The beautiful goddess Tara (pronounced Tah' rah) is a female Bodhisattva of compassion & action. It is believed that her compassion for living beings is much more stronger than a mother's love for her children.She is also the most popular figure in the Tibetan Pantheon of deities.In Tibet she is known as Jetsun Dolma, meaning "she who saves."
She is the "mother of liberation", and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. Tara was adopted in Buddhism in the 6th century C.E. during the era of the Pala Empire, before that she was worshipped as the manifestation of the goddess Parvati in Hinduism. According to the Buddhist tradition, Tara came in to the existence from the tears of compassion of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. It is believed that he wept as he looked upon the world of suffering beings, and his tears created a lake in which a lotus bloomed. When the lotus was opened, the goddess Tara was revealed. Like Avalokitesvara, she is a compassionate deity who hears the cries of beings experiencing misery in Samsara & helps souls 'cross to the other shore'.
Today, Green Tara and White Tara are probably the most popular representations of Tara. Green Tara/Khadiravani is usually associated with protection from fear and the following eight obscurations Lions = Pride; Wild Elephants = Delusion/Ignorance; Fires = Hatred and Anger; Snakes = Jealousy; Bandits and Thieves = Wrong Views (incl. fanatical views); Bondage = Avarice and Miserliness; Floods = Desire and Attachment; Evil Spirits/Demons = Deluded Doubts. White Tara/Sarasvati is associated with longevity of life (she is one of the three deities of long life). White Tara counteracts illness and thereby helps to bring about a long life. She embodies the motivation that is compassion and is said to be as white and radiant as the moon.
The most widely known Taras are:
Green Tara, known for the activity of compassion, the consort of the Dhyani Buddha Amogasiddhi, and is incarnated in all good women.
White Tara, also known for compassion, long life, healing and serenity; also known as The Wish-fulfilling Wheel, or Cintachakra. As White Tara, she rose from a lotus blooming in the lake that formed from the first tear of compassion of great bodhisattva Avalokiteswara (whose human incarnation is the Dalai Lama), and is considered his consort.
Red Tara, of fierce aspect associated with magnetizing all good things.
Black Tara, associated with power .
Yellow Tara, associated with wealth and prosperity.
Blue Tara, associated with transmutation of anger.
Cittamani Tara, a form of Tara widely practiced in the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, portrayed as green and often confused with Green Tara
Today, Green Tara and White Tara are probably the most popular representations of Tara. Green Tara/Khadiravani is usually associated with protection from fear and the following eight obscurations Lions = Pride; Wild Elephants = Delusion/Ignorance; Fires = Hatred and Anger; Snakes = Jealousy; Bandits and Thieves = Wrong Views (incl. fanatical views); Bondage = Avarice and Miserliness; Floods = Desire and Attachment; Evil Spirits/Demons = Deluded Doubts. White Tara/Sarasvati is associated with longevity of life (she is one of the three deities of long life). White Tara counteracts illness and thereby helps to bring about a long life. She embodies the motivation that is compassion and is said to be as white and radiant as the moon.
The most widely known Taras are:
Green Tara, known for the activity of compassion, the consort of the Dhyani Buddha Amogasiddhi, and is incarnated in all good women.
White Tara, also known for compassion, long life, healing and serenity; also known as The Wish-fulfilling Wheel, or Cintachakra. As White Tara, she rose from a lotus blooming in the lake that formed from the first tear of compassion of great bodhisattva Avalokiteswara (whose human incarnation is the Dalai Lama), and is considered his consort.
Red Tara, of fierce aspect associated with magnetizing all good things.
Black Tara, associated with power .
Yellow Tara, associated with wealth and prosperity.
Blue Tara, associated with transmutation of anger.
Cittamani Tara, a form of Tara widely practiced in the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, portrayed as green and often confused with Green Tara
No comments:
Post a Comment