In Buddhism, there are many divine patrons whom people value, respect and worship. One of them is the goddess Tara, who is referred to in translation from the ancient Sanskrit language as a star. Let's find out the story of Tara, why it is divided into several colors and what role it plays in religious belief.
Main goddess
The Hindu goddess is called both the Merciful and the Savior. She did not arise from flesh and blood, but was beautiful and incredible. The famous patroness emerged from the tears of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who made the only decision in life - to renounce worldly goods and other joys for the sake of liberating other people. For this, the bodhisattva often reflected on peace and suffering, mourned all troubles and pain. One day Avalokiteshvara was on the lake, and a tear fell to the surface. Imagine this wonderful moment when a lotus first emerged from one drop, and after that it grew into the beautiful goddess Tara. After which she, in accordance with the history in Buddhism, became the bodhisattva's wife and people began to call her Merciful.
Both in Buddhism and in Hinduism, Tara is attributed to the main Mother of all living things, which can create a unique and inimitable world, and destroy it. The manifestation and representation of the patroness can be traced in 21 images, where there is a White, and Red, and Green Tara. Therefore, a new question arises: "How do they differ from each other?"
The Essence of the Divine Mother
The tears of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara created a female manifestation of a worldly sufferer. However, the essence in this embodiment went a completely different way - the goddess began to travel the world and enlighten people. That is why Tara is revered throughout the East: in Tibet, and in India, and in Mongolia, and in Buryatia, and in some regions of China and Nepal.
The main task of the Merciful is to convey to people that there are no differences between a woman and a man on a spiritual level, therefore all people can achieve rebirth. Accordingly, karma, as a causal relationship, is accumulated over a lifetime, and each merit (negative, positive) will affect future reincarnation. Tara also said that there is a wheel of Samsara, where all souls will regularly be reborn until they all leave the endless cycle. Until then, the Savior will be present in the life of all people, enlighten them and teach how to go into the true and immortal world of Nirvana.
We can safely say that the goddess Tara is the eternal reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara, because it was his tears - pure and sincere - that could create a divine image in a female form.
Image of the Merciful Mother
Not without reason, in Sanskrit, the goddess Tara means "star". She literally glows with bright rays that are capable of directing lost souls into a dark abyss. She is depicted in a female image, sitting in a lotus position. The main feature of the statue or icon is that the Merciful has seven eyes. We see three eyes on the face (one of them on the forehead, representing Providence), two on the palms on the inside, two more on the feet. The eyes are a symbol of the fact that Tara sees everything, wherever she is. Therefore, the goddess will help everyone who really needs her.
The icons also depict a female silhouette in a naked guise, where the upper part is fully open and the chest is bare, and the legs in the lotus position are covered with a light veil or even decorated with numerous ornaments. Among all the divine beings in Hinduism and Buddhism, Tara has a truly beautiful image. By drawing it, many flowers, algae and, of course, lotuses are added to it, which gave rise to the wise Savior.
However, the images of the Mother may not coincide and differ from each other, because in iconography 21 different manifestations of the goddess are distinguished. Of these, the female essence most often takes five forms, which differ in colors. In other words, these five forms are depicted each in their own color, considered sacred in Buddhism - these are white, red, yellow, blue and green. The reasons for such changes are simple: each shade represents one of the universal forms, for example, red - the sun, and white - the ocean. In any case, that is exactly how poets and philosophers of the East interpret them.
White goddess
White Tara is a symbol of longevity. She patronizes those who regularly engage in spiritual practices such as meditation and yoga. In Buddhism, it is believed that this manifestation personifies the spiritual conjugal relationship between the bodhisattva and the Merciful.
It is a female image, sitting either in the lotus position, or with a hanging left leg. Sometimes in iconography you can see a divine being who dances. It is not difficult to distinguish White Tara from its other manifestations - a blooming lotus will be visible on all images and statuses, and its throne, as a rule, is decorated with these flowers.
The goddess still has 7 eyes, the location of which does not change depending on her images. Another feature of the Compassionate is the gesture of the left hand, which is folded in the form of a mudra of knowledge (jnana mudra), that is, the thumb and index finger touch one another slightly, forming a circle, and the remaining fingers are freely straightened. This gesture proves that White Tara is a preacher who shows that life can be prolonged and all obstacles removed.
In Buddhism and Hinduism, the mantras of the female image help to cure serious illnesses and sometimes even avoid death. The reason is simple: reading the cherished words allows you to accumulate energy that can suppress the disease. The only condition is the strict fulfillment of the requirements during the reading of the mantras, therefore, the Lama is often invited to help invoke the mercy and wisdom of White Tara.
Red goddess
Red Tara personifies love and magic in many of its manifestations. She is both a healer and a sorceress. It is an image of an energetic entity in a female form, whose skin is depicted in bright red. In eastern religions, this manifestation is sometimes called Kurukulla, which means "source of wisdom."
Red Tara has four arms and two legs. Kurukulla is never portrayed without her arrows and bow, which are always directed in any direction. Sharp arrows do not cause fear, because they are decorated with bright and colorful flowers. Often this is interpreted as follows: where the arrow hits, everything will flourish and become richer.
Sometimes the image of Kurukulla can frighten: on the head of the female form there is a crown of skulls, hair black, like tar, fly apart in different directions and are raised as if in a flame. A huge necklace to the knees hangs around the neck, which, like the crown, is made of human skulls.
Red Tara is seductive, often shows the femininity of the goddess. In Buddhism and Hinduism, such an image personifies good and evil, which in the wild movement of chaos replace each other. That is why Kurukulla symbolizes attraction, and charm, and love, and sympathy, and joy, and wisdom, and compassion, and negativity. The main feature of the manifestation of the Merciful is that the Red Tara was able to overcome the ego, thereby opening the way to enlightenment and self-awareness.
Yellow goddess
Often, Yellow Tara is depicted in orange, which also embodies wisdom. In religious beliefs, the goddess is called Vasundhara - an image that gives peace and prosperity, and wealth, and longevity, and glory, and happiness.
In iconography, we also see a female image, which already has six hands. He, like all manifestations of the Merciful, has seven eyes, which proves her vigilance. Yellow Tara is able to protect a person from fears and problems, frightening off its bright and rich color. And in the most difficult times, the goddess will come to the rescue and direct on the true path.
Vasundhara is active, and the brighter she is depicted, the more is the energy in her that she transfers to all living things. This manifestation gives a chance to reveal their talents, so reading mantras can improve intelligence and eloquence. Vasundhara is a symbol of the fact that happiness and abundance can be found not only in physical manifestation, but also in the spiritual world. That is why we must destroy rudeness, poverty and anger in order to feel far from material wealth. The goddess also tells us about karmic laws, where our actions predetermine our future rebirths. It is Yellow Tara that teaches us to share, give material things and not have attachment to them.
Blue goddess
Blue or Blue Tara, perhaps the most powerful of all the manifestations of the Merciful. It helps the soul to get out of the eternal cycle - the wheels of Samsara, therefore it is often called the Savior.
In iconography, it appears to us in the form of a female appearance, the color of which is from blue-black to blue. She personifies not only wisdom and activity, but also the other side of these feelings - anger. The main task of Blue Tara is to free the soul from the wheel and stop this cycle of illusory existence. The goddess will have enough strength to warn and sometimes save a person from dangers. The manifestation of the Divine Mother directs to the true path, illuminating the road in pitch darkness and protecting from troubles and misfortunes.
It is believed that the Blue Goddess personifies the family hearth, which she guards. This image helps to cope with anger, fights for injustice. Reading mantras allows you to establish your life, especially if you ask a wise and strong goddess to protect you. The philosophical treatises of the East say that Blue Tara helps to change lives, improving karma, which in the future allows a person to find spirituality and get out of the wheel of Samsara.
Green goddess
Green Tara is sometimes called Droljang. She, like all manifestations of the goddess, personifies wisdom and protection. However, Green Tara is also a comforter who listens to human prayers. The goddess exerts compassion by helping those who really need her. She appreciates the love of the family and the care of children. Droljang in religious belief is a female image who has achieved enlightenment and was able to achieve Nirvana. This once again proves that Tara in all her manifestations was able to prove that there is no difference between a man and a woman, representatives of both sexes are able to open their souls and free their minds.
It is an image in a green guise that sits on the lotus throne. In iconography, you can see that such Tara lowered her right leg, and with her right hand calls and wishes everyone good. This shows her gesture - a varada mudra, which looks like an open palm, laid and relaxed with the inside up. But the left hand says that Green Tara protects. This is indicated by the gesture of the Abhaya Mudra, which looks like an open palm pointing at you, with the inside out. The gesture looks like a hand shows: "Stop!" Distinctive features of the image are a lotus in the process of flowering or a beautiful lily, whose petals are painted in a delicate blue color.
Mantra praising the Merciful and consecrated signs
If you want to invoke the patronage of the goddess Tara, then it is important to understand: each of its manifestations is accompanied by the reading of certain mantras. For example, to invoke the White Goddess, you must read the cherished words in Sanskrit: "Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Mama Ayuḥ Punya Jñānā Puṣtiṃ Kuru Svāhā." Do not be afraid of the ancient language, because it is easy to transliterate and will sound like this: "Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Ayur Punya Gnyan Pushtim Kuru Swah." Each word in the mantra invokes the Merciful, asking for wisdom, longevity, happiness in life.
- Green face of the goddess: "Om Tare Tutare Ture Sokha."
- Mantra to the goddess Tara in all 21 manifestations: "Om Chom Dan Dae Ma Lha Mo Dro Ma La Chag Tsel Lo Chag Tsel Drol Ma Tare Pal Mo Tuttara Yi Ji Kun Sel Ma Ture Dong Nam Tham Che Ter Ma Svaha Yer Ger Che La Rab Doo Om "
- Red Tara: "Om Tare Tam Soha."
The signs of the goddess Tara are the distinctive objects or colors with which to surround yourself, following Feng Shui, in order to attract the attention of the powerful and wise Mother. Basically it is a lotus (living flower, image). In iconography, you can see that often the container uses powerful and effective mudras - yoga of the fingers, which embodies both protection, and longevity, and knowledge.
If you want to start practicing spiritual practices such as meditation, you can include mantras in audio recordings. This is useful for those who have not yet memorized all the words from the prayer. At this time, surround yourself with cleanliness and harmony, remove excess tight clothing.
Tara of the Vedas
The patroness and powerful goddess is found not only in Buddhism and in Hinduism, but also in the ancient Vedas. Unlike the Merciful, the leading Tara is the daughter of Perun, who protects the forests. It also represents a female image - pure and immaculate, which illuminates even the darkest thicket of the forest with its rays.
Tara of the Vedas is a strong goddess of nature, who teaches us that we are all part of a single whole, connected by an invisible thin thread. She does not represent either a woman or a man, but, on the contrary, all living things that are around. Tara teaches us how to correctly understand the Universe and be in harmony with it. Surprisingly, this goddess proves the unity of peoples, because in completely different corners and cultures they worshiped and asked for protection from Tara. Both the Buddhists and the Vedas, this female image is called the Savior, only presented in different interpretations.
The Divine Mother teaches us that we should not build frames, separate men and women. It shows that one can stop the eternal wheel of Sansara, comprehend Nirvana through self-awareness. It is only important to give up worldly goods and direct our forces towards positive activities that would cleanse our karma. Until then, the wise and strong Tara will always protect and guide, help and liberate, love and inspire.