Tara

TARA TARA TARA TARA TARA

Goddess of Compassion both Gentle & Fierce

NAME: Tara. Tara the Seven Eyed, Sgrol-ma, The Faithful One, Ugra-Tara or Ekajata (blue Tara), Kurukulla (red Tara), Bhrkuti (yellow Tara), Janguli and many more. (See links)

SYMBOLS: Lotus. Star. Diamond. Hand with three fingers extended to represent the granting of the refuge of the Three Jewels of Buddhism: The Buddha, Dharma, & sangha (community.)

USUAL IMAGE: She is shown as a well formed woman, usually with a third eye as well as sometimes eyes in the palms of her hands and her feet. Depending on the Tara she is shown as being green or white but also at times red, yellow, black and others.

HOLY BOOKS: Being one of the oldest deities known she shows up in many different works. for a modern one you might try In Praise of Tara by Martin Wilson.

RELATIVES: Avalokitesvara (consort, counterpart "father"), Songtsen Gambo (husband - Tibetan), Brihaspati (husband - Hindu) Soma (father of her child.) Budha `the planet Mercury (Son.)

SYNODEITIES: Ishtar (Babylonian), Terra, Earth Mother (Roman), Tara Mother Goddess (Druid), Tar Woman of Wisdom (Finland), Tarahumara ( Aztec).

DETAILS:

Tara who's name is sanskrit for star,is mainly know today as the Tibetan Goddess of compassion who is said to be the mother of all Buddhas. She is also found in Hindu beliefs.

However there is evidence that they may be just the most recent versions of a Goddess that first appeared on cave walls as long ago as 13,000 years ago. As such, like the Moon and stars, she is a diety who has been part of many different myths.

One myth has that she came about when Avalokitesvara (Buddha to be) shed a tear which became a lake from which arose a lotus which opened to reveal her.

Another says that Tara was two princesses who were sent to marry the King of Tibet, one from China who became the white Tara and one from Nepalis who became the green Tara.

Which ever origin one uses Tara was said to be the holder of inner knowledge, and the power behind Tantric Yoga.

Also like Kuan Yin she is a bodhisattva who has no need to incarnate but stays in the human realm to aid those in need. She is also rare in that it is said she has vowed to always incarnate as a woman.

While there is much to compare Tara to the Chinese Goddess Kuan Yin Tara is notable in that her compassion has fierce manifestations.

One of the most common versions has Tara appearing in a body of green light surrounded by 21 other manifestations colored red, yellow, white, black, & red/yellow. Some of these Taras heal and comfort, while others destroy demons, the malevolent spells of evil doers and even the rased dead.

To say the least this ancient and many storied Goddess, who may be the source of Goddesses from Asia, to the Middle East to the far North of Europe to the Celtic lands, is a rich and complex subject who has more facets then one of her symbols the diamond.