Buddhist Deity: Tara, Red (Atisha Tradition [One Face, Two Arms])
Red Tara (All Forms)Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Lineage
- Confusions: Twenty-one Taras, Pema Gyalpo (retinue figure)
- Others...
According to the 17th Karmapa, Orgyan Tinle Dorje, this form of red Tara originates with Atisha (982-1054) in the 11th century. It is not textually clear if this form of red Tara is extracted from the Twenty-one Taras of Atisha or is maintained as an independent lineage, or even a pure vision teaching unique to Atisha. At this time only two paintings are recorded on the HAR website with no known examples as a secondary figure in a larger composition.
There are at least four examples of red Tara in the group of twenty-one. An important iconographic characteristic of the Twenty-one Taras is that each holds a vase in the right hand of the same colour as the body. The examples of Tara below do not have the attribute of a vase in the right hand. Both examples are in a Palpung painting style. (See examples of the Twenty-one Taras: HAR #87267, HAR #294, HAR #331, HAR #340, and HAR #450).
Jeff Watt 8-2026
