Tibetan style – Green Tara Thangka

Description

This Tibetan style – Green Tara Thangka is hand-painted on Cotton Canvas in Kathmandu, Nepal. It measures 79*54cm (31*21 inch) and weighs 0.2 kg (0.44 lbs).

Green Tara is depicted in the middle of the thangka, with Amitabha Buddha above her.

Iconography of Green tara

Green Tara is depicted in the middle of the thangka, with a kind expression on her face. She is seated on a white moon disk, which is associated with a special healing nectar related to the navel chakra. In Buddhism, the moon symbolizes wisdom, and when combined with compassion, it leads to the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha. Her right hand is gracefully lowered in Varda mudra, a gesture that bestows blessings.

Green Tara is often seen holding a blue lotus, also known as the ‘night lotus’, in both of her hands. The word Utpala refers to the flower’s ability to ‘burst open’. In her left hand, she holds a stem with an open bloom and an unopened bud, with the bent lower part of the stem representing 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 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 emanating from her outer aureole. The crescent moon and sun symbolize the union of males and females ubiquitous in Tantric art.

Mantra of Green Tara

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

Iconography of Amitabha Buddha

Amitabha Buddha is depicted as the principal figure in the green tara thangka. He is the leader of the Lotus Family, one of the oldest and most important of the Five Buddha Families, which symbolizes love, purity, compassion, and peace. Amitabha’s Pure Land is a place of eternal joy and limitless light.

Amitabha Buddha is one of the five Tathagatas, which symbolize the wisdom of discriminating awareness. He is depicted as red in color, riding on a peacock while facing west. This imagery is meant to convey that he can take away the suffering of others, just as the peacock can eat poisonous plants yet still have its tail shine forth.

Mantra of Amitabha Buddha

The mantra of Amitabha Buddha is Om Ami dewa hr.