Buddhist Thangka of Green Tara

Description

Buddhist Thangka of Green Tara is hand-painted and is painted on Cotton Canvas in Kathmandu Nepal. Green Tara is popularly known as Samaya Tara. She is portrayed with maroon Buddhist robes and jewelry.

Green Tara is depicted at the center of the thangka. Green Tara is associated with the Amoghasiddhi who is also green and the north-facing Meditation who is head of the active family.

Mantra of Green Tara

The mantra of Green Tara is om tare tuttare ture soha.

Iconography of Green Tara

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 which are The Buddha State, The Body of teachings , 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 emanate from her outer aureole. The crescent moon and sun symbolize the union of male and female ubiquitous in Tantric art.