Item: Tara (Buddhist Deity) - White

White Tara, (Tibetan: drol ma kar mo): the female Buddha of longevity. This composition is very similar in style to the works of the artist from East Tibet Trehor Namkha Gyan and his students.

Tara is a completely enlightened buddha and as a young bodhisattva she promised always to appear in the form of a female bodhisattva and goddess for the benefit of all beings and especially to protect from the eight fears. In this white form she appears specifically for the purpose of bestowing longevity. Practiced in all Schools of Tibetan Buddhism Tara is second in popularity only to Avalokiteshvara. Her practices are found in all classes of tantra - Nyingma and Sarma.

"...with a hue white like an autumn moon - radiant like a stainless crystal jewel, shining with rays of light, one face, two hands, and having three eyes; with the conduct of having sixteen years of age. The right hand is in the mudra of supreme generosity; the left holds with the thumb and forefinger the stem of a white utpala to the heart with the petals blossoming at the ear. Representing the buddhas of the three times the single stem is divided into three, in the middle is a blossoming flower, the right in fruition, the left in the form of a bud; adorned with various jewel ornaments; having various silk upper garments and a lower garment of red silk; seated with the legs in vajra posture. The palms of the hands and feet each have an eye - the seven eyes of pristine awareness." (Sachen Ngagwang Kunga Lodro, 1729-1783).

At the top center is Ammitayus Buddha. On the upper left side is White Chakrasamvara. On the upper right side is an unidentified figure in king appearance, with a book atop a flower blossom over the right shoulder. At the bottom left is yellow Kalpoktam Marichi with three faces and six hands, standing atop a chariot pulled by blue horses. At the bottom right side is yellow Vasudhara.

Jeff Watt 9-2015