Item: Tara (Buddhist Deity) - Green

Green Tara Protecting from the Fear of Water (drowning): one composition from a set of nine paintings.

Tara, a meditational deity in either her white form or green, is associated with the Eight Great Fears: (1) water, (2) lions, (3) fire, (4) snakes, (5) elephants, (6) thieves, (7) false imprisonment and (8) ghosts are meant literally, but also have a deeper significance. Tantric Buddhism commonly presents an interpretive model having three and sometimes four levels of meaning: 1. Outer, 2. Inner, and 3. Secret. The outer meaning of the eight fears are exactly as described above which are real fears experienced in ancient times and even now in the present day world. They all relate to the physical person and the fears presented in a physical material world. The inner meaning relates to passions, ego and negative emotional characteristics. The inner meaning relates to the mental world. The secret meaning has to do with tantric techniques and philosophies to transform these negative mental states into enlightened, or realized, states.

At the top center is Shakyamuni Buddha. On the left side is Mahachakra Vajrapani with three faces and six arms. On the right side is White Achala in a kneeling posture.

At the lower left is the goddess of wealth Vasudhara. On the right side is a wrathful Mahakala - protector deity.

Directly below Tara is a merchant having just arrived by boat and makes offerings to Tara.

This composition belongs to a nine painting set depicting Green Tara protectiong from the eight fears. Each of the eight fears is represented in a single composition and a central painting is added to visually balance the painting set when publicly displayed.

Jeff Watt 7-2013