THE TARA GODDESS

Tara is a deity revered for her compassion, protection and wisdom. She is known as a savior, who hears the cries of beings experiencing misery in samsara (cycle of birth, life, death and reincarnation), and delivers souls from suffering. For this reason, she is invoked in times of need and hardship. Her name means “star” in Sanskrit and she is seen as a motherly and benevolent figure who brings comfort and guides her devotees in the darkness towards light and truth.

She is generally depicted as a young and beautiful woman, with a serene and compassionate expression. Her skin can vary in color, with green or white being more common, each symbolizing different aspects of her nature and powers. She is often adorned with elaborate jewelry and garments, reflecting her divine status.

In many depictions, she is seen in a meditative posture, sometimes on a lotus flower or in a dynamic position, ready to assist those who invoke her. She often holds a lotus in one hand, symbolizing enlightenment and purity, and sometimes holds other objects representing her ability to offer protection and guidance.

Sometimes, the white Tara is represented with eyes in the palms of the hands, feet and in the center of the forehead, symbolizing the power to see those who are suffering and offer them help.

The goddess Tara is an important deity in both Buddhism and Hinduism. Let’s delve into the origin of both traditions.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, the three main male deities are the Trimurti or Trideva (¨three forms¨ or ¨trinity¨) that form the triad composed of Brahma (creation), Visnu (maintenance) and Shiva (destruction). The feminine counterpart of the Trimurti or Trideva is the Tridevi, since without the feminine principle the world cannot function, it is the basis of all equilibrium.

Mahadevi or Shakti is the great mother goddess or supreme goddess and is the unifying force of the Tridevi, which personifies the totality of the feminine cosmos and creation and represents different aspects of human existence and the cosmos. The embodied aspect of the great mother goddess Mahadevi, can manifest in different divinities or avatars (Mahavidyas). Therefore, Mahadevi manifests as the Tridevi.

The Tridevi is formed by the triad composed of Sarasvati (wife of Brahma, symbolizes knowledge and wisdom), Laksmi (wife of Visnu, symbolizes wealth) and Parvati (wife of Shiva, symbolizes power, love and spirituality).

Tara is said to be the second of the ten manifestations or avatars of the goddess Parvati and is revered for her power and protection. In many branches of Hinduism Parvati is the most complete manifestation of the mother goddess.

Buddhism

In Buddhism, Tara is the most powerful and important female deity and revered in various traditions, being considered a bodhisattva or female budha representing compassion and benevolent and saving action. She is known as the “Mother of Liberation” and is believed to help beings overcome suffering and attain enlightenment.

According to a beautiful and significant legend in Buddhism, Tara was born from a tear of Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Chenrezig is one of the 8 main bodhisattvas (someone embarked on the Buddha’s path) of Tibetan Buddhism. It is said that, upon seeing, from a mountaintop, the eternal suffering of people in the world, caused by the ignorance that traps them in their fears and chains them to the endless torment of the cycle of reincarnation and death (wheel of samsara) unless they awaken, he was filled with compassion and wept for their pain. The tears fell at her feet and formed a puddle that eventually became a lake; in the center of the lake appeared a lotus flower, which when opened, revealed the goddess Tara, who is considered the female incarnation of Chenrezig, and represents active compassion and protection.

Tara is known as the “Mother of all Buddhas” and is considered one of the most important deities in Buddhism, especially in Tibetan Buddhism. She is considered a loving mother who responds to the needs of all beings. Her story reminds us of the importance of compassion in our lives and how a simple act of love can lead to great transformations.

While in Hinduism Tara is a form of the goddess Pavarti without a specific number of distinct forms, in Buddhism 21 different forms of Tara are recognized, which are the manifestations of the 21 supreme qualities of body, mind and speech, to achieve enlightenment. Each of the twenty-one Taras is a manifestation of Green Tara, the main Tara, sometimes of White Tara. Each represents specific aspects of compassion and wisdom. According to tradition, these 21 forms of Tara manifest in different colors, each with its own meaning and purpose.

• Green tara, symbolizes compassion and healing.
• White tara represents purity and wisdom.
• Red Tara is associated with protection and strength.
• Blue Tara, with tranquility and harmony.
• Yellow tara represents physical prosperity, well-being and wealth.
• Black Tara, symbolizes spiritual power.

Each form of Tara has its own unique qualities and is invoked for different purposes according to the devotee’s needs.

Praises to invoke the goddess Tara

We can find numerous prayers to invoke Tara,

“Noble Tara, I beseech you, both you and your entourage,

to remember with love your promise of the past

and release my fears and those of all beings.

Dispels the dark mentality in the face of adversity.

May harmonious circumstances flourish

and grant us the siddhis ordinary and supreme siddhis [‘mental powers’].”

In order for the goddess to respond quickly to her followers one can recite the mantra “Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha” (pronounced Om Tare Tutare Ture Soja), it is a sacred mantra that is also known as the green Tara mantra and refers to protection, it does not have a literal translation. It is a powerful prayer to face situations of insecurity or fear, bringing the physical and spiritual presence of Tara. It can also be recited to enter into meditation.

In addition to his mantra, his followers in Tibetan Buddhist schools recite every morning a text entitled “Praises to the 21 Taras” which includes the recitation of mantras and prayers expressing devotion and gratitude. These praises highlight the qualities of each Tara, such as the ability to remove obstacles, offer protection and guide practitioners on their spiritual path. They are invoked for help in various situations.

In short, in Hinduism, the goddess Tara is considered a form of the goddess Parvati, the wife of Shiva. She is known as the goddess of compassion, protection and salvation. In Buddhism, on the other hand, Tara is an important and revered deity in several traditions, being considered a female bodhisattva representing compassion and benevolent action. Although they share similarities in their representation as a divine female figure associated with compassion, in each religious tradition, Tara has different roles and meanings.