Green Tara
In our ceremonies, Green Tara’s presence accompanies us with infinite compassion, guiding each step toward healing and heart awakening.
Green Tara
Our Guiding Light of Compassion and Wisdom!
At Lotus Vine Journeys, Green Tara is our guiding light, embodying the divine feminine energy of compassion, courage, and swift action. Revered in Tibetan Buddhism as a bodhisattva devoted to helping all sentient beings reach enlightenment—and in some traditions, as a fully enlightened Buddha—Green Tara represents boundless love and wisdom that responds immediately to the suffering of the world. She is both protector and healer, extending comfort, strength, and support to those in need. Often depicted in a peaceful yet dynamic posture, she symbolizes the immediate, active compassion that she extends to all who call upon her. Green Tara embodies the strength and resilience within the feminine, qualities that transcend gender and are open to all beings. In honoring Green Tara, we celebrate the sacred feminine as an essential aspect of enlightenment, embracing qualities of kindness, presence, and nurturing action. Her presence invites us to awaken the compassionate heart within each of us, guiding us to embody these qualities in our own lives.
Her Origins and Symbolism
Green Tara's origins are multi-layered, drawing from both Indian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. The name "Tara" means "savior" or "she who ferries across" in Sanskrit, highlighting her role as a compassionate savior who helps beings cross the ocean of samsara, the cycle of suffering and rebirth. Among the 21 emanations of Tara, each with its own color and qualities, Green Tara is considered her most active and dynamic form.
Green Tara embodies enlightened action, especially the energy of compassionate response. She is associated with removing obstacles, overcoming fear, and swiftly responding to the cries of those in need. Often depicted seated on a lotus with her right leg extended, she is ready to rise at any moment to help those who invoke her. Her right hand is open in the mudra (gesture) of generosity, while her left hand holds a blue lotus (utpala), symbolizing purity and compassion.
Mythological and Scriptural Background
The stories surrounding Green Tara are rich with symbolic meaning. According to one legend, Tara was born from the compassionate tears of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. In his grief over the endless suffering of beings, Avalokiteshvara shed tears, from which two lotuses bloomed; from one emerged Green Tara, embodying the active, compassionate response to suffering.
Another well-loved story tells of Tara’s vow to remain in female form until all beings achieve enlightenment. When encouraged to take a male form, she declared that enlightenment transcends gender, embodying the Buddhist ideal that ultimate wisdom and compassion are not bound by physical form. This vow has made her a particularly beloved figure among women practitioners, who see in her an embodiment of the feminine principle within enlightenment.
Historical Development
The worship of Tara began in India around the 5th-6th century CE within Mahayana Buddhism and later flourished in Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly in Tibet, Nepal, and Mongolia. As Mahayana Buddhism spread, Tara’s influence grew, and she was revered not only as a goddess but also as a guide and protector. In Tibet, Tara’s practice became deeply woven into the fabric of Tibetan Buddhism, where her imagery, prayers, and meditation practices are central across many schools and lineages.
Role in Tibetan Buddhism and Practices
Green Tara holds a central place in Tibetan Buddhist devotion. Practitioners call upon her for protection, the removal of obstacles, and compassionate guidance through life's challenges. Her mantra, "Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha," is one of the most widely chanted in Tibetan Buddhism, believed to invoke her swift assistance and blessings.
Another popular practice is the Praises to the 21 Taras, a prayer that honors each form of Tara for specific qualities, such as overcoming fears, protecting from illness, and offering guidance. In these prayers, Green Tara is often the central figure, and practitioners visualize her as they chant, connecting with her energy of compassionate action.
Her Symbolism and Iconography
Green Tara’s iconography is filled with profound meaning. Her green color symbolizes the life energy of nature, growth, renewal, Pachamama and boundless compassion. Her posture, with one leg extended, shows her readiness to spring into action to alleviate suffering, a contrast to deities who sit in meditative stillness.
Each gesture, or mudra, holds significance:
Her right hand, extended in the gesture of generosity, represents her compassionate openness and readiness to give.
Her left hand holds an utpala lotus, symbolizing her purity and her ability to remain untouched by worldly troubles even as she works within them.
The blue lotus blooms at night, representing her ability to guide and protect during times of darkness and ignorance.
We Need Green Tara Today
In a world where the earth and the spirit of the divine feminine are often subjugated and oppressed, Green Tara’s presence shines as a guiding light. Her compassion, her strength, and her swift response to those in need are exactly what we long for today. Green Tara offers a motherly presence, a source of comfort and protection during challenging times, embodying the healing, nurturing energy that the world needs.
Her commitment to remain in female form until all beings are liberated speaks deeply to the inclusive and empowering spirit she represents. For many, especially women practitioners, Green Tara is more than a figure of devotion—she is a source of inspiration, a reminder of the wisdom, resilience, and grace that live within the feminine Spirit. And yet, her energy transcends gender, inviting all beings to connect with the compassionate, courageous heart.
We honor you, Buddha Tara
Through her prayers, mantras, and imagery, we are invited to connect with boundless compassion, to find the strength to overcome obstacles, and to meet life’s challenges with an open and empowered heart. Green Tara is here to remind us that we, too, can embody these qualities—and that her spirit lives on in every act of kindness, courage, and love.
