Tara, Mother of Tibetan Buddhism

The Vajra is used extensively in rituals, often alongside a bell. Together, they represent the male and female principles — compassion and wisdom — that must come together to achieve enlightenment. During rituals, the Vajra is held in the right hand while the bell is held in the left, symbolizing the harmony of these two forces.

Ricardo B Serrano with Vajra and Bell in Guru Yoga Om Shapta Ah Hum mudra practice
In meditative practices, the Vajra can also be visualized as a powerful weapon of the mind, shattering delusions and bringing forth clear, unshakable insight. Its symmetrical design serves as a reminder of balance and union, reflecting the Tantric belief in the integration of opposites on the path to enlightenment.

Vajra and Bell in Guru Yoga

Tara (Sanskrit: Tara; Tib. Drolma), the female Buddha, is considered the other most revered Bodhisattva in Tibetan Buddhism, next only to Chenrezig.

In Tibetan Buddhism it is believed that Tara practice was given by Buddha Sakyamuni together with the Vajrayana teachings about the Nature of the Mind and Buddhist tantra. It became very popular in India and later with the Guru Rinpoche was brought to Tibet.

There are a few accounts about the origin of Tara:

According to the most popular story Tara was a young princess who was living millions of years in the past.

Her name was Yeshe Dawa, which means “Moon of Primordial Awareness”.

After doing this practice for a long time, the monks were suggesting Tara that because of her high attainment, to progress further towards enlightenment, she should pray to be reborn as a male:

To what Tara answered, that from the point of view of Enlightenment there is no separation between male or female, it belongs to the conditioned world only. Therefore she vowed to be always reborn as a female bodhisattva until samsara ends.

After this Tara went into deep state of meditation for 10 million years and released tens of millions of beings with the power of her meditation.

Seeing this, Tonyo Drupa told her she will henceforth manifest supreme Buddhahood as the Goddess Tara in many world systems in the future.

Another story depicts Tara as being born from the tears of Chenrezig:

Once, when the great Bodhisattva Chenrezig out of deep compassion was looking to the sentient beings a tears flow from his eyes and formed lakes with lotus flowers.

When the lotus flowers opened, it revealed Tara inside.

This way from the teardrop from Chenrezig’s left eye White Tara was emanated and Green Tara from his right eye.

When Guru Rinpoche brought Buddhism to Tibet, he was also giving many teachings regarding Tara practice to his consort, the Daikini of wisdom Yeshe Tsogyal and the first Tibetan King who was Buddhist – Trisong Detsen.

People believed an incarnation of White Tara was born in China, who became a princess and mother of Tibet, the wife of King Trisong Detsen, and the Green Tara incarnation was born as a princess of Nepal.

In the next centuries the Tara practice became very popular in Tibetan Buddhism.

The Green Tara is known as Buddha of enlightened activity, who provides protection from fears, she is prayed for a good luck and fortune, and it is said Green Tara protects from 8 obscurations.

White Tara is known for compassion, long life, healing and serenity:

White Tara counteracts illness and helps to have a long life. She embodies compassion and motivation and is said to be as white and radiant as the moon. She provides relief from bad karma as experienced by ordinary beings in cyclic existence.

Tara meditation is often recommended for small kids who haven’t started yet the general practice. Tara is associated with all qualities of the mother and mother’s love.

The most widely popular Tara forms are the White Tara and Green Tara as discussed above. But there can be many more:

One of the main Tara practices in Tibetan Buddhism is Praises to 21 Tara or Homage to 21 Tara, which is practiced in all 4 traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, usually in mornings.

As the name suggests there are considered 21 form of Tara, each with a slightly different set of enlightened qualities.

The mantra of Tara is: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha
Excerpts from page 146 Nityananda is the divine presence