TARA is the Buddhist Goddess of compassion. She is said to have been born from the tears of Avalokiteshvara, the Lord of the World. He was looking down from heaven at all the people suffering in the world and he wept to see their pain. From his tears there emerged two Goddesses, the peaceful White Tara and the fierce Green Tara. White Tara represents the day and calm serenity; Green Tara represents the night and helpful activity.
Green Tara is depicted seated on a lotus, but with one leg outstretched and ready for action. She holds blue lotuses, symbols of purity, and she is adorned with jewels. She is a savior Goddess, called on by followers to overcome fears and dangers. White Tara also sits on a lotus, but she is at rest. She is often shown with seven eyes--the usual two, one on her forehead, and one on each of her hands and feet. White Tara is called on to help followers overcome obstacles.
Aside from green and white, other forms of Tara are seen as red (associated with magnetism), black (associated with power), yellow (associated with abundance and generosity), or blue (associated with protection). In Tibetan Buddhism, where Tara is most venerated, she has 21 forms in various colors, as follows:
oGreen Tara, the source of all Taras
oThe Tara who averts disasters (white)
oThe Tara who averts earth-born calamities (blue)
oThe Tara who bestows prosperity (yellow)
oThe Tara who fulfills wishes (green)
oThe Tara who bestows longevity (white)
oThe Tara who averts the evil effects of poison (white)
oThe Tara who averts destruction wrought by fire (yellow)
oThe Tara who averts destruction wrought by water (red)
oThe Tara who averts evil caused by wild beasts (blue)
oThe Tara who averts evil affecting cattle (red)
oThe Tara who averts evil caused by demons (blue)
oThe Tara who increases power (red)
oThe Tara who increases wisdom (yellow)
oThe Tara who averts hell-born calamities (red)
oThe Tara who averts destruction caused by wind (white)
oThe Tara who averts evil caused by robbers (blue)
oThe Tara who averts destruction caused by armies (blue)
oThe Tara who averts heaven-born calamities (green)
oThe Tara who subdues demons (blue)
oThe Tara who heals sickness (green)
Tara's name means "to cross over," and other names and epithets for her include:
ARYA TARA
Cittamani Tara
Khadiravani Tara
Nila Tara
Shveta Tara
Sita Tara
Syama Tara
Ugra Tara
Vajra Tara
Tara Amba
Tara Dharani
Tara Utpala
Bhrkuti
Bribsun
Dol Jyang
Ekajati
Hlamo
Janguli
Konjo
Kurukulla
Mamaki
Parnasavari
Vasundhara
Jetsun dolma
Dolma Sermo
Dolma Karmo
Drolma
Sgrolma
Sgrol-dkar
Norgyuma
Ritro Loma Chen
Jigjema
Shen.gyi.mi.tub.ma
Shen.le Nam.par Gyel.ma
Tarani Bosatsu
Mother of Perfected Wisdom
Mother of the Buddhas
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