Four Mandala Offering to Green Tara Torma in Kagyu tradition

Four Mandala Offering to Green Tara Torma in Kagyu tradition

TARA NEWARI

Based on 13th - 16th century AD Newari style famous for its rich colour palette and precise lines, Master Painter Mukti Singh Thapa reproduced the Newari style painting for Green Tara who protects Eight Dangers through the use of traditional iconography while clearly expressing his artistic freedom and creativity.

The design of the assembly of disciples reflected a design probably from India or Central Asia in a much early dates. We still can see this similar style on Parinirvana theme from the damaged murals of Kizil and Bezeklik caves in Xinjiang.

Sacred Tara image blessed and hidden by Guru Rinpoche

Sacred Tara image blessed and hidden by Guru Rinpoche and wisdom dakinis, revealed by Terchen Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

TORMA DE TARA VERDE

White Tara statue from Hemis

Is this the same holy White Tara statue from Hemis Gompa, believed to grant the blessing of longevity, is known as "the Talking White Tara" as it has often given teaching instructions and predictions in the presence of enlightened yogis mentioned in Hemis Festival / Naropa Festival 2016 advertisement?

Drolma Lungta Prayer

Drolma Lungta Prayer

To Guru Tara and the ocean of deities,
I and all sentient beings prostrate and take refuge.
May all activities be wishfulfilling!
Please grant the attainment of spontaneous activities!

To Guru Tara and the ocean of deities,
I and all sentient beings prostrate and take refuge.
May all activities be wishfulfilling!
Please grant the attainment of spontaneous activities!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PARA GURU TARA E PARA O OCEANO DE DEUSES, / EU E TODOS OS SERES SENCIENTES NOS PROSTERNAMOS E NELA TOMAMOS REFÚGIO. / POSSAM TODAS AS ATIVIDADES SEREM BEM SUCEDIDAS!/ POR FAVOR GARANTA A REALIZAÇÃO ESPONTÂNEA DAS ATIVIDADES!

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SORRA

Através desses méritos 
Possa eu rapidamente atingir o estado de Tara 
E levar todos os seres viventes, sem exceção, 
A esse estado iluminado. 
Que a suprema jóia bodhicitta, 
Que ainda não surgiu, se manifeste e cresça; 
E que aquela que se manifestou não diminua 
E, sim, aumente cada vez mais. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The word lungta (ཀླུང་རྟ་, klung rta) is composed of two syllables: the first, lung, represents the element 'space' in the fivefold classification of the elements 'earth, water, fire, air and space' and signifies 'universal foundation' or 'omnipervasiveness'. [...] The second syllable ta (horse) refers to the 'excellent horse' (རྟ་མཆོག་, rta mchog), and since in ancient times in Tibet the horse was the symbol of travelling with the greatest speed, in this case it seems to refer to the transmutation of every thing that depends on the five elements from negative to positive, from bad to good, from misfortune to good fortune, from baleful portents to auspicious signs, from poverty to prosperity, and it implies that this should ensue with the greatest speed.

[...] I believe this to be the true meaning of lungta. In more recent times the custom has arisen of spelling this word རླུང་རྟ་, rlung rta (wind horse), ascribing to it the meaning 'that which rides the wind', but I think this is derived from the practical function of the lungta flags of being raised in the sky and moved by the wind.[1]

Tangut Empire TARA

Is this an ancient Tara thangka come from Nepal or Tibet?

No, both answers are wrong. 

This thangka came from Tangut Empire (Xi Xia). It might be painted by Tibetan or Nepali painters in 11th or 12 century AD, commissioned by the Tangut donors. The Tibetans called them, Minyaks. They were once followers of Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

This beautiful Tara thangka is currently housed at Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.

HOMENAGEM A TARA

https://khyentsefoundation.org/homage-to-tara/

TARA VERMELHA Bhaktapur, in the Kathmandu Valley

Wish-fulfilling Red Tara is a very moving and lovely statue of Red Tara located north of Dattatraya Square, in the Kwathandau area of Bhaktapur, in the Kathmandu Valley. The location is not that easy to find. It is quite close to Kwathandau Pokhari (Kwathandau basin), and sometimes indicated on maps as Prashannashil Mahavihar. Guides and locals know it under the name of 'Dipamkar'.

According to the priest in charge of the temple, the statue is identified as Dipamkara by the Indians and Nepalis, and as Red Tara to the Tibetans. This is not the Talking Tara who told the King of Bhaktapur to invite Jetsun Milarepa, which can be seen in the Taleju Temple complex.

Red Tara is looking down, as if sad. The oral tradition has it that she went to Tibet and when she returned, she was tied down so that she would remain and that this is the cause of her sadness.

Another feature of the temple is the commemorative plaque on wall in the inner hallway surrounding the shrine. It honours Yeshe Tsogyal's travels to this area of the Kathmandu Valley around 795AD.

It is said that the grounds on which the temple is built is the place where she met Atsara Salé. This young man belonged to a very wealthy family who owned this piece of land. When Yeshe Tsogyal requested that he could leave with her to Tibet, the family first refused, then said that yes, he could go with her if she paid his weight in gold. Yeshe Tsogyal then found the necessary sponsors in the parents of a recently deceased young man she miraculously brought back to life, so Atsara Salé was able to join her.

Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro TARA

This Talking White Tara thangka was used to belong to Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. It was given to Yena Thubten Chophel Rabgye, and with a letter from Kyabgon Rinpoche Sakya Trizin, both great masters had made their requests to the great Ngor yogin to leave Tibet to benefit beings.

When the white conch shell, which was self arisen from his sole, went missing in 1959, and signs of the end of his current Dharma activities had occurred, Rinpoche decided not to leave Yena Monastery. Eventually, he would die in the prison cell, and the monastery was completely destroyed.

The Yena Monastery has been rebuilt and his reincarnation has been enthroned. This Talking White Tara thangka is currently housed in the new monastic complex.

TARA PHARPING

 Pharping, visiting two sacred caves, Tara Temple, and three monasteries related from Chokling Tersar and Dudjom Tersar lineages.

Here is the most famous shrine - the Tara Temple. It's a shrine containing two self arisen small images of Tara on the side of a self arisen hugh image of Ganesha. This shrine is not only sacred to Buddhists but also to Hindus as well.

The Self Arisen Tara on the right is the oldest and most clearest. Many people had witnessed this Self Arisen Tara secreting holy nectar on numerous occasions over the past three decades, this is an indication of Tara's holy presence there. The Self Arisen Tara on the left is slowly revealing herself. If you compared the photos taken in 80s, 90s and present, you will discover that, over the years, both Self Arisen Taras have continued to emerge with greater clarify and definition.

Recognising the sacred and auspicious nature of such a treasure, Drubthob Rinpoche, who first discovered the first Self Arisen Tara in 1979, established a temple enshrining the rock shrine. Around these Self Arising Tara images, Rinpoche had enshrined handmade statues of the 21 Taras. Daily chanting of the Tara puja is conducted at the temple for the benefit and protection of all sentient beings.

TARA A PODEROSA

Self Arisen Tara housed in the Stupa of Sakya Tharig Gompa

Self Arisen Tara housed in the Stupa of Sakya Tharig Gompa retreat centre, better known as 

Samten Phuntsok Ling at Pharping. It is built by my late guru, 6th Tharig Tulku Rinpoche.

This precious image was found in the rock, at the place where the Stupa was supposed to be built. The image was removed and placed it within the Stupa. Later it was painted.

I have not visited this place before. Hope one day I will see this precious image myself.