Description

Avalokitesvara with Green Tara Thangka is handpainted on cotton canvas. Avalokitesvara is a multi-armed form of Avalokiteshvara that seems to have been popular in Nepal since the Middle ages. The name suggests that he is the lord of the world with an infallible noose that leads suffering sentient beings to enlightenment.

Avalokitesvara presented at the center of the thangka. Two offering Goddesses are presented at the left down and right down corner of the Avalokitesvara in the thangka. White tara is presented at the top left corner of the Avalokitesvara in the thangka. Green Tara is presented at the top right corner of the Avalokitesvara in the thangka.

Iconography of Avalokitesvara

Avalokitesvara is the mystery in the center of the world lotus. All his limbs are white. He has one face and wears the saffron dress.

He is wearing an antelope skin symbolizing that he is extremely compassionate to suffering sentient beings. He has eight hands, the right showing the gesture of fearlessness and the boon granting gesture. He is holding the noose and the string of beads, the left holding a trident, a scripture, a white lotus, and a water pot.

Iconography of White Tara

White tara is presented at the top left corner of the Avalokitesvara in the thangka. White Tara’s embodiment of peace directed through loving compassion. From her serenity, she lends grace and dignity to situations and encourages the good to arise in all circumstances and situations.

The extra eye on her forehead, on the palms of her hands & the soles of her feet, represent her ability to see and understand the sufferings of all beings & her omniscient compassion toward the suffering.

Mantra of White Tara

The mantra of White Tara is Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Ayur Pune Gyana Puntin Kuru Swoha.

Iconography of Green tara

Green Tara is presented at the top right corner of the Avalokitesvara in the thangka. She is shown with a benevolent countenance seated upon a white moon disk which is associated with special restorative nectar associated with the naval chakra center. In Buddhists, the moon symbolizes the wisdom aspect which when coupled with compassion leads to Sakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment. Her right hand is gracefully lowered in Varada mudra, the boon-granting gesture.

Green Tara’s special lotus is the blue lotus or ‘night lotus’ which she bears in both hands. The word Utpala means to ‘burst open’. Her left hand holds a stem with an open blooming flower and an unopened bud. The bent lower part of the stem represents the root.

The open blossom represents the present and also the present Buddha; the bud represents the future and also Buddhas yet to be born. The future here also refers to a safe journey’s end and future well-being. Her right-hand wisdom hand is in the gesture of giving refuge.

The third finger touches the thumb to create a circle representing the union of wisdom and compassion, and the three extended fingers symbolize the Three Jewels of Buddhism a. The Buddha State b. The Body of teachings c.

The Principles of the Universe The same hand holds the stem of a blue lotus representing her willingness to assist. The closed blossom in her right hand represents the past and also the Buddhas of the past. Green Tara is shown in a place of paradise called Khadiravani where Tara dwells. Khadiravani is described as a great mountain kingdom with many trees, flowers, and animals’ rainbow tails emanating from her outer aureole. The crescent moon and sun symbolize the union of males and females ubiquitous in Tantric art.