Green Tara and White Tara - Feminist Ideals in Buddhism

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Article of the Month - November 2000
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Green Tara and White Tara - Feminist Ideals in Buddhism
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Goddess Tara, a female Buddha and meditational deity, is arguably
the most popular goddess in the Buddhist pantheon. She is
considered to be the goddess of universal compassion who
represents virtuous and enlightened activity.

The word Tara itself is derived from the root 'tri' (to cross),
hence the implied meaning:' the one who enables living beings to
cross the Ocean of Existence and Suffering'. Her compassion for
living beings, her desire to save them from suffering, is said to
be even stronger than a mother's love for her children.

The story of Tara's origin, according to the Tara Tantra,
recounts that aeons ago she was born as a king's daughter. A
spiritual and compassionate princess, she regularly gave
offerings and prayers to the ordained monks and nuns. She thus
developed great merit, and the monks told her that, because of
her spiritual attainments, they would pray that she be reborn as
a man and spread Buddhist teachings. She responded that there was
no male and no female, that nothing existed in reality, and that
she wished to remain in female form to serve other beings until
everyone reached enlightenment, hence implying the shortfall in
the monk's knowledge in presuming only male preachers for the
Buddhist religion. Thus Tara might be considered one of the
earliest feminists.

Another legend of Tara is that she was born from the
compassionate tears of Avalokiteshvara (The Buddha of
compassion):

"Homage! Tara, swift, heroic! With a glance like flashing
lightning, born from a blooming lotus sprung from the tears on
the face of the Lord of the World!"

.....Chapter III, Tara Tantra.

The above verse refers to the legend of Tara's origin.
Avalokiteshvara was looking down from his heaven on the world of
suffering beings, and he wept to see that more and more of them
were in pain. From the tears streaming down his face two Taras
were born, a peaceful white one from the left and a fierce green
one from the right. Tara is thus also often referred to as
Avalokiteshvara's consort.

In a historical sense, Tara is associated with the two pious and
virtuous wives of Tibet's first great religious king, Songsten
Gambo (d. 649). White Tara is associated with his wife from
imperial China, Wen Cheng, and Green Tara is identified with
Bhrkuti, his Nepalese wife.

To the Buddhists the symbolism of color is of great import. The
sadhanas (ancient manuals laying down procedures for worship) are
very particular in stipulating the colors of the deities
visualized. This color is intended not only to unfold the nature
of the deity represented but also to indicate the functions to be
performed by that deity. Specifically colors are used in the
paintings under a definite mystic scheme, based on the psychic
experiences of the sadhaka (worshipper).

No wonder then that her devotees visualize Tara in a myriad
variety of colors:

'Some have a vision of you (Tara) as red as the sun with rays
more brilliant and red than the lac and the vermilion. Others see
you blue like the sapphire. Some again see you whiter than the
milk churned out of the milky ocean. Still others see you golden.
Your visva-rupa is like a crystal which changes its color with
the change of the things around it.'

.....Arya-Tara-sragdhara-stotra

Illustration : http://www.exoticindiaart.com/buddha/ze32.jpg
(Size - 108 kb)


The most popular of all the known forms of Tara are the widely
worshipped Green and White Taras. It is believed that the first
artists modeled Green Tara on a young virgin, and the White Tara
on a physically mature, voluptuous woman. Thus traditionally
whereas the Green Tara is visualized as young girl having a
mischievous and playful nature, the White Tara is represented as
a mature woman, full-breasted and wise. This tradition survives
to the present times.


Green Tara:

Green Tara is Tara's most dynamic manifestation. Her color
symbolizes youthful vigor and activity. The Buddhist Lord of
karma (action), Amoghasiddhi, is also associated with the green
color, thus signifying that they belong to the same family. This
is a further affirmation of the perception that Green Tara is a
goddess of action.

She is often depicted in a posture of ease with right leg
extended, signifying her readiness to spring into action. The
left leg is folded in the contemplative position on the lotus
pedestal, the two together thus symbolizing the integration of
wisdom and art.

Her left hand, in the gesture of granting refuge holds the stem
of a blue lotus that floats over her left shoulder as a symbol of
purity and power. With her right hand she makes the boon-granting
gesture.

Illustration : http://www.exoticindiaart.com/buddha/ze41.jpg
(Size - 121 kb)

On a lotus seat, standing for realization of
voidness,
(You are) the emerald-colored, one-faced,
two-armed Lady
In youth's full bloom, right leg out, left
drawn in,
Showing the union of wisdom and art-
homage to you!
Like the outstretched branch of the heavenly
turquoise tree,
Your supple right hand makes the boon-
granting gesture,
Inviting the wise to a feast of supreme
accomplishments,
As if to an entertainment-homage to you!
Your left hand gives us refuge, showing the
Three Jewels;
It says, "You people who see a hundred
dangers,
Don't be frightened-I shall swiftly save
you!"
Homage to you!
Both hands signal with blue blue utpala flowers,
"Samsaric beings! Cling not to worldly
pleasures.
Enter the great city of liberation!"
Flower-goads prodding us to effort-
homage to you!

.......First Dalai Lama (1391-1474).


In visual arts she is shown as resembling an exceptionally lovely
human being in everything but the color of her skin and the
splendor of her ornaments. The slender, long proportioned body of
the goddess is shown dusky olive green in color and her coloring
reverberates against the striped cushion of her throne back. The
painting technique itself is extremely refined, the pigment flat
and thin, and it does not emphasize linear outlining except in
the most subtle way. The mysterious and intriguing nature of
Green Tara is marvelously captured in the medium of painting by
the ingenious blending of the typical iconographical setting with
the color scheme.

Illustration : http://www.exoticindiaart.com/buddha/ze24.jpg
(Size - 122 kb)

As for jewelry, beautiful golden, red and green jewels adorn her.
Her jewelry includes white bracelets, several necklaces with many
pendant gems, and a multi stringed, long jewel chain that
sinuously falls around her body and over her right arm.

In a heavenly mansion shaped by the artist of
the gods,
Inconceivable celestial wish-granting gems,
Most beautiful, wrought into fascinating
ornaments,
Fully adorn you-homage to you!

Like an emerald mountain clothed in
rainbows,
Your upper body is draped in heavenly silks,
Your lovely supple, slender waist supports
A skirt of five bright colors-homage to you!

........First Dalai Lama (1391-1474).


Illustration : http://www.exoticindiaart.com/buddha/ze44.jpg
(Size - 138 kb)

The followers of Green Tara believe that her special powers will
help overcome dangers, fears, and anxieties, and that she will
grant wishes. She is also believed to help one cross over from
danger to safety or from suffering to happiness. Her femininity
imbues her with soft and compassionate feelings, and she acts
very quickly and directly as a savioress. Representing active
compassion, she is particularly worshipped for her ability to
overcome the most difficult situations. As the first Dalai Lama
puts it, just by being called to help, she instantaneously saves
the faithful from attacks by the following eight calamities:

1) lions and pride,
2) wild elephants and delusions,
3) forest fires and hatred,
4) snakes and envy,
5) robbers and fanatical views,
6) prisons and avarice,
7) floods and lust, and
8) demons and doubts.


White Tara:

White Tara is often referred to as the Mother of all the Buddhas.
She represents the motherly aspect of compassion. Her white
colour indicates purity, but also indicates that she is Truth,
complete and undifferentiated.

Illustration : http://www.exoticindiaart.com/buddha/ze60.jpg
(Size - 75 kb)

She has seven eyes: the two usual eyes, plus an eye in the centre
of her forehead and eyes in each of her hands and feet. These
indicate that she sees all suffering and all cries for help in
the human world using both ordinary and psychic or extraordinary
means of perception. They thus symbolize the vigilance of her
compassion.

Illustration : http://www.exoticindiaart.com/buddha/ze63.jpg
(Size - 61 kb)

White Tara has a lovely, young face. Her ornaments are covered in
jewels. Her silk robes and scarves are painted in an
exceptionally lively manner. Her tight fitting garments are
embossed with large, rich floral designs. These filmy garments;
bright gauzy silks fluttering from the shoulders and a series of
many hued silken skirts- leave the slender torso and smoothly
rounded breasts uncovered in the manner of ancient India. The
whole effect is so ravishing that she might well arouse the very
passion she is frequently invoked to calm, were it not that she
inspires the kind of exalted reverence a palace guard might be
expected to feel for a young and lovely princess entrusted to his
care.

With her right hand she makes the boon granting gesture and her
left hand, holding the stem of a white lotus flower between her
thumb and fourth finger, is in the protection position.

Illustration : http://www.exoticindiaart.com/buddha/ze36.jpg
(Size - 119 kb)

The elaborate lotus flower, held in the left hand is called
Utpala. It contains three blooms: the first, with seeds,
symbolizes the past Buddha Kashyapa; the second in full flower,
symbolizes the present Buddha Shakyamuni; and the third, ready to
bloom, symbolizes the future Buddhas Maitreya. This signifies
that White Tara is the essence of all the three Buddhas of the
past, the present and the future.

She sits with both legs raised and crossed in the vajra (diamond)
position and regally displays both grace and calm.

Illustration : http://www.exoticindiaart.com/brass/zf89.jpg
(Size - 65 kb)

Her incomparable beauty have inspired her worshippers to address
her thus:

"Radiant as the eternal snows in all their glory, homage to the
Youthful One with full breasts, One face and two arms. And is
filled with great bliss"

..........(Unknown)

White Tara is an emanation of Tara who is connected with
longevity. She is also the special goddess who helps her
devotees overcome obstacles, particularly impediments to the
practice of religion.

Indeed in the vast expanse of Buddhist art the images of the two
Taras with their feminine charm and sophisticated imagery
represent a superior conception unparalleled in any other art
tradition. Open to diverse interpretations both on the sensual
and spiritual planes these two goddesses have inspired
generations of devotee artists to achieve creative heights while
adhering to the strict iconographical cannons laid down in the
ancient texts, and in the process acquiring both spiritual merit
and the boon of the Goddess

(Thus ends the newsletter for the month of November 2000)

Nitin G.
http://www.exoticindiaart.com