Green tara with Pancha Buddha painting

Description

The painting features Green Tara in the middle, with Pancha Buddha at the top of her. At the bottom right and left are two goddesses. The size of this painting is 75*52 cm (30*20 inch) and its weight is 0.2 kg (0.44 lbs).

Iconography of Green tara

Green Tara is featured prominently in the thangka, her expression one of kindness and benevolence. She is seated atop a white moon disk, which is associated with a special healing nectar related to the naval chakra. In Buddhism, the moon is seen as a representation of wisdom, which when combined with compassion leads to the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha. Her right hand is gracefully lowered in the Varda mudra, a gesture of granting boons.

Green Tara is depicted holding a blue lotus, also known as the ‘night lotus’, in both hands. The word Utpala means to ‘burst open’, and her left hand holds a stem with an open flower and an unopened bud. The lower part of the stem is bent, symbolizing 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 a future well-being. Her right-hand wisdom hand is in the gesture of giving refuge.

The thumb and third finger are joined together to form a circle, signifying the unification of knowledge and kindness. The three outstretched fingers represent the Three Jewels of Buddhism, which are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.

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.

Khairavani is depicted as a majestic mountain kingdom with a multitude of trees, flowers, and animals sporting colorful tails radiating from its outer halo. The crescent moon and sun signify the union of male and female energies commonly found in Tantric art.

Mantra of Green Tara

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