Mother Tara, revered in various Buddhist traditions, embodies boundless compassion and wisdom, offering solace and guidance to practitioners on their spiritual journey. Mother Tara is known by different names such as Green Tara, Jetsun Dolma, or Arya Tara, she symbolizes the nurturing and protective qualities of the divine feminine. 
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The Origin of Mother Tara
According to Buddhist mythology, Tara is said to have originated from the tears of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, who wept upon witnessing the suffering of sentient beings. These tears are said to have fallen to the earth and formed a pristine lake. From the center of this lake, a radiant lotus emerged, symbolizing purity and enlightenment. As the lotus blossomed, Tara appeared in all her compassion and radiance, ready to offer her assistance to those in need. This myth highlights Tara's connection to compassion and her role as a compassionate guide and protector in the Buddhist tradition.
Exploring the Iconography of Green Tara
Tara conveys her compassionate presence, dynamic activity, and enlightened qualities, inspiring practitioners to cultivate compassion, wisdom, and fearlessness in their own lives. Here's an overview of the key aspects of Green Tara's iconography:
- Color: Green Tara is typically depicted with a radiant green complexion, symbolizing her association with activity, growth, and compassion. The color green represents vitality and transformation, reflecting Tara's ability to help beings overcome obstacles and attain spiritual awakening.
- Posture: Green Tara is often depicted seated in a meditative posture known as the "lalitasana," with one leg folded and the other pendant. This posture symbolizes her readiness to spring into action to assist sentient beings in their time of need.
- Hand Gestures (Mudras): Green Tara is usually depicted with one or both of her hands in specific mudras (gestures) that convey various aspects of her compassionate activity:
Her right hand is often extended in the gesture of granting boons, known as the "varada mudra," symbolizing her readiness to bestow blessings, protection, and wishes fulfillment.
Her left hand is commonly held in the gesture of refuge or protection, known as the "abhaya mudra," which signifies fearlessness and reassurance to her devotees, dispelling their fears and anxieties.
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Lotus Flower: Green Tara is frequently depicted sitting on a lotus flower, which symbolizes purity, enlightenment, and spiritual growth. The lotus rises from the mud, representing the journey from darkness to enlightenment, mirroring Tara's role in guiding beings along the path to liberation.
- Vajra (Thunderbolt): In some depictions, Green Tara holds a vajra in one of her hands, symbolizing her transcendent wisdom and power to cut through ignorance and delusion. The vajra represents indestructibility and the unshakeable nature of enlightenment.
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Earrings and Jewelry: Green Tara is adorned with various ornaments, including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, symbolizing her divine beauty, grace, and auspiciousness.
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Third Eye: In some representations, Green Tara is depicted with a third eye on her forehead, symbolizing her omniscient wisdom and ability to perceive the true nature of reality.
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Green Tara Mantra
"Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha"
Each syllable in the mantra holds a deep and profound meaning, encapsulating the essence of Green Tara's enlightened qualities and compassionate activity.
Om (ཨོཾ): Represents the sacred sound of the universe, signifying the essence of Tara's enlightened body, speech, and mind.
Tare (ཏཱ་རེ): Invokes Tara's energy and presence, symbolizing liberation from suffering and protection from dangers
Tuttare (ཏུ་ཏ་རེ): Signifies Tara's swift action in rescuing beings from the eight fears and other obstacles on the path to enlightenment.
Ture (ཏུ་རེ): Strengthens Tara's protective energy and guidance towards spiritual liberation, reinforcing the practitioner's connection with Tara's enlightened qualities.
Soha (སྭཱ): Concludes the mantra and offers its merit to the enlightened beings for their blessings, dedicating the practice for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Benefits of Chanting the Green Tara Mantra
Chanting the Green Tara mantra is associated with numerous profound benefits:
1. Healing: Promotes physical and emotional well-being, alleviating suffering and illness.
2. Protection: Invokes her compassionate shield against obstacles, negative energies, and adversity.
3. Compassion: Cultivates empathy and loving-kindness towards all beings.
4. Wisdom: Enhances understanding and supports spiritual growth.
5. Peace and Calm: Brings inner tranquility, reducing stress and anxiety.
6. Purification: Cleanses negative karma, aiding in spiritual progress.
7. Longevity: Blessings for a long and healthy life, extending one's lifespan.
8. Enhanced Concentration: Improves focus during meditation and daily life.
9. Spiritual Growth: Guides progress on the spiritual path, towards enlightenment.
10. Blessings for Others: Chanting sends healing energy and blessings to those in need.
Green Tara Practice
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Meditation and Visualization: Practitioners often begin the Green Tara practice with meditation and visualization. This involves visualizing Green Tara in front of them or above their heads, surrounded by an aura of radiant green light. They may visualize her compassionate gaze and feel her loving presence enveloping them with blessings.
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Recitation of Prayers: Devotional prayers dedicated to Green Tara are often recited during the practice. These prayers may include verses praising Green Tara's virtues, expressing gratitude for her blessings, and requesting her guidance and protection on the spiritual path.
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Offerings: Practitioners may make offerings such as flowers, incense, and light to Green Tara as gestures of reverence and devotion. These offerings symbolize the practitioner's appreciation for Green Tara's blessings and their commitment to the practice.
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Generating Bodhicitta: The practice often includes the cultivation of bodhicitta, the altruistic intention to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. This aligns with Green Tara's compassionate nature and her commitment to helping others.
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Visualizing Benefits: Practitioners may visualize Green Tara's blessings flowing into themselves and others, bringing peace, wisdom, and swift resolution to difficulties.
The Green Tara practice is not only a means of seeking protection and guidance but also a path to cultivating
compassion, wisdom, and spiritual growth. Through regular practice and sincere devotion, practitioners can deepen their connection with Green Tara and experience her profound blessings in their lives.
