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Buddhist Deity: Tara Main Page

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According to Vajrayana Buddhism Tara is a completely enlightened Buddha who typically appears in the form of a beautiful youthful woman sixteen years of age. By category and by hierarchy Tara also functions as a Meditational Deity (yidam) and her general appearance is that of a peaceful deity which is synonymous with Devi, Bodhisattva Appearance, one of the Eleven Figurative Forms depicted in Tibetan art and iconography. Found in all Schools of Tibetan Buddhism Tara, among all of the different deity forms, is likely second in popularity only to Avalokiteshvara.

Tara Profile:
Identity: Individual deity (not an emanation)
Tantra Class: Kriya Tantra, Anuttarayoga Tantra
Source Text: Aryataramulakalpa Tantra, Tārāviśvakarmabhava Tantra, Namastāraikaviṃśati­stotra, etc
Function: activity
Metaphor: variable

Special Characteristics:
Appearance: peaceful, semi-peaceful/semi wrathful, wrathful
Colour: Red, Black, White, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange
Attributes: utpala flower & various attributes
Consort: Avalokiteshvara, others
Mount: variable

Database Search: Tara - All Images | Painting | Sculpture | Mandala

Jeff Watt 2-2003 [updated 4-2017]