White Tara

White Tara
(tib. sgrol dkar ma)

Tara's name means One Who Saves. Her compassion for living beings, her desire to save them from suffering, is said to be stronger than a mother's love for her children. As Manjushri is the celestial Bodhisattva who represents the wisdom of all Buddhas and Avalokiteshvara is the one who represents all their compassion, Tara is the Bodhisattva who represents the miraculous activity of all the Buddhas of past, present, and future.

White Tara has seven eyes - one in each hand and foot, and a third eye on her face - to show that she sees and responds to suffering throughout the universe; and she sits in full lotus posture. Like the solitary form of the deity, the right hand is in the mudra (gesture) of giving, with the left hand holding the stem of a white lotus in a gesture signifying the Three Jewels.


Long-Life Tara Praise Song by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

OM
O you who sprang from the water born from the face of the lord of the world, the self of compassion, mother who gives birth to the Buddhas of the three times,
O wish-granting jewel of a chakra wheel be praised.
The color of a stainless moon gem, your gestures of giving and your holding of an utpala lotus, your peaceful smile, the exemplary brilliance of your vajra form-may they be honored and praised.
From the ocean of musical strains, you bring a cool, gentle rain of ambrosia awakening the realms of sentience.
O you who have the melodious voice of Brahma be praised.
With the gnostic awareness which kens kindly, you who are equal to every kind of knowledge,
Mahamudra unencompassed by thought,
O clear light mind be honored and praised.

Translated by James Rutke (Palden Lotsawa) From the Chimay Pakma Nyingtik Cycle.