Mewa 7 Birth Buddha: Tara
Introduction
Tara (Tib: rje btsun sgrol ma; རྗེ་བཙུན་སྒྲོལ་མ།) is known by many names, amongst them the “Savioress” and the “Mother of Liberation”.
She is a universal mother who nurtures and protects all sentient beings, making her the most beloved and popular goddess within Tibetan Buddhism.
Benefits
- Increases life energy and good health
- Increases one’s creativity
- Swift assistance
- Recovery from diseases
- Success in career and business
- Improves finances
- Helps childless couples to conceive
- Protection from dangerous situations
- Quick path to developing wisdom and compassion
History
According to the great 16th Century Tibetan scholar Tāranātha, Tara was born as a human being in a distant part of another universe. There, she was known as Princess Jnanacandra (Moon of Knowledge) and was a devoted follower of Buddha Dundubhi-svaha, the Buddha who turned the wheel of Dharma in the universe called Manifold Light. Her devotion was seen through her actions and for a million years, she made bountiful offerings to the Buddha and Sangha without missing a day.
When Princess Jnanacandra made aspirations to be fully enlightened to benefit all sentient beings, the congregation of monks urged her to pray to reincarnate as a male to accomplish her aspirations quickly. However, the princess instead responded with great wisdom and understanding of non-duality, and vowed to remain in female form until all sentient beings are liberated.
With her powerful meditative powers which gave her great attainments, Princess Jnanacandra proceeded to protect all beings from harm. 95 aeons later, a highly realized monk received initiation from the Buddhas and became Chenrezig. Beams of light from the Buddhas of the ten directions connected to Chenrezig’s heart and crystallized into a ray of compassion and wisdom which formed Tara. Tara then emerged from the heart of Chenrezig and continued to protect sentient beings in this form till this very day.
Iconography
Tara is a female Buddha most often depicted in peaceful appearance. Her body is emerald green in color. Her right hand, which rests on her right knee, is in the mudra of Supreme Generosity which indicates her ability to grant all wishes.
Tara’s left hand is in the mudra of Bestowing Refuge, which allows practitioners to come under the protection of the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha). Both of Tara’s hands hold the stems of blue utpala flowers, which represent purity and power.
Tara’s right leg is extended out, rather than the usual full lotus meditation posture of most deities. This is known as the Heroine Posture and it tells us that she is fully active and ready to grant us her swift assistance. Her left leg is folded in a meditation posture, which indicates that her practitioners will receive tranquility despite being active in worldly matters.
Those who engage in her meditational practice and recite her mantra will receive the siddhi of Enlightenment as well as her assistance such as improving one’s health and prosperity.
Prayer
Note: This short prayer can be recited daily on its own or as part of a longer set of prayers.
OM,
I prostrate to the Goddess foe destroyer, liberating Lady Tara,
Homage to TARE, saviouress heroine,
With TUTTARE dispelling all fears,
Granting all benefits with TURE,
To her with sound SOHA, I bow.
OM CHOM DEN DEY MA LHAMO DROLMA LA CHAG TSEL LO
CHAG TSEL DROLMA TARE PALMO
TUTTARE YI JIG KUN SEL MA
TURE DON NAM THAM CHE TERMA
SOHA YI GER CHE LA RAB DU
Mantra: OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA
(Recite 108 times or more)
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Wow, this really clarified so much…this is not a fantasy, this is very, very real! Thank you Rinpoche!
Thank you for the sharing, I never heard about it before, it’s the belief that there’s a divine, mystical relationship between numbers and the projection of life. There is one thing important to know that every number has a unique vibration by itself.
I had a good read to know the auspicious sign of number seven belongs to Buddha Tara. It ‘s also the culture believe that all numbers has it own qualities. What I understand from this article is there is a hidden supreme power and spirituality behind every numbers.
Helped me a lot
Thank you so much
My ziodic sign was pig and what is my lucky colour