Goddess of the week : Tara [ A repost discussion ]

[Guest guest]

nora55_1999

 

 

 

Goddess Tara is the most popular goddess in the Buddhist Patheon. She

is considered to be the goddess of universal compassion who represent

virtous and enlightment activity.

 

To the Buddhist the symbolism of colour is of great importance. The

colours is intended to unfold the nature and the functions that each

diety performs. The difference in colours too ( sometimes tara

depicting in red, yellow and blue ) is an indication of Tara menacing

mood. When she is in green or white , it means that she is said to be

gentle and loving.

 

 

 

There are at least ten green forms, seven white, five yellow, two

blue and one red. Its is a universal form, varied like crystal, and

it changes according to circumstance.

 

 

 

Green Tara

 

This is one of the most popular forms of Tara and are widely

worshipped. It is also one of the most dynamic form. Bellieved to be

the original Tara.Often visualized as a young girl, mischievious and

playful in nature. The Green Tara symbolizes youth, vigor and

activity. Therefore she can be considered as the Goddess of Activity.

Often associated with the earth, plan life and winds.

 

 

 

She is often worship to help overcome dangers, fear and anxieties.

She will grant wishes easily and considered by many Buddhist as an a

representation of active compassion. She is also believed to help one

cross from danger to safety or from suffering to happiness.

 

 

 

And that she can help one to overcome the most difficult situation.

It is said that she will instantaneously save the lives of faithful

from attacks or when their live are at risk from the following

calamities:

 

 

 

Lions, wild elephants, forest fires, snakes, robbers, prisons, floods

and demons. These eight calamities can be understood as symbolizes

spiritual dangers and obstacles to growth.

 

Lion = pride

 

Elephant = delusion

 

Fire = anger

 

Snakes = envy

 

Thieves,robbers = wrong views

 

Chain,prison = avarice

 

Flood = attachment

 

Demons = doubts

 

 

 

White Tara

 

She represent the motherly aspect of compassion and are said to be

very vigilant of her compassion. White indicates purity, truth,

complete and undifferentiated. She is connected to longevity. She is

seen as lovely with young face.

 

 

 

She have seven eyes : 2 usual eyes, 1 in the forehead, eye in each

hand and feet. This indicates that she sees all suffering and all

cries for help regardless in whatever form : ordinary, psychic or

extraordinary perception.

 

 

 

She signify the essence of all the three Buddha ; the past, the

present and the future.

 

The past = Kashyapa

 

The present = Shakyamuni

 

The future = Maitreya.

 

 

 

She is often seen holding three types of lotus, each representing the

three Buddha. The first lotus flower is with seeds ( representing the

past), the second flower is full bloom ( rep the present) and the

third is ready to bloom ( rep the future )

 

 

 

She is also the special goddess who helps her devotees to overcome

obstacles, particularly impediments to the practice of religion.

 

 

 

Tara - The pregnant Goddess?

 

 

 

David Kinsley in his book : Hindu Goddess and the ten Mahavidyas,

describe Tara as such :

 

 

 

".. She is dark, rests hers left foot on a corpse, wears a tiger skin

and a necklace of severed heads, laughs terribly, has her hair in a

single matted braid, stands on a funeral pyre, and is pregnant".

 

 

 

And as we have seen the picture in the current home page does show

Tara to have large, full breast and to be "potbellied". It is not

sure weather she is pregnant, but the features does indicates her

maternal character. Her large breast and swollen belly may suggest

that she represent the first impulse towards creation and

individuation. She consumes and digests all beings in the universe:

she brings them into her before sending them out again.

 

 

 

She is filled with the universe, which is about to emerge from the

void. She is also seen as the last stage towards dissolution or the

first step towards creation. In her connection with destruction Tara

can also be associated with creative, nourishing and maternal

presence.

 

 

 

In her hyms of one thousand names, she is often called :

 

a) Jakesvari - Mistress of the rain

 

b) Jagaddhatri - Mother of the world, world nurse

 

c) Prthvi and Vasudha - Mother earth.

 

d) Vrksamadhyani-vasini - mother who dwells in trees.

 

e) Sarvavamayi - mother who creates everything.

 

f) She who likes fresh flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

devi_bhakta

 

 

 

Since we're on the subject of taboo presumptions about Devi (in the

sense of appropriate bhavas), I guess it's a good time to address the

pregnancy issue as well.

 

 

 

In our discussions on Lajja Gauri (in the old club )-- a goddess who

some construe as just having given birth (to the Cosmos?) -- I

mentioned that Prof. Bolon's problem with such an interpretation is

that Hindu goddesses are *never* portrayed as pregnant. They do

sometimes "beget" other beings -- one example being Parvati's

creation of Ganesh from her bath waste -- but never by way of

pregnancy and birthing.

 

 

 

When we were discussing that interpretation in the club, one very

learned member told me that to even suggest a form of Devi is

pregnant is tantamount to "blasphemy." I asked why that is, but we

never really got around to discussing it. Is the Goddess ever

portrayed as pregnant in any culture? Why is that OK -- or why is it

not?

 

 

 

As usual, I encourage and welcome any thoughts, comments and opinions

from any and all of our members!

 

 

 

dakinic_monk

 

 

 

Maha Taramati devi in Hinduism or just Tara in Buddhism is a goddess

sixteen years of

 

sitting in padamasna on the ratna kamal or in Hinduism the swayambhu

flower and is in a playful mood.

 

 

 

There are about 21 Tara in buddhism but if you are a true worshipper

of Mother Tara you would know that she has 1000 forms. In the Dasa

Mahavidyas she came is Ugra tara not as Maha Tara that was known as

another name which is kamala. There has been a lot of confusion but

the goddess Tara is as I described. I know this and have evidence

since I have the copy of the tara rahasya written by Lord adi

shankara and it is is own writing. . There are many hidious forms of

Tara Ugra Tara also known as kurukulla tara she also appears as the

Kalika Matkrtas in that she is Ugra and Vipracitta.

 

 

 

In the Lalitamba matkrtas she is shakini and hakini. Please dont

mistake ugra tara for Tara maati devi it is like confusing laxmi with

kamala that would anger the lakshmi devotees. yes they are all one

but still their forms have different meanings that is why they

manifest themselves like that!

 

 

 

What is the difference between the Buddhist Tara and the Hinduism

Tara?

 

 

 

There is no differance except for how they originated. The buddhist

tara came from the tear of avalokiteshwara (lord vishnu in Hinduism).

Making her more the form of lakshmi.

 

 

 

In Hindusim she is worshipped as ugra tara and thus people generalise

her to be maha tara but infact Aadi shankara said that no that is

wrong. Devi tara is a 16 year old goddess sitting on ether lotus or

swayambhu flower and is in a playful mood. There has been many

arguments so people who do not read the tara rahasyam pray to her in

her ugra form (fierce) and those who worship her in her pleasent form

call her as Taramati. The chineese also worship her but I forget her

chineese name all I know is that she is known as the goddess or mercy

in China. Pray to her in her ugra form or in her sweet form she will

still give you her unconditional love that is what is so great about

her. This same argument is with other deities as well. Ugra tara is a

part of the dasamaha vidyas but somehow her name changed to Tara so

the sweet tara was renamed to taramati but she was the original

holder of the name. The buddhist innvocation is Tare tut Tare ture

soha the Hindu is Tara tat Tare tu re Soham or Om strim hreem kleem

chamundaya taraye namami. This mantra is used in meditation when

calling her for her love and her blessings. She responds better to

selfless prayer needless to say that she fulfills her devotee's

needs. I love her because she is quick to respond and is

very ,very ,very loving.

 

 

 

The ture mother to all goddess Tara I bow to thee.

 

 

 

 

 

adi_shakthi16

 

 

 

TARA means who saves- is it not? "The one who helps to cross the

river of time and space" .We really appreciate your pointing out the

different aspects of TARA - "about a divine virgin Tara radiating

youth "- captivating and charming "- calm and gentle , peaceful and

luminous ... (THE SWAYAMBHU VERSION) and the ugra tara - ready to

devour any substance, any thought, any knowledge,- agressive,

wrathful and devouring. and terrifying. so, dear monk, than you so

much for bringing out the differences between these two forms of

TARA - TARA maati devi and Ugra TARA.

 

 

 

BUT, WOULD YOU NOT AGREE THAT IN BOTH MANIFESTATIONS, SHE HELPS HER

DEVOTEES CROSS TO THE OTHER SHORE?

 

 

 

But there was another picture of the goddess (tara or whoever before

this one) in her natural skin color sitting on the supine position of

shiva with her head cut off - the iconography was very unusual - did

you see it? devi bhakta has removed it since it hurt the sensibility

of some people for its explicit sexual nature.. (viparicitta )

 

 

 

I fully understand what you are saying - we all have our

istadevatas - WE all have our own allegiances and loyalties to the

Devi we worship -some worship dakshina kali, some simply adore sree

lalthambika, others like devi bhakta breathe in and breatyhe out the

name of "maatangi" but dear monk we are all united in one and that

is - we all LOVE OUR DIVINE MOTHER IN ALL HER FORMS AND

MANIFESTATIONS! WOULD you agree ? Now, what is your email address so

you can educate me more on TARA RAHASAYA? i have heard of tripura

rahasaya and tara tantra. so i am indeed delighted to know my most

beloved adi shankara (who is my atma guru) wrote a treatise on Tara

rahasya.

 

 

 

You state in your post to trisdale... "Pray to her in her ugra form

or in her sweet form she will still give you her unconditional love

that is what is so great about her." if that being is the case why

should it matter if Tara is green or white or red or fierce or sweet?

tara is tara! trying to understand!

 

 

 

Also, dear monk, I was under the impression TARA RAHASAYA SECRETS OF

tara) was written by Brahmananda Giri. so, i was surprised to learn

from you that Tara Rahasya WAS WRITTEN BY ADI SHANKARA!!!

 

 

 

 

 

dakinic_monk

 

 

 

I am getting sick of people thinking of the divine mother as only the

ugra. You will be surprised how many people think of Mother tara only

in a Hidious form and then reckon thats it... She does have a

beautiful form and is better for people to envoke her in that.

 

 

 

You see the Ugra Tara is an extremely powerful goddess and is

advisory that people only approach her with devotion since her tantra

if done wrongly can kill! In the form of Ugra Prabha or Ugra Tara

she first appeared in the Dasha maha vidyas but the great Tara is

more forgiving in her Tantra. Needless to say that one who masters

the tantra of mother ugra tara controls all that is dark and can

even have hypnotic powers. I have witnessed this by a great sadhak

does I have a lot of respect for those who worship her in the ugra

form.

 

 

 

Just writing Prasie the Mother Ugra Tara in sanskrit devanagri and

wearing it becomes a talisman which can exorcise as well. So she is a

very powerfull deity but caution is required.

 

 

 

Dear Adi, you should know that as she gives her love she also gives

certain gifts for example the pleasent Tara gives the power the

attract the opposite gender and also a long life. The motehr Ugra

Tara gives the ability to control demonic powers and Space + time

contin but she also punishes a lot for those who misuse the gifts or

do her tantra wrongly! Ugra Tara gives love but punishes as well she

will loose all compassion if you hurt someone with her gift! neeD I

continue

 

 

 

About tara rahasya

 

 

 

Adi Tara is a goddess mainly prayed by tantriks. There are many

versions of many mantras the Tara rahasya I was talking about is

milenias old and revived By the Lord Adi Shankara. I dont mean to

sound contradictive to u or proove u wrong. You indeed do know a lot

but like I said the goddess Kali and Tara I have worshiped for a long

time so because of their grace deed i get the "TRUE" tara rahasyam

from the guru of Lord Adi Shankara. As he is an immortal being he

alos has shared a lot more with me. The mother tara if worshipped

leads one to perfection. Yes adi lord Shankara constructed a Tara

Mantra known as Tara Rahasya or Maha Shakthi petha Prathista mantra

what that does is that once it is envoked that yantram or the statue

becomes alive and then communicates with the sadhak it gets the

Dakshin shakthi peet power and thus imbues the sadhak with

liberation. It dosent work instantly but does do a load of miracles

 

 

 

Ugra tara is a goddess that I have loved cause I like eating as much

as she does...

 

 

 

The thing is with her siddhi she get pleased a lot and so she gives

so much power to the sadhak that they become more of a demigod. Due

to this she also has to punish those who betray her. Long story but

she is to be worshipped by those who want siddhi. As for where

Viprachitta goes she is again a symbol of the nirvana yoga. She has

been mis interpreted by the buddhists. U see aadi buddhism is the

anti shayva religion the opposite to shiva. If you notice Buddha sits

in the oppostie way to Shiva (the padmasana shiva has right leg on

top buddha has left leg on top) this was done by disciples of Buddha.

IT is only tibetan Buddhism that is pro Shayva. So vippracitta tantra

was mis interpreted from the time when Buddhism was imminent in

Bengal.

 

 

 

As a true Shakta I know this would be old news so therefore you must

read only the works or Adi Shankara on these subjects cause even the

Kaula nirvana tantra was changed. From Soham it became Soha. From

Hum it became hung. Things change and u should be aware of this

[Guest guest]

Devi Bhakta asks:

 

"Is the Goddess ever portrayed as pregnant in any culture?"

 

I had just finished posting this on another website. It is

from "Crossing to Avalon," by Jean Shinoda Bolen, pg 54.

 

"Death of the old form and new life or birth are fundamental to

initiations. In pregnancy, this happens on many levels, as a woman

becomes heavy with child. She may have had an agile, energetic, and

strong body, or a soft sensual one. Typically, her figure was that

of the maiden, and the attractiveness of her face was important.

With pregnancy, as the psyche shifts and her maiden body disappears

from physical sight, she changes archetypally, to herself and to

others. Symbolically, the maiden dies in order for the pregnant

mother to come forth.

 

Once she is obviously pregnant, a woman resembles the earliest

sculptured images of the Goddess. She is an embodiment of famous

pregnant `Venuses,' of which the Venus of Willendorf is the most well

known. Made between twenty-five thousand and twenty thousand years

ago, these goddess figures have heavy, pregnant bodies, no personal

facial features, and legs that taper so that the figure could be put

directly into soil. According to archaeologist Marija Gimbutas, `Pre-

industrial agricultural rites show a very definite mystical

connection between the fertility of the soil and the creative force

of woman.' That connection is emerging into the culture again. A

mystical awareness, having to do with being in a woman's body and

being a part of Gaia as the living Earth, is revealing itself to

women. (The intellectual understanding that we are as much a part of

Gaia as the rivers or trees, which was formulated by James Lovelock

as the `Gaia hypothesis,' is an <i>of the mind</I> perception. I am

speaking here of women's mysteries, which are <i>of the body</I>.)"