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Taras
The Twenty-one Praises of
TARA
We are including Green Tara as the number one here, since she is
considered by all systems to be the "originator" from which all other
Taras emanate, although she is usually not included in the 21. With
several lineages by which the 21 Taras are categorized, there is no
universal agreement on their names, the order in which they
appear, or even on all of their faculties and powers, so we will
present them here in as complete fashion as we are able,
recognizing that there will be mistakes of omission and probably of
commission as well. (We beg forgiveness, and encourage more
knowledgeable readers to send us their suggestions or corrections.)
The view that the divine bodhisattva known by the name Tara
assimilates the various characteristics and qualities of several
goddesses of the Himalayan regions, from tribal snake deities to the
great Shakti of Hinduism, and of other goddesses from farther a-
field, is not a novel one.
Her Name
Of Atisha's 117 works, only 4 are about Tara. Also, of the 77 Indian
works he translated, only 6 are about her. It is noteworthy that,
according to Beyer, all of the White Tara lineages derive from his
translation of 3 of Vagishvarakirti's works in the larger cycle known
as 'Cheating Death.' The White Tara tradition stems from that
writer's own revelations and not from the tantric tradition said to
have originated with the Buddha.
Tara's Determination
With some history and background taken care of, let us continue
and get to know the "Twenty-one Taras". Then we will offer a
complete "ritual" of "The Twenty-one Praises of Tara", as well as
additional reference material on Tara.
Green Tara
Source of all Tara Emanations
1 of 21
Green Tara has her right foot extended as if about to rise. Her left
hand, in the gesture of granting refuge holds the stem of a blue
water lily or utpala that waves over her left shoulder while her right
hand also holding a flower, offers that which we desire, a boon.
According to the first Dalai Lama (1391-1474,) her hands with their
blue utpalas signal, "Samsaric beings! Cling not to worldly
pleasures. Enter the great city of liberation! Flower-goads
prodding us to effort. Homage to you!"
The practice of Green Tara helps to overcome fear and anxiety, but
devotees also believe that she can grant wishes, eliminate suffering
of all kinds and bring happiness.
2 of 21
3 of 21
4 of 21
5 of 21
The Tara
Who Bestows Longevity & Protects Against Untimely
Death
6 of 21
The Tara
Who Averts the Evil Effects of Poison
7 of 21
The Tara
Who Averts Destruction Wrought by Fire
8 of 21
The Tara
Who Averts Destruction Wrought by Water
9 of 21
The Tara
Who Averts Evil Caused by Wild Beasts
10 of 21
The Tara
Who Protects Against Wild Elephants & Averts Evil
Affecting Cattle
11 of 21
The Tara
Who Averts Evil Caused by Demons & Protects
Against Carnivores
12 of 21
The Tara
Who Increases Power
13 of 21
"Kurukulla", Red Tara said to attract partners & help one influence
others.
14 of 21
15 of 21
16 of 21
The Tara
Who Averts Evil Caused by Robbers
17 of 21
The Tara
Who Averts Destruction Caused by Armies
18 of 21
The Tara
Who Averts Heaven-born Calamities & Enhances
Indestructibility
19 of 21
The Tara
Who Subdues Demons & Protects Against War
20 of 21
The Tara
Who Heals Sickness
21 of 21
Seven-limb prayer
Visualize much radiant and blissful green light from the TAM
and mantra at Tara’s heart streams into you and into the
sentient beings surrounding you. View all sentient beings of
this world system as now having that TAM and mantra at their
heart as a result of the earlier recitation, that they are in their
normal places around the world. View that green light emanates
from a multi-layered cloud of Taras of all forms in the space around
this world system. The light covers all space and all sentient beings
of this world system and even spreads on to all of space, all world
systems and all sentient beings. Also view all Buddhas and
bodhisattvas similarly arrayed joining in with light appropriate to
them. For trouble spots and situations add an ever widening tornado
of Taras superimposed with similar widening stacks of all Buddhas
and bodhisattvas over the place with intense blessing raining down
to help. This light purifies the imprints of all negative actions, and
dispels all sickness and harms from spirits. In addition, it brings
inspiration and blessings from Tara [and all Buddhas and
bodhisattvas], thus enabling you to realize the entire gradual path
to enlightenment quickly. While doing the visualization, recite as
much as possible Tara’s peaceful mantra:
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA
TAM
From the TAM, rainbow-colored light goes out in all directions and
invokes Tara to appear in the space in front of you. She is seated on
a lotus and moon disc. Her body is made of emerald-green light,
youthful and exquisitely beautiful. Her right hand on her right knee
is in the gesture of giving; her left hand at her heart is in the
gesture of refuge and holds the stem of a blue utpala flower that
blooms by her ear.
Her left leg is drawn up and her right leg is slightly extended. Her
face is very beautiful and she smiles with loving kindness at all
sentient beings.
1
Chag tsal drol ma nyur
1
ma pa mo
Homage to Tara swift and fearless
Chen mi kay chig lhog
With eyes like a flash of lightning
dang dra ma
Lotus-born in an ocean of tears
Jig ten sum gon chu kye
Of Chenresig, three worlds'
shel gyi
protector.
Ke sar je wa lay ni jung
ma
2
Chag tsal ton kay da wa
2
kun tu
Homage to you whose face is like
Gang wa gya ni tseg pay
One hundred autumn moons
shel ma
gathered
Kar ma tong trag tsog pa
And blazes with the dazzling light
nam kyi
Of a thousand constellations.
Rab tu che way o rab bar
ma
3
3
Chag tsal ser ngo chu ne
Homage to you born from a gold-
kye kyi
blue lotus
Pay may chag ni nam par
Hands adorned with lotus flowers
gyen ma
Essence of giving, effort and
Jin pa tsun du ka tub shi
ethics,
wa
Patience, concentration and
So pa sam ten cho yul nyi
wisdom.
ma
4 4
Chag tsal de shin sheg Homage to you who crown all
pay tsug tor Buddhas
Ta yay nam par gyal wa
cho ma Whose action subdues without
Ma lu pa rol chin pa tob limit
pay Attained to every perfection
Gyel way say kyi shin tu On you the bodhisattvas rely.
ten ma
5
5
Chag tsal TU TA RE HUM
Homage to you whose TUTTARE
yi ge
and HUM
Do dang chog dang nam
Fill the realms of desire, form and
ka gang ma
space.
Jig ten dun po shab kyi
You crush seven worlds beneath
nen te
your feet
Lu pa may par gug par nu
And have power to call all forces.
ma
6
Chag tsal gya jin may lha
6
tsang pa
Homage to you adored by Indra,
Lung lha na tsog wang
Agni, Brahma, Vayu and Ishvara.
chug cho ma
Praised in song by hosts of spirits,
Jung po ro lang dri sa
Zombies, scent-eaters and
nam dang
yakshas.
No jin tsog kyi dun ne to
ma
7
Chag tsal TREY che cha 7
dang PEY kyi Homage to you whose TREY and
Pa rol tul kor rab tu jom PEY
ma Destroy external wheels of magic.
Yay kum yon kyang shab Right leg drawn in and left
kyi nen te extended,
May bar tug pa shin tu You blaze within a raging fire.
bar ma
8
8
Chag tsal TU RE jig pa
Homage to you whose TURE
chen po
destroys
Du kyi pa wo nam par
The great fears, the mighty
jom ma
demons.
Chu kye shel ni tro nyer
With a wrathful frown on your lotus
den dze
face,
Dra wo tam che ma lu so
You slay all foes without exception.
ma
9 9
Chag tsal kon chog sum Homage to you beautifully adorned
tson chag gye By the Three Jewels' gesture at
Sor mo tug kar nam par your heart.
gyen ma
Ma lu chog kyi kor lo
Your wheel shines in all directions
gyen pay
With a whirling mass of light.
Rang gi o kyi tsog nam
trug ma
10
Chag tsal rab tu ga wa ji 10
pay Homage to you, radiant and joyful
U gyen o kyi treng wa pel Whose crown emits a garland of
ma light.
Shay pa rab shay TU TA You, by the laughter of TUTTARE
RE yi Conquer demons and lords of the
Du dang jig ten wang du world.
dze ma
11
11
Chag tsal sa shi kyong
Homage to you with power to
way tsog nam
invoke
Tam che gug par nu ma
The assembly of local protectors.
nyi ma
With your fierce frown and
Tro nyer yo way yi ge
vibrating HUM,
HUM ki
You bring freedom from all
Pong pa tam che nam par
poverty.
drol ma
12
12
Chag tsal da way dum bu
Homage to you with crescent moon
u gyen
crown
Gyen pa tam che shin tu
All your adornments dazzling
bar ma
bright.
Rel pay tro na o pag may
From your hair-knot, Amitabha
lay
Shines eternal with great beams of
Tag par shin tu o rab dze
light.
ma
13
13
Chag tsal kel pay ta may
Homage to you who dwells in a
may tar
blazing wreath
Bar way treng way u na
Like the fire at the end of this age.
ne ma
Your right leg outstretched and left
Yay kang yon kum kun ne
drawn in,
kor gay
Joy surrounds you who defeats
Dra yi pung ni nam par
hosts of foes.
jom ma
14 14
Chag tsal sa shi ngo la Homage to you whose foot stamps
chag gi the earth
Til gyi nun ching zhab gyi And whose palm strikes the ground
dung ma by your side.
Tro nyer chen dze yi gay
With a wrathful glance and the
HUM ki
letter HUM,
Rim pa dun po nam ni
You subdue all in the seven stages.
gem ma
15
Chag tsal de ma gay ma 15
zhi ma Homage to the blissful, virtuous,
Nya ngen de zhi cho yul peaceful one
nyi ma Object of practice, nirvana's peace
SO HA OM dang yang dag Perfectly endowed with SOHA and
den pay OM
Dig pa chen po jom pa Overcoming all the great evils.
nyi ma
16
Chag tsal kun ne kor rab 16
ga way Homage to you with joyous retinue
Dra ye lu ni nam par gem You subdue fully all enemies' forms
ma The ten-letter mantra adorns your
Yi gay chu pay ngag ni ko heart
pay And your knowledge-HUM brings
Rig pa HUM lay drol ma liberation.
nyi ma
17 17
Chag tsal TU RE zab ni Homage to TURE with stamping
dab pay feet
HUM gi nam pay sa bon Whose essence is the seed-letter
nyi ma HUM
Ri rab man da ra dang You cause Merus, Mandara and
big je Vindaya
Jig ten sum nam yo wa And all three worlds to tremble and
nyi ma shake.
18
18
Chag tsal lha yi tso yi
Homage to you who holds in your
nam pay
hand
Ri dag tag chen chag na
A moon like a celestial lake
nam ma
Saying TARA twice and the letter
TA RA nyi jo PEY kyi yi
PEY
gay
You dispel all poisons without
Dug nam ma lu pa ni sel
exception.
ma
19 19
Chag tsal lha yi tsog nam Homage to you on whom the kings
gyal po of gods,
Lha dang mi am chi yi The gods themselves and all spirits
ten ma rely.
Kun ne go cha ga way ji Your armor radiates joy to all
kyi
You soothe conflicts and
Tso dang mi lam nyen pa
nightmares as well.
sel ma
20
Chag tsal nyi ma da wa 20
gye pay Homage to you whose eyes, the
Chen nyi po la o rab sel sun and moon,
ma Radiate with pure brilliant light
HA RA nyi jo TU TA RE yi Uttering HARA twice and TUTTARE
Shin tu dag po rim ne sel Dispels extremely fearful plagues.
ma
21
21
Chag tsel de nyi sum
Homage to you, adorned with three
nam ko pay
natures
Zi way tu dang yang dag
Perfectly endowed with peaceful
den ma
strength
Don dang ro lang no jin
You destroy demons, zombies and
tsog nam
yakshas
Jom pa TURE rab chog nyi
O TURE, most exalted and sublime!
ma
OM to the transcendent
subduer, Arya Tara, I
OM chom den de ma pag
prostrate.
ma drol ma la chag tsal lo
Homage to the glorious
Chag tsal drol ma TA RE
one who frees with TARE;
pel mo
With TUTTARE you calm all
TU TA RE yi jig kun sel ma
fears;
TU RE don nam tam che
You bestow all success
ter ma
with TURE;
SO HA yi ger che la rab tu
To the sound SOHA I pay
great homage.
Praise for the Benefits of Reciting the Homage
The homage is made to Tara, who was born from the tears of
Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, embodiment of the
mercy of all Buddhas, a protector of all beings in the realms of
desire, form and formlessness who arise as an 'I' based upon
samsaric aggregates.
It is said that once the Bodhisattva of Compassion became
dismayed on seeing that, even though he had striven with all his
might to free the sentient beings from samsara, the number of the
beings suffering in samsara was not significantly decreasing. He
burst into tears and from the pool that formed from the water
issuing from the lotus eyes of the Compassionate Bodhisattva there
sprung forth a lotus. From the lotus appeared Arya Tara, whose
exquisite face embodies the delicacy of a million lotus blossoms.
10. Tara who Dispels Sorrow Praising Tara's Crown and her Laugh
Her head-crown emanates a garland of lights to outshine all others.
Laughing with mantric laughter she utters TUTTARE, bringing all
Maras and the eight great gods of the world under her control.
11. Tara who Invokes How Tara practice activates the ten direction
Protectors
This practice invokes the protectors of the universe. These natural
forces of goodness spontaneously respond to the goodness
generated by meditation upon Tara. The wrathful lines on her face
flicker and lights shine forth from the syllable HUM at her heart,
giving total liberation from all forms of sorrow such as poverty and
pain.
14. Tara with Vibrant Lines of Wrath The Syllable HUM which
emanates light
Twitching the lines of wrath on her face. Stamping upon the earth in
a ferocious manner with her right foot. She holds her right hand in
the threatening mudra and emanates lights from the Syllable HUM
at her heart, filling the seven dimensions of the world with light and
bringing them under her power.
17. Tara who Produces Bliss How Tara shakes the three worlds
From the transformation of the primordial sound HUM appears
TURE, whose pounding feet cause everything in the external world
to tremble and shake.
18. Totally Victorious Tara How Tara eliminates the effects of Poison
The hare-marked moon like the celestial ocean symbolises the
power to eliminate the poisonous effects of delusions and mental
distortions from within the mind. Through the power of reciting
TARA twice and also the mantric syllable PHAT, even external
poisons are overcome.
19. Tara who consumes sorrow How Tara eliminates disputes and
nightmares
Indra of the desire gods, Brahma of the realm of form, leaders of the
spirit worlds and all kings of the gods and celestial beings bow their
heads to Tara.
(Recite 3 times)
Homage to Tara:
The crowns of gods and demigods are bowed to Her two
lotus feet; I prostrate to the
Mother Tara, the saviouress from all poverty.
Praise to Tara:
(Recite 1, 2, 3, 7 or 21 times)
Mantra:
TARE
Dedication of merits:
Other Reference
Tara's Names & Attributes
1. The Swift Heroine (Nyur.ma.pa.mo). To pacify hindrances and develop
bodhicitta
15. The Very Peaceful (Rab.shi.ma) Also [2.] "The Great Pacifier."