacentre:AKarmaKagyuschoolisanon monasticschool;adharmacentreisalaycommunity. HavingthisstatueinapurelylaycommunityreiteratesthedevotionthelaityhaveforTara. TheGoddess,Tara 12thc.Nepal. Copperalloywithgilt,pigment,andsemipreciousstones. LosAngelesCountyMuseumofArt TheScurveofherbodydemonstratesanelegancecharacteristicofNepaliart. Taraholdsalotus,recallinglegendsofherbirthfromtheflowersproutedfromthetearsof Avalokitesvara. Herright,openpalmfacestowardtheviewerinamudrabestowingpeace,longevityandgood fortune. EasternTibet,c.18001899.GroundMineralPigmentonCotton. CollectionofRubinMuseumofArt Tarahereassumesthegenerositymudraassheprotectssentientbeingsfromthe8fears.
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WorksCited
[1]Khandro.Net.Tara.2010.6April2010
<http://www.khandro.net/deities_Tara1.htm>.
[2]Tara.SacredWind.20072009.<http://www.sacredwind.com/tara.php>
[3]SukhasiddhiFoundation."MeaningofTaramantra."2010.Sukhasiddhi
Foundation.6April2010<http://www.sukhasiddhi.org/docs/>.
[4]Kumar,Nitin.GreenTaraandWhiteTara:FeministIdealsinBuddhist
Art.Internet.http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/tara/2/.
[5]SukhasiddhiFoundation."UnderstandingVajrayanaPractice."2009.
SukhasiddhiFoundation.6April2010<http://www.sukhasiddhi.org/docs/>. [6]Ibid.
[7]OselShenPhenLing.2April2010.7April2010<http://www.fpmt
osel.org/meditate/21taras.htm>.
[8]HimalayanArt.Tara.2004.ShelleyandDonaldRubinFoundation.3April
2010.<http://www.himalayanart.org/image.cfm/237.html>.
[9]Ibid.
[10]
Khandro.Net.Tara'sEpithets.2010.6April2010<http://www.khandro.net/Tara_21names.htm>.
[11]Ibid.
[12]Kumar,Nitin.GreenTaraandWhiteTara:FeministIdealsinBuddhistArt.Internet.http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/tara/2/.
[13]NoAuthorCited.WhiteTaraGoddessofCompassion.Internet.http://www.whitetara.com/whitetara.html.
[14]NoAuthorCited.Tara:BuddhistGoddessinGreenandWhite.Internet.http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/deities/tara.htm.
[15]NoAuthorCited.TheWhiteTara.Internet.http://vortexcd.tripod.com/wtara.htm.
[16]Barrett,JamesAndrew.RainbowBodyBodyofLight.Internet.http://web.me.com/jamesbarrett999/Site/Rainbow_Body.html.
[17]NoAuthorCited.Tara:BuddhistGoddessinGreenandWhite.Internet.http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/deities/tara.htm.
[18]Kumar,Nitin.GreenTaraandWhiteTara:FeministIdealsinBuddhistArt.Internet.http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/tara/2/.
Om. Om Jetsun
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