Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Green Tara (Three Deity Configuration)

Green Tara Iconography

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Green Tara (center)
- Marichi (right side)
- Ekajati (left side)
- Masterworks
- Confusions
- Others...

The Three Deity Configuration can be found with only the three deities highlighted. It can also be found combined with the Eight Fears vignettes, or the Twenty-one Taras. Sometimes all three popular sets are combined together in a single composition or spread over a three, five, or more painting set..

Three Deity Tara of the Sandalwood Forest (Sadhanasamucchaya #48, Thartse Panchen)

"On an and eight petalled lotus...is Holy Tara, reddish-green in colour, one face and two hands. The right [hand] is in the gesture of supreme generosity and the left holds with the thumb and ring finger a lily to the heart. Wearing beautiful jewel ornaments and various silks, the hair as a crown, seated in a posture with the right leg extended and the left drawn up. On the right [side] is orange Marichi holding in the left [hand] a branch of the Ashoka tree. On the left is black Ekajati holding a skullcup in the left. Both hold in the right [hands] a fly-whisk; adorned with jewels and beautiful silk clothing, with the two legs placed equally in a standing manner." (Thartse Panchen Namka Chime).

Jeff Watt 5-2018 [updated 5-2019]

(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above)