Ratnagiri Tara
Tara statue from Ratnagiri Monastery, depicting the eight perils vertically. Click to enlarge.
Since ancient time, Buddhism has a significant role in maritime trade. Mariners, traders and sailors pray to Buddhas as their saviour during distress conditions at sea. Both Buddha Avalokiteshvara and Buddha Tara are relied upon as the saviour from the eight dangers of which one of them is the danger of drowning. In the ancient Buddhist complex of Ratnagiri, an image of Buddha Tara was found with eight perils shown in two vertical rows and one of them is a scene of a shipwreck. This is an evidence of how mariners have relied on Buddha Tara to save them from such distress. On the other hand, there are depictions of Buddha Avalokiteshvara in the Ajanta caves as the saviour of mariners in distressed conditions.
Ratnagiri Monastery
Ratnagiri Monastery
Ratnagiri Monastery was established during the reign of the Gupta King Narasimha Baladitya in the first half of the sixth century CE, and it flourished up to the 12th century CE. It is located in Jaipur district of Odisha. Together with Udaygiri and Lalitgiri, they were the cradle of Vajrayana Buddhism, and they were called the Diamond Triangle as this form of Buddhism is well known as the Diamond Vehicle.
It is known to be a very important centre of Buddhism, especially Tantric Buddhism and comparable to Nalanda University in Bihar. It was said that Ratnagiri is crucial to the development of the Kalachakra Tantra in the 10th century CE and Kalachakra imagery can be found on votive stupas, and artefacts.
Statues and sculptures found in Ratnagiri Monastery
Tara is one of the most popular deities in Odisha with her image on 99 niches of monolithic stupas of Ratnagiri. Apart from Tara, statues of different Buddhas such as Avalokitesvara, Manjushri and Buddha Shakyamuni can be found on the site, and all the Buddha statues are in Gupta style. It is believed that the architecture and sculptures here, influenced the sculptures of Java, Sumatra and Bali. The impact is so significant that King Sailendra built the Buddha statues in Borobudur, Indonesia in the image of the Buddha statues of Ratnagiri.
Origins of Tara
From Top to Bottom: Chenrezig, Tara and Dorje Shugden
Tara is a prevalent figure in Tibetan Buddhism. She is well known as the “Savioress” and considered to be the embodiment of the activity of all the Buddhas. There are different legends about her origins and how she arose as a Buddha. In some tradition, Tara is believed to have emanated from the tears that was shed by Buddha of Compassion, Chenrezig. Chenrezig had devoted all of his time in working hard for the sole purpose of alleviating sentient beings from their suffering and one day, he came to realise the fact that there are countless number of beings to help, and as a result of which he developed a loss of hope at achieving the task. He then began to cry bitterly, and from the pool formed by his tears, a lotus suddenly sprung up and inside the lotus was Tara. She told Chenrezig to worry no more, and reassured him of her assistance in achieving his goal.
9ft Tara statue in Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong, Malaysia
The other tradition says that many aeons ago during Buddha Dundubhisvara’s time, there was a princess named “Moon of Wisdom-knowledge or in Tibetan, Dawa Lhamo. She was a devout disciple of the Buddha and Sangha, making several offerings to the Three Jewels daily. Eventually, Dawa Lhamo generated Bodhicitta, and some monks went to pay homage to her. Out of their concerns for the physical hindrances associated with being a female, they advised her to dedicate her merits toward being born as a male in her next life to spiritually progress further. However, the princess refused and explained that women are just as capable as men in achieving Buddhahood because it is the transformation of the mind that matters the most, and not the physical body. Then, she went further to make a vow that when she became fully enlightened, she will do so in the form of a female to prove her point. In that same lifetime, she achieved Buddhahood and manifested predominantly in the form of a female to benefit sentient beings.
Tara Who Protect from Eight Fears
From Top to Bottom: Green Tara, Eight Taras and Dorje Shugden
Tara is often depicted with eight types of fears or dangers that posed a potential threats to the spiritual path of a practitioner. The basis of these fears were founded from a sutra called “The Sutra of Tara Who Protects from the Eight Fears” which is known as the “Tara Staghoratarani Sutra” in Sanskrit.
Each of the physical dangers corresponds to a mental state of mind, so Tara assist us in our worldly fears and at the same time, she is helping to save us from our inner demons. Hence, prayers to any of these Taras can help us to overcome our physical dangers and also transform our negative emotions into positive, enlightened qualities.
The eight fears contain both inner and outer meaning:
- Tara who saves from water or drowning represents desirous attachment
- Tara who saves from thieves represents false views
- Tara who saves from hungry lions represents pride
- Tara who saves from venomous snakes or serpents represents jealousy
- Tara who saves from fire represents anger
- Tara who saves from spirits or flesh-eating demons represents doubt
- Tara who saves from captivity or imprisonment represents greed
- Tara who saves from elephants represents ignorance
More Pictures of Ratnagiri Monastery
The ornate door to the Ratnagiri Monastery
Monuments and stupas of Ratnagiri Monastery
Stone votive stupas in Ratnagiri Monastery
Ruins of Ratnagiri Monastery
Ruins of Ratnagiri Monastery
Buddha Head sculptures in Ratnagiri Monastery
12 feet tall Buddha flanked by Padmapani and Vajrapani
Sculptures in Ratnagiri Monastery
Sculptures in Ratnagiri Monastery
Sources
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- Travel with Lakshmi, DIAMOND TRIANGLE OF ODISHA – LALITGIRI, RATNAGIRI, UDAYGIRI, https://lakshmisharath.com/diamond-triangle-of-odisha-lalitgiri-ratnagiri-udayagiri/ (accessed: 11 May 2019)
- Ratnagiri, Odisha, Wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratnagiri,_Odisha (accessed: 11 May 2019)
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The power of the blessings of Goddess Tara is truly amazing. Tara is believed to protect her devotees from various calamities and to help them overcome the many obstacles that they may encounter in their lives.
Mother Tara is the most revered Deity in Tibetan Buddhism. She is well known as the saviouress and considered to be the embodiment of the activity of all the Buddhas, anyone relying upon her will be blessed, be free of the Eight Great Fears on the inner and outer level.
Thanks for the interesting sharing of ancient Buddhism Ratnagiri Tara and all the stunning photos.
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Thank you so much for this article. Tara is one of the most popular deities in Odisha and in Tibetan Buddhism. Apart from Tara, statues of different Buddhas. At the same time, each of the physical dangers corresponds to a mental state of mind, so that makes Tara assist us in our worldly fears.
She also helps to save us from our inner demons. Hence, prayers to any of these Taras can help us to overcome our physical dangers and also transform our negative emotions into positive, enlightened qualities.Thank you so much.
The concept of trade in ancient India was quite different from modern times. In olden day’s mariners, traders, Buddhist monks and religious leaders used to set sail together . The discovery of statues and sculptures has proven that those days sailors have relied on Buddha Tara to save them from distress at sea. Ratnagiri Tara is thought to be a protective bodhisattva who will help those sailors at sea. Wow …..fabulous RATNAGIRI monastery which depict the glorious Buddha periods sculpture and architecture. Interesting to see this early Buddhist monastery where the Hindu and Buddhist iconography seem to coincide in a glorious array of amazing carvings and statues. In Tibetan Buddhism , Tara is a Buddhist saviour-goddess with numerous forms who is compassionate to relieve suffering of the people. And considered as the protectress of navigation and earthly travel to many.
Thank you Rinpoche for this interesting sharing .
I really enjoyed reading this lovely and amazing article on Ratnagiri Tara. Ratnagiri Monastery was established during the reign of the Gupta King Narasimha Baladitya in the first half of the sixth century CE, and it flourished up to the 12th century CE. It is located in Jaipur district of Odisha. Together with Udaygiri and Lalitgiri, they were the cradle of Vajrayana Buddhism, and they were called the Diamond Triangle as this form of Buddhism is well known as the Diamond Vehicle. Tara is often depicted with eight types of fears or dangers that posed a potential threats to the spiritual path of a practitioner. The basis of these fears were founded from a sutra called “The Sutra of Tara Who Protects from the Eight Fears” which is known as the “Tara Staghoratarani Sutra” in Sanskrit. Thank you very much Rinpoche and blog team for sharing these beautiful pictures of Tara statues and Ratnagiri Monastery???????
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Aside from learning the significance of Ratnagiri Monastery in Tibetan Buddhism, I found it interesting there are many various styles of statues according throughout history. It makes sense as art have many styles according to times as well.
From searches online, the distinct features of Gupta style statues are traces of drapery in a specific look and slender physical outlines. Definitely, something to look out for in future temples.