Item: Tara (Buddhist Deity) - Green

Green Tara (Tibetan: drol ma jang ku): Removing the Eight Fears, a completely enlightened Buddha manifesting as a female bodhisattva.

Tibetan: Drol ma jang ku

Emerald green, peaceful and youthful, she extends the right hand across the knee in the mudra (gesture) of generosity holding the stem of a blue utpala flower blossoming over the shoulder. The left hand held to the heart performs the mudra of blessing, also holding the stem of an utpala blossoming above the left shoulder. Crowned with a tiara of gold and jewels, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and the like, the black hair is tied in a topknot with some falling loose across the shoulders. The shoulders are further covered with an orange scarf and the lower body wrapped with multi-coloured silks. With the right leg stretched forth, the foot resting on an orange lotus pillow, the left leg is drawn-up, seated atop a moon disc and pink lotus seat, she is surrounded by a nimbus and areola of radiant light. At the sides and below sit eight identical forms of Tara representing the over-coming of the eight fears.

At the top center is the goddess of longevity, Ushnishavijaya, peaceful, white, with three faces and eight hands. At the left side is the Buddha of healing, Medicine Guru. At the right is a buddha figure performing the mudra of Dharma teaching at the heart.

Jeff Watt 2-2000