Buddhist Deity: Tara (Atisha Tradition)
Twenty-one Taras Main PageSubjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Red Tara at the center of the composition
- Green Tara at the center of the composition
- White Tara at the center of the composition
- List of Twenty-one Taras
- Mandala Composition: HAR #35352, 23229
- Masterworks
- Tara Main Page
- Confusions
- Others...
Video: Twenty-One Taras of Atisha
Types of Composition & Sets:
- Single Composition
- MFA Boston Set (21 paintings)
- Panchen Lama Set (21 paintings)
- Three figures per composition (seven painting set) #66298, #48954
- Sculpture Sets
- others....
Database Search: All Images
From the tantra known as the 'Twenty-One Praises of Tara' spoken by the Buddha Samantabhadra arises the system of practice with Twenty-one Tara emanations - one for each verse of praise. Each form of Tara has a specific colour and accomplishes a specific activity. Based on that, there are three well known and distinct lineages for the different sets of Twenty-one Taras: Pandita Suryagupta, Lord Atisha and from the compendium of practices called the the Sadhanasamucchaya. The three lineages do not share the same iconographic forms. In the Atisha system all the Taras appear in the same basic appearance and only differ in the colour of the body. Green is considered the primary colour of Tara based on other teaching lineages describing Tara in solitary form or with the accompanying deities Marichi and Ekajati. However green is not included in the enumeration of the Twenty-one Taras of Atisha. There are four red Taras, six white, three yellow, four orange, two maroon (red-black) and two black Taras for a total of 21.
The Twenty-one Taras according to the tradition of Atisha is one of five Twenty-one Tara Sytems current in Tibetan Buddhism. The oldest system is likely that of Suryagupta. The Atisha system depicts all of the Taras with the same single face and two arms, in a sitting posture. The variations are in the Atisha system are in colour only. Each of the individual Taras holds a vase in the outstretched right hand. The vase is the same colour as the body colour of that Tara. Some of the Taras are described as being slightly fierce meaning they may have an open mouth with slightly enlarged canine teeth and furrowed brow above the eyes.
The Atisha system of Tara is probably the most common found in Tibetan painting. It is interesting to note that there is no Green Tara or a White Tara of Long-life (Chintachakra). These two forms of Tara originate with separate lineages of transmission and different Indian and Tibetan teachers. Also, the Tara known for removing the eight great fears is not associated with any of the five systems of Twenty-one Taras. Tara and the Eight Great Fears is a separate and distinct system. (See the list of colours & functions for the Atisha Twenty-one Taras).
Jeff Watt 12-1998 [updated 5-2017]
Source Text: 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha: Namastāraikaviṃśatistotra. Praise to Tārā with Twenty-One Verses of Homage (Namastāraikaviṃśatistotraguṇahitasahita, sgrol ma la phyag ’tshal nyi shu rtsa gcig gis bstod pa phan yon dang bcas pa)
