Homage to the 21

Taras
The Twenty-one Praises of
TARA

OM TA-RE TU-TA-RE TU-RE SO-HA (Tara's Mantra)

Tara is a completely enlightened buddha who had previously

promised to appear, after enlightenment, in the form of a female
bodhisattva and goddess for the benefit of all beings. Her primary
activity is to protect from the eight fears. Practiced in all Schools of
Tibetan Buddhism her various forms are found in all classes of
tantra - Nyingma and Sarma.

Tara (Star) or simply Drol-ma in Tibetan, goddess of protection and

compassion, worshipped by Vajrayanists worldwide. One of the
widest worshipped deity in Tibet, Tara is the bodhisattva
representing the miraculous activities of all buddhas. In myth she is
born from Chenrezig's (sanskrit: Avalokitesvara, the male
counterpart similar to Tara) tears of compassion or from her own
vow to be enlightened and stay a woman. There are innumerable
manifestations of Tara, manifesting in so many ways as sentient
beings may require, but her most famous are the peaceful WHITE
TARA, who brings protection, long life and peace; and the dynamic
GREEN TARA, who overcomes obstacles and saves beings in
dangerous situations in the most immediate manner. Tara also
manifests in the 21 forms of Taras.

Jeff Watt at himalayanart.org:

"From the tantra known as the 'Twenty-One Praises of Tara' spoken
by the buddha Samantabhadra arises a system of practice with 21
emanations - 1 for each verse of praise. Each form of Tara has a
specific color and accomplishes a special activity. Based on that,
there are 3 well known and distinct lineages for the set of 21 Taras;
Pandita Suryagupta, Lord Atisha and the lineage from the
Nyingma Lama - Longchenpa. Aside from these 3 there are other
less known sets of 21 Taras as well as numerous individual forms
and lineages. The 3 main lineages do not share the same
iconographic forms. In the Atisha system all the Taras appear in the
same basic posture with equal faces and hands and only differ in
the color of the body and vase held in the right hand of each. Some
have a slightly fierce facial expression. Basically the colors are a
code for the 4 activities: pacifying (white), enriching (yellow),
subjugating (red) and eliminating (black.) Mixed colors such as
orange indicate a combination of qualities, tempered by strong
associations."

All Tara images courtesy of Dharma-Media.

To download these and many other Buddhist images in high resolution, please
visit Dharma-Media's website here:
Dharma-Media

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.)

However, for the purpose of the practice of the "Twenty-one Praises

of Tara", it is not necessary for all of the deities' images and
information to be in order. These are only presented so as to give
the reader a good feel for all of the Taras and to illustrate their
salient features.

But first, a bit of background and history:

Origin of the cult of Tara

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.

Whether this is due to the somewhat outmoded idea of the

archetype, or due to cultural drift and diffusion, or to people's
general inability to keep specific details in mind is not really
important. What is significant and valuable is the profound devotion
that people have for Tara and the genuine efficacy of her practice.
In times of great difficulty, millions of people call upon "Great Noble
Tara."

Not everyone agrees on how she should be depicted, however, and

perhaps that in itself is significant. Stephen Beyer, in "The Cult of
Tara", reported that until some even very experienced Tibetan
artists were shown the details of the 21 Taras as illustrated in
foreign texts, they often did not know or could not recall which
colors, gestures and symbolic items belonged together. Also there
seem to be waves of popularity for different lineage teachings of her
practice, some claiming origin with one or another famous teacher
of the past and others none at all. That is, some versions of her
ritual worship [Sanskrit: sadhana] or practice are regarded as
"termas" - tantric texts revealed or uncovered by gifted individuals
under extraordinary circumstances.

When her cult developed exactly is unknown. The Chinese pilgrim

Hsuan Tsang, who visited northern India between 633 and 645,
reports without describing, a "Tolo" image in a temple near Nalanda
Buddhist University to which the general population was particularly
devoted.

Her Name

The Sanskrit root târ-means "to traverse" or "cross over" as in using

a bridge to ford a stream. In the orthodox Indian sacred tradition,
Târâ refers to the second of Ten Means to Realization. And as Shri
Tara Devi she is the deification of that Mahavidya, according to
Hindu Tantra. As a Târîni, she carries you across; she serves as a
bridge for you to get to immortality. But the root tar- can mean
"tree," and "particularly," and it is also related to "star" and to "pupil
of the eye."

In Tibetan, she is called Dolma or Do'ma, though often we see

Drolma because it follows the Tibetan spelling a little more; (if we
transliterate, it is actually sgrolma.)

Origin of the Ritual Practice of Tara

There exist two different scholarly Tibetan traditions as to

which teacher was first responsible for introducing her practice.
Evidence is strong that in the tenjur of Tibetan king Trisong
Deutsen (reigned 755-797) there were only 3 works concerning
Tara, but they were not translated for general use. These were: the
incantations called Mother of Avalokiteshvara and 108 Names of the
Goddess Tara, and Chandragomin's "Praises of the Noble Tara Who
Saves From all Great Terrors".

It is generally agreed that it was not until Atisha arrived in Tibet in

1042 that her cult was introduced. He claimed that it was Tara who
prophesied that his life would be shortened by his going to Tibet,
but that he would, by undertaking that duty to the dharma, greatly
benefit beings and one devotee in particular. That person was
Dromton [or bromton] who built a temple to Tara that was standing
at Nyetang at least until the late 1970's.

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.

The orthodox Buddhist tantric tradition was not deemed appropriate

for general dissemination in the 11th century which was a time of
reform. It took another 400 years it to be revived, or at least, widely
disseminated which it was under Taranatha (fl. 1600) according to
the Tibetan historian, Zhunnupe.

The 21 Praises to Tara, though, were brought from India in the

11th century by Darmadra of Nyen, according to Drugpa Jetsen,
abbot of the Sakya monastery who wrote a commentary a century
later. He, himself, wrote 13 works on Tara.

All denominations will call upon Green Tara in times of necessity.

According to Beyer whose informants were Drugpa Kagyu, the
Kagyu consider there is a special relationship with White Tara via
Gampopa (fl. 1100.) The superior, contemporary tantric master
Ven. Tenga Rinpoche maintains that lineage. But Kagyu temples
everywhere begin the day with the four-mandala offering to Green
Tara.

Tara's Determination

In a world known as Various Lights, there was a Buddha called

Dundubh-ishvara [Lord of the Sound of Drums] and he had a
devotee, a princess called Jnanachandra [Wisdom Moon.] For many
ages, she made offerings to him, and to the 'hearers' and
bodhisattvas, until finally there arose in her the determination to,
herself, become a buddha. She was advised that she would first
have to seek a rebirth in a male body, for who had ever heard of a
female buddha?

"Nonsense," she thought. "What difference does the form of the

body matter? In fact, to dispel this incorrect notion from the minds
of certain beings, I will forever be reborn as a female!"

"Those who wish to attain supreme enlightenment in

a man's body are many, but those who wish to serve
the aims of beings in a woman's body are few indeed;
therefore may I, until this world is emptied out serve
the aims of beings with none but a woman's body."

Then Wisdom Moon sat determinedly in meditation for many ages.

She attained the knowledge that events do not arise, and the state
called Saving All Beings. Every morning before she had taken food,
she introduced and fixed innumerable beings in the state of
acceptance; every evening she did the same, and so she became
known as Tara the Saviour.

Reborn into the realm of Buddha Amoghasiddi in the era called

Vastly Extended, Tara took another vow before him: She
determined to protect the sentient beings of the infinite worlds of all
ten directions from harm. She settled into the state of meditation
called 'Defeating all Maras,' and during the day, fixed in
contemplation innumerable heavenly rulers of beings, and in the
night, also those of the heaven of power of vision over others. She
became known as Tara the Swift, and Tara the Heroine.

Then, in the era called Beginningless, a monk whose name was

Stainless Light was empowered via the light of compassion of all the
tathagathas [buddhas] and became Avalokiteshvara (Lord of the
World, called in Tibetan, Chenresi or Chenrezig). In him, two
lights emanating from all the buddhas - that of Understanding and
that of Compassion, united as a father and mother. These lights,
these initiatory energies, engendered Tara who was then born from
the heart of the Lord of the World 'as a bud from the lotus.'

That is how Tara is understood to have come to us - out of

Emptiness, but by the merit of her devotion and her determination
which, manifesting as care, finds its way through the union of
wisdom and compassion to all sentient beings.
Tara's Vow
Long ago in an age before which there was nothing else,
the Victorious One, the Tathagata Dundubhisvara
came into existence and was known as the Light of the
Various Worlds.
The Princess "Moon of Wisdom" had the highest respect for
his teaching,
and for ten million, one hundred thousand years,
made offerings to this Enlightened One,
to his attendant Sravakas,
and to countless members of the Sangha of Bodhisattvas.
The offerings she prepared each day
were in value comparable to all the precious things
which filled a distance of twelve yojanas
in each of the ten directions,
leaving no intermediate spaces unfilled.
Finally after all this she awoke to the first concepts of
Bodhi-Mind.
At that time some monks said to her:
"It is as a result of these,
your roots of virtuous actions,
that you have come into being in this female form.
If you pray that your deeds accord with the teachings,
then indeed on that account you will change your form
to that of a man, as is befitting."
After much discourse she finally replied,
"In this life there is no such distinction
as "male" and "female,"
neither of "self-identity," a "person"
nor any perception,
and therefore attachment to ideas of "male" and "female"
is quite worthless.
The weak-minded are always deluded by this."
And so she vowed:
"There are many who wish to gain enlightenment in a man's
form,
and there are but few who wish to work for the welfare of
living beings in a female form.
Therefore may I, in a female body, work for the welfare of
beings right until Samsara has been emptied."
 Tibetan 21-Tara Prayer Flag

Tibetan Homage to Manifestations Of

Tara
I bow to the Body of Tara who saves from the eight fears.
I bow to the Body of Tara of infinite fame.
I bow to the Body of Tara, the world's benefactor.
I bow to the Body of Tara, sure curer of sorrow.
I bow to the Body of Tara
of a thousand hands and eyes.
I bow to the Body of Tara
infinite as space.
I bow to the Body of Tara
adorned with the Marks and the Signs.
I bow to the Body of Tara
whose limbs are like the moon.
I bow to the Body of Tara
who is as bright as the sun.
I bow to the Body of Tara
unchanging in the three times.
I bow to the Body of Tara supporting like earth.
I bow to the Body of Tara cohering like water.
I bow to the Body of Tara ripening like fire.
I bow to the Body of Tara expanding like air.
I bow to the Body of Tara
who is the Sovereign of Doctors.
I bow to the Body of Tara
subduing disease like medicine.
I bow to the Body of Tara
the river of compassion.
I bow to the Body of Tara
skilled in means like taming.
I bow to the Body of Tara
lovely yet free of desire
I bow to the Body of Tara
who teaches the Way of Freedom.

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

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha

OM TA-RE TU-TA-RE TU-RE SO-HA (or SVAHA)

(We will use "So-Ha", closer to the Tibetan pronunciation)

Right Hand Left Hand

In Tibetan culture, and some others, green is considered to include
all the other colors.

Green Tara is typically pictured as a dark, green-skinned young girl.

She usually wears striped leggings but above, only her shoulders
are covered. She wears the many characteristic ornaments of the
samboghakaya.

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.

When called upon, she instantaneously saves us from eight specific

calamities. (Another lineage describes 16.) The First Dalai Lama
lists the 8, and interprets them as representative of corresponding
defects, flaws, or obscurations:

1) lions and pride

2) wild elephants and delusions
3) forest fires and hatred
4) snakes and envy
5) robbers and fanatical views
6) prisons and avarice
7) floods and lust
8) demons and doubt

As we shall see, all of the Taras' qualities and powers should be

interpreted in like manner. (Unless you actually need protection
from elephants and lions!)
 The Tara
Who Averts Disasters & Enhances Harmony

2 of 21

This White Tara (Yang-Chen-Ma), the "Great Pacifier" of negative

obscurations,
is usually associated with the Hindu Goddess Sarasvati.

Mantra: Om Banza Tare Sarva Biganen

Shindham Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

 The Tara
Who Averts Earth-Born Calamities

3 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Sarva

Lam Lam Bhaya Shindham Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

 The Tara
Who Bestows Prosperity & Protects against Famine

4 of 21

"The Giver of Supreme Virtue" (So-Nam-Chog-Ter-Ma). "The Tara

who Increases"

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Dzambeh

Moheh Dana Meti Shri Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

 The Tara
The Wish-Fulfilling Tara

5 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Sarva

Ata Siddhi Siddhi Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Bestows Longevity & Protects Against Untimely
Death
 6 of 21

"The All Victorious" (Nam-Gyal-Ma), "Tara of The Life Force"

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture

Braja Ayiu Shei Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Averts the Evil Effects of Poison
 7 of 21

"The Peahen" (Peacock) (Ma-Ja-Ma), "Tara Who Eliminates Poisons"

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Sarva Diksha

Dzala Yaha Raha Ra Peh Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Averts Destruction Wrought by Fire
 8 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Sarva Ram Ram

Dzala Bhaya Shindham Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Averts Destruction Wrought by Water
 9 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Sarva Bham Bham

Dzala Bhaya Shindham Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Averts Evil Caused by Wild Beasts
 10 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Sarva Heh Heh

Dzaleh Dzaleh Benda Peh Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Protects Against Wild Elephants & Averts Evil
Affecting Cattle
 11 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Sarva Ham Ham

Dushing Hana Hana Drasaya Peh Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Averts Evil Caused by Demons & Protects
Against Carnivores
 12 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Sarva

Dushing Bikanen Bham Peh Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Increases Power
 13 of 21

"Kurukulla", Red Tara said to attract partners & help one influence
others.

Mantra: Om Bema Tare Sendara Hri Sarva

Loka Washum Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

 The Tara
Who Increases Wisdom

14 of 21

"The Giver of Intelligence" (Rig-Je-Ma), "Tara Resonating with HUM"

Mantra: Om Ratana Tare Sarva Loka Jana Piteya

Dara Dara Diri Diri Sheng Sheng Dza
Dzanjia Na Mu Sheng Kuru Soha
Right Hand Left Hand
 The Tara
Who Averts Hell-born Calamities & Protects Against
Politics

15 of 21

"The Destroyer of Opposing Forces" (Da-Pung-Som-Ze-Ma), "Tara

Blazing in Flames"

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Sarva Randza

Dushen Droda Shindham Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

 The Tara
Who Averts Destruction Caused by Wind

16 of 21

"Ta Savior of The Scented Forest" (Jig-Ten-Sum-La-Gyal-Ma), "Tara

Embodiment of The Three Jewels"

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Sarva Yam Yam

Dzala Bhaya Shindham Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Averts Evil Caused by Robbers
 17 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Sarva Dzora

Benda Benda Drktum Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Averts Destruction Caused by Armies
 18 of 21

"The Invincible" (Shen-Gyi-Mi-Tub-Ma), "Tara Who Crushes the

Forces of Others"

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Sarva Dik Dik

Dikshena Raksha Raksha Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Averts Heaven-born Calamities & Enhances
Indestructibility
 19 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Sarva Eh Eh

Maha Hana Bhaya Shindham Kuru Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Subdues Demons & Protects Against War
 20 of 21

"The Wrathful" (To-Nyer-Chen), "Tara of Wrathful Gaze"

Mantra: Om Garma Tare Sarwa Shatdrum

Biganen Mara Sehna Ha Ha Heh Heh
Ho Ho Hung Hng Binda Binda Peh

Right Hand Left Hand

The Tara
Who Heals Sickness
 21 of 21

Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Sarva Dzara Sarva

Dhukka Brasha Manaya Peh Soha

Right Hand Left Hand

 Tara Praises Preliminaries
The Twenty-one Praises of
Tara
Refuge vows, and the Tara empowerment from an accredited
teacher is required for doing the complete liturgy with offerings.
Anyone, though, can read, chant or sing the 21 Praises.

Prepare for this practice by setting the proper motivation

and reciting the preliminary prayers and practices:

Taking refuge and generating the altruistic dedicated

heart

Sang gye cho dang To the Buddha, the Dharma

tsog kyi chog nam la and the Sangha
Jang chub bar du dag I go for refuge until I am
ni kyab su chi enlightened
Through the positive potential
Dag gi jin sog gyi I create by practicing
pay so nam kyi generosity and the other far-
reaching attitudes
May I attain Buddhahood for
Dro la pen chir sang
the benefit of all sentient
gye drub par shog
beings.
 The Four Immeasurables

May all sentient beings have

Sem chen tarn che de wa happiness and the causes of
dang/ de way gyu dang den happiness;
par gyur chig May all sentient beings be
Sem chen tam che dug ngel free from suffering and the
dang/ dug ngel kyi gyu dang causes of suffering;
drel war gyur chig May all sentient beings never
Sem chen tam che dug ngel be separated from the
may pay de wa dang/ mi drel happiness that knows no
war gyur chig suffering;
Sem chen tam che nye ring May all sentient beings abide
chag dang nyi dang/ drel way in equanimity, free from
dang nyom la ne par gyur attachment and anger that
chig hold some close and others
distant.

Seven-limb prayer

Reverently I prostrate with with my

Go sum go pay go ne
body, speech and mind
chag tsal lo
And present clouds of every type of
Ngo sham yi trul cho
offering, actual and mentally
trin ma lu bul
transformed.
Tog may ne sag dig
I confess all my negative actions
tung tam che shag
accumulated since beginningless time
Kye pag gay wa nam
And rejoice in the virtues of all holy
la je yi rang
and ordinary beings.
Kor wa ma tong bar
Please remain until cyclic existence
du leg zhug ne
ends,
Dro la cho kyi kor lo
And turn the wheel of Dharma for
kor wa dang
sentient beings.
Dag zhen gay nam
I dedicate the virtues created by
jang chub chen por
myself and others to the great
ngo
enlightenment.
 Visualization & Recitation

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

Wish that all subsequent such visualizations and recitations

throughout the day be considered to be logically part of this practice
at this point. Then continue this practice at all odd moments
through the day, such as walking, driving, standing in lines, and any
other activity that can allow divided attention. For things such as
driving, you may limit the visualization effort so that the particular
activity is not compromised in an unsafe way.

The Protection Cakra of Arya Tara

Alternate Visualization & Recitation

You are in your ordinary form. At your heart appears a white

AH made of light. This transforms into a white moon disc. At
its center appears a green syllable TAM, the essence of
Tara's blissful omniscient mind of wisdom and compassion.
Standing clockwise around the edge of the moon appear the
letters of the mantra om tare tuttare ture soha, made of green
light

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.

Surrounding her in space are twenty-one other Taras, as well as all

the Buddhas and bodhisattvas. Surrounding you are all sentient
beings. You lead them in reciting the prayers and requests to Tara.
 The Twenty-one Praises of
Tara
Homage (Respect) to the Twenty-one
Taras

OM; je tsun ma pag ma drol ma la chag tsal lo

OM; I prostrate to the noble transcendent liberator.

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

Tsa way ngag kyi to pa di

dang Thus the root mantra is praised
Chag tsal wa ni nyi shu And twenty-one homages offered.
tsa chig
The Condensed Praise (could be said multiple times)

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

Lha mo la gu yang Those endowed with perfect and

dag den pay pure respect for these goddesses
Lo den gang gi rab
de jo de The intelligent who recite these
So dang to rang praises with most supreme faith
lang par che ne Both in the evening and upon
Den pay mi jig tam waking at dawn
che rab ter Will have fearlessness bestowed
Dig pa tam che rab on them by this remembrance.
tu shi way After being purified of all evils
Nyen dro tam che completely,
jom pa nyi tob They will attain the destruction
Gyal wa che wa dun of all lower realms
nam gyi And the seven million conquering
Nyur du wang ni kur Buddhas
war gyur la Will quickly grant them every
Di lay che wa nyi ni empowerment.
tob ching Thus they will attain greatness
Sang gye go pang and so forth
tar tug der dro To the ultimate state of supreme
De yi dug ni dag po Buddhahood.
chen po As a result all violent poisons -
Ten ne pa am zhen Whether abiding within or
yang dro wa spreading to others -
So pa dang ni tung That they have eaten or drunk
wa nyi kyang By this remembrance will be
Den pay rab tu sel completely removed
wa nyi tob And they will eliminate
Don dang rim dang completely afflictions by spirits,
tug gi sir way epidemics,
Dug ngel tsog ni Poisons and all various
nam par pang te sufferings.
Sem chen zhen pa If for oneself or for the sake of
nam la yang ngo others,
Nyi sum dun du ngo These praises are read sincerely
par jo na two, three or seven times,
Pu do pay ni pu tob Those wishing a child will have
gyur ching one
Nor do pay ni nor And those wishing wealth will
nam nyi tob attain this as well.
Do pa tam che tob Without obstruction all of their
par gyur la wishes will be granted
Geg nam may ching And every single hindrance will
so sor jom gyur chig be destroyed as it arises.
 Requesting Prayer

Je tsun chom den de O compassionate and venerable

ma tug je chen subduing goddess
Dag dang ta ye sem May the infinite beings, including
chen tam che kyi myself,
Drib nyi jang shing Soon purify the two obscurations
tsog nyi nyur dzog and complete both collections
ne So that we may attain full
Dzog pay sang gye enlightenment.
tob par dze du sol For all of my lives, until I reach
De ma tob gyi tse this stage
rab kun tu yang May I know the sublime
Lha dang mi yi de happiness of humans and gods.
wa chog tob ne So that I may become fully
Tam che kyen pa omniscient
drub par je pa la Please pacify quickly all
Bar che don geg rim obstacles, spirits,
dang ne la sog Obstructions, epidemics,
Du min chi war gyur diseases and so forth
pa na tsog dang The various causes of untimely
Mi lam nyen dang death,
tsen ma nyen pa Bad dreams and omens, the
dan eight fears and other afflictions,
Jig pa gye sog nye And make it so that they no
war tse wa nam longer exist.
Nyur du shi shing May the mundane and
may par dze tu sol supramundane collections
Jig ten jig lay ni de Of all excellent auspicious
pa yi qualities and happiness
Ta shi de leg pun Increase and develop and may all
sum tsog pa nam wishes
Pel shing gye pay Be fulfilled naturally and
don nam ma lu pa effortlessly, without an
Be mi lhun gyi drub exception.
par dze du sol May I strive to realize and
Drub la tson shing increase the sacred Dharma
dam cho pel wa Accomplishing your stage and
dang beholding your sublime face,
Dag du gyo drub May my understanding of
she chog tong wa emptiness and the precious
dang dedicated heart
Tong nyi ton tog Increase like the moon waxing
jang sem rin po che full.
Yar ngo da tar pel May I be reborn from an
shing gye par dzo extremely beautiful and holy
 Gyal way kyil dor
sang shing ga wa
lotus
ter
In the joyous and noble mandala
Pay mo tam pa shim
of the conqueror
tu dze lay gye
May I attain whatever prophecy I
Nang wa ta ye gyal
receive
way ngo sum tu
In the presence of Amitabha,
Lung ten pa yang
Buddha of Infinite Light.
dag ki der tob shog
O deity, whom I have
Dag gi tse rab ngon
accomplished from previous lives
ne drub pay lha
Du sum sang gye
The enlightening influence of the
kun gi trin lay ma
three-time Buddhas
Ngo jang shel chig
Blue-green, one face and two
chag nyi nyur shi
arms, the swift pacifier
ma
O mother holding an utpala
Yum gyur ut pel
flower, may you be auspicious!
nam pay tra shi
Whatever your body, O Mother of
shog
Conquerors,
Gyal yum drol ma
Whatever your retinue, lifespan
kyo gu chi da dang
and pure land,
Kor dang ku tse tse
Whatever your name, most noble
dang shing kam
and holy,
dang
May I and all others attain only
Kye kyi tsen chog
these.
sang po chi dra wa
By the force of these praises and
De dra ko nar dag
requests made to you,
sog gyur par shog
May all disease, poverty, fighting
Kye la to ching sol
and quarrels be calmed,
wa tab pay tu
May the precious Dharma and
Dag sog kang du ne
everything auspicious increase
pay sa chog ter
Throughout the world and
Ne dang ul pong tab
directions where I and all others
tso shi wa dang
dwell.
Cho dang tra shi pel
war dze tu sol

Dedication and Auspicious Verses

Gay wa di yi nyur Due to this merit may I soon

tu dag attain the state of Arya Tara
Pag ma drol ma That I may be able to liberate
drub gyur ne All sentient beings from their suffering.
Dro wa chig kyang By whatever virtue I have collected
ma lu pa From venerating these subduing blessed
De yi sa la go par ones,
shog
Chom den de ma
May all sentient beings, without
cho che pay
exception,
Dag gi gay wa chi
Be born in Sukhavati, the Joyful Pure
sag pa
Land.
Te ni sem chan ma
You, who have abandoned all bodily
lu pa
defects and possess the signs and marks
De wa chen tu gay
of a Buddha,
wat chog
You, who have abandoned all defects of
Ku yi gyon pang
speech and possess a beautiful, sparrow-
tsen dang pay che
like voice,
den
You, who have abandoned all defects of
Sung ki gyon pang
mind and see all the infinite objects of
ka la ping kay
knowledge,
yang
O Brilliant Mother of Auspicious Glory,
Tug gi gyon shay
please bring your auspicious presence to
ja ta dag sig
us!
Tra shi pel par ma
yi tra shi shog

OM TA-RE TU-TA-RE TU-RE SO-HA

 Tara - Additional Materials &
Reference

EXPLANATION FOR THE TWENTY-ONE VERSES OF

PROSTRATION AND PRAISE
BY VENERABLE GESHE DAMCHO YONTEN

These fall into three main sections.

1. Praising by means of the legends associated with Tara.

2. Praising the symbolic aspects of her manifestations.
3. Praising her enlightened activity.

1. Praises in Reference to Legend - Tara the Heroine

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.

Thus the compassion of all Buddhas emanated as a fountain of

enlightened energy, Arya Tara, divinity of mystical activity who
turned to the Bodhisattva of Compassion and said "O noble one, I
offer myself in the service of freeing countless sentient beings from
the cyclic existence as quickly as possible. Shed no more tears. We
shall work together to turn the battle against samsara". Then a net
of lights shone forth from her two eyes and scanned the three
realms of the world.

2. Praises in Reference to the Symbolic Aspects - The

Twenty-One Taras

There are twenty-one different Sambhogakaya manifestations of

Tara, a feminine emanation of the primordial Dharmakaya Buddha
Amitabha.

Each form of Tara embodies a particular aspect of compassion.

Green Tara represents the active energetic aspect of compassion,
and she is the national protectress of Tibet, while White Tara, for
example, embodies the fertile, motherly aspect of compassion.

Verses in praise of Tara's symbolic attributes

The verses in praise of the symbolic attributes of Tara's

being has two parts.

1. Praising the aspects of her Beatific Form (Sambhogakaya)

2. Praising her Wisdom or Truth Body aspect (Dharmakaya)
Tara has two main types of Beatific Forms: Peaceful and Wrathful.

There are six verses in praise of her Peaceful forms:

2. Tara of White Lustre

This verse describes the brilliance of the Beatific Form of
enlightenment.

3. Tara of Golden Hue Her Hand Postures

Whose colour is blue tinged with a golden radiance. The finger of
her left hand holds the stem of a water born lotus, the flower of
which has opened into bloom beside her ear. This symbolises how
Tara embodies the Ten Perfections.

4. Victorious Ushnisha Tara How Tara is revered by Buddhas and

Bodhisattvas
Because Tara is the mother of all the Buddhas they carry her upon
the crowns of their heads as an ushnisha. She symbolises the very
forces that have the power to gain total victory over negative
events of this life as well as over the obscurations of delusions and
obscurations to omniscience.
The Bodhisattvas of the ten stages, who are completing the Ten
Perfections must also fully rely upon Tara for she embodies the utter
fulfilment of the Ten.

5. Tara who Resounds the sound HUM How she overcomes

Disharmonious Conditions
The syllables TUTTARE and HUM that she utters, together with the
syllable HUM at her heart, symbolise the wisdom of emptiness
combined with the great compassion. With her two feet she presses
down upon the seven realms of the world, thus invoking all forces
and placing them in joy.
The seven worlds refer to the three lower realms (hell creatures,
ghosts and animals) the realms of man and the desire gods and the
realms of the gods of form and formlessness.

6. Totally Victorious Tara How Worldly Gods Worship Her

Tara represents the beyond-samsara state to which even the great
gods of the universe still aspire.

7. Tara who destroys Negativity How Tara crushes External Threats

Sitting in a peaceful posture, her right leg symbolises the wisdom of
emptiness and left great compassion. She presses upon the three
realms of the world her body blazing amidst darting flames.
Although this is a peaceful emanation of Tara, externally she is
slightly wrathful. To symbolise this she sits in the centre of a raging
fire.

There are seven verses in praise of Tara's wrathful

Sambhogakaya forms:

8. Tara who Heralds Supreme Power Tara's excellence in Removing

Mara and the two obscurations
The great fearful one are the ferocious army of Maras. Her lotus face
is marked with lines of wrath and her manner is that of a wrathful
Bodhisattva destroying the enemies within: the obscurations of
delusion, which obstruct the attainment of liberation from samsara:
and the obscurations to knowledge which obstruct the attainment of
omniscience. Tara practice destroys both of these obscurations
together with their seeds.
9. Tara of the Rosewood Forest The symbols in Tara's two hands
Holding the stem of a lotus at her heart between the thumb and
middle finger of the left hand, her remaining three left fingers are
stretched upward into the mudra of the Three Jewels.
Her right hand, held in the mudra Supreme Generosity, is adorned
by a wheel of truth that radiates forth waves of light to outshine the
lights of samsara.

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.

12. Tara of Auspicious Brilliance Praising her head Ornaments

Tara's visible head ornament is a crescent moon, like that on the
first day of the month, radiant with the light that eliminates sorrow.
On her hair-knot sits Buddha Amitabha, who emanates a constant
stream of light to fulfil the needs of living beings.

13. Tara who Bestows Maturity Tara's Wrathful Posture

Just as the fire at the end of time blazes with the heat of seven suns
and easily consumes the earth and stones of the world, the wisdom
fires in which Tara sits consume easily the myriads of delusions, the
foes of the Trainees joyously following a spiritual path.

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.

15. Tara of Virtuous and Creative Serenity Praising Tara's

Dharmakaya Aspect
This verse is in praise of the mind and speech factors of Tara's
Dharmakaya aspect.

16. Tara Destroying of Grasping The Peaceful and Wrathful Mantras

The ten syllable mantra refers to the root mantra OM TARE TUTTARE
TURE SOHA. HUM indicates the wrathful mantra - OM NAMA TARE
NAME HARE HUM HARA SVAHA. By the power of these two mantras
one destroys the enemies of liberation - grasping at a self within and
clinging to substantial existence in the external world.

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.

20. Tara Source of Siddhi How Tara cures disease

Her right eye fierce like the sun, her left gentle like the moon, she
radiates dazzling bright beams of light.
By reciting the wrathful mantra HARA twice and also the peaceful
mantra TUTTARE, the most powerful illness is overcome.

21. Tara who brings Complete Perfection How Tara overcomes

ghosts and evil spirits
Tara's three natures, of her body, speech and mind, appear
respectively as the letters OM at her crown, AH at her throat and
HUM at her heart. These possess the strength to pacify the
delusions within as well as external poisons. The most exalted TURE
refers to TARA herself.

3. Praises in Reference to Enlightened Activity - Green Tara

Visualisation

Tara represents the entire range of virtuous and enlightened activity

and is therefore said to be the mother of the buddhas of the past,
present and future - an attribute symbolised by the utpala fruit,
flower and bud she holds in her left hand. The gesture of her left
hand symbolises refuge while her right hand is in the mudra of
giving highest happiness. She sits in royal posture on a white moon-
disc resting on a lotus blossom. Her left leg is drawn upwards while
her right foot rests upon a small lotus pedestal, showing that she
abides both in samsara and nirvana. Tara wears the five silk robes
and six ornaments, and in her tiara she bears and image of
Amitabha. She is accompanied by the twenty-one forms of herself,
20 of whom float in the sky above her on rainbows and lotuses,
while her other main form, White Tara, is found below.

Tara Image of the Nyingma Lineage

Other Prayers to Holy Tara

Refuge Prayer:

In Buddha, Dharma and the most excellent Community I take

refuge until enlightenment
is reached; through giving and other good deeds, may I
attain Buddhahood for the sake
of all living beings.

(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:

OM, prostrations to the Blessed One, the goddess Tara,

Prostrations to Tara, TARE,
the Brave One; All fears are dispelled by TUTTARE TURE -
she bestows all benefits;
and along with SVAHA I bow.

(Recite 1, 2, 3, 7 or 21 times)

Mantra:

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA

(Recite 7, 21 or 100 times or as many as possible)

TARE

(Recite 21 or 100 times or as many as possible)

Request for blessings:

Arya Tara, please take heed of me. Having allayed all of my

misfortunes, please bless me
to attain spontaneously and effortlessly favourable
conditions and all hoped for results.

Dedication of merits:

By the merit of this prayer, may I and all living beings be

happy and be free from
sufferings and unfavourable conditions, may we temporarily
accomplish all of our
aims and wishes and ultimately attain the stage of
Buddhahood.
 Ancient Tibetan Thangka (Karsha Monastery, Sangskar, Tibet)
Clockwise from upper left: Sakyamuni, Tsongkapa (Founder of Gelukpa sect),
Tara, & Sadaksari Avalokiteshvara (this 4-armed form is incarnate in the Dalai
Lamas).

Other Reference
Tara's Names & Attributes
1. The Swift Heroine (Nyur.ma.pa.mo). To pacify hindrances and develop
bodhicitta

2. Saraswati (Yang.chen.ma) White Tara "The Great Pacifier" (of kleshas:

negative obscurations.)

3. The Giver of Supreme Virtue (Sö.nam.chog.ter.ma) "Tara who Increases."

4. The All-Victorious (Nam.gyal.ma) "Tara of the Life Force."

5. The Giver of Intelligence (Rig.je.ma) "Tara Resonating With HUM."

6. The Terrifier (Jig.je.ma) "Tara Victorious Over the Three Worlds."

7. The Invincible (Shen.gyi.mi.tub.ma) "Tara Who Crushes the Forces of

Others."

8. The Conqueror of Others (Shen.le.nam.par.gyal.ma) "Tara Pulverizer of the

Maras."

9. The Saviour of the Scented Forest (Jig.ten.sum.la.gyal.ma) "Tara

Embodiment of the Three Jewels."

10. The Conqueror of the Three Worldly Realms (Jig.ten.sum.la.gyal.ma) "The

Great Subduer."

11. The Giver of Wealth (Nor.ter.ma) "Tara Eliminator of Poverty."

12. The Auspicious (Ta.shi.dön.je.ma) "Tara Bestower of Auspicious

Conditions."

13. The Destroyer of Opposing Forces (Da.pung.som.ze.ma) "Tara Blazing in

Flames."

14. The Wrathful (To.nyer.chen) "Tara of Wrathful Gaze."

15. The Very Peaceful (Rab.shi.ma) Also [2.] "The Great Pacifier."

16. The Blazing Light (Bar.wä.od.chen.ma) "Tara Who Saves by Means of

HUM."

17. The Subduer of Countless Harmful Forces (Pag.me.nön.ma) "Tara Trembler

of the Three Worlds."

18. The Peahen (Ma.ja.ma) "Tara Who Eliminates Poisons."

19. The Invincible Queen (Mi.pam.gyal.ma) "Tara Eliminator of Conflicts and

Bad Dreams."
20. The Mountain-dwelling Mendicant (Ri.tö.ma) "Tara Eliminator of
Diseases."

21. Rays of Light (Öd.zer.chen.ma) "Tara Accomplisher of All Enlightened

Activities."

Tibetan Mantras of the 21 Taras

Mantras for specific purposes - Calling upon the Taras

1. OM TARE TUTARE TURE SOHA

The Green Tara – Goddess of Goddesses - The source of the

other 20 emanations

2. OM BANZA TARE SARVA BIGANEN SHINDHAM KURU

SOHA

The Tara who averts disasters

3. OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA SARVA LAM LAM BHAM

DZALA BHAYA SHINDHAMKURU SOHA

The Tara who averts earth-born calamities

4. OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA SARVA BHAM BHAM

DZALA BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA

The Tara who averts destruction wrought by water

5. OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA SARVA RAM RAM DZALA

BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA

The Tara who averts destruction wrought by fire

6. OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA SARVA YAM YAM DZALA

BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA

The Tara who averts destruction wrought by wind

7. OM RATANA TARE SARVA LOKA JANA PITEYA
DARA DARA DIRI DIRI SHENG SHENG DZA DZAANJIA NA
BU SHENG KURU UM

The Tara who increases wisdom

8. OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA SARVA EH EH MAHA HANA

BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA

The Tara who averts heaven-born calamities

9. OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA SARVA DIK DIK DIKSHENA

RAKSHA RAKSHA KURU SOHA

The Tara who averts destruction caused by armies

10. OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA SARVA RANDZA DUSHEN

DRODA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA

The Tara who averts hell-born calamities

11. OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA SARVA DZORA BENDA

BENDA DRKTUM SOHA

The Tara who averts evil caused by robbers

12. OM BEMA TARE SENDARA HRI SARVA LOKA WASHUM

KURU HO

The Tara who increases power

13. OM TARE TUTARE TURE SARVA DUSHING BIKANEN BHAM

PEH SOHA

Tara who averts evil caused by demons

14. OM TARE TUTARE TURE SARVA HAM HAM DUSHING

HANA HANA DRASAYA PEH SOHA

The Tara who averts evil effecting cattle

15. OM TARE TUTARE TURE SARVA HEH HEH DZALEH

DZALEH BENDA PEH SOHA

Tara who averts evil caused by wild beasts

16. OM TARE TUTARE TURE SARVA DIKSHA DZALA YAHA

RAHA RA PEH SOHA
 Tara who averts the evil effects of poison

17. OM GARMA TARE SARWA SHATDRUM BIGANEN MARA

SEHNA

HA HA HEH HEH HO HO HUNG HUNG BINDA BINDA PEH

Tara who subdues demons

18. OM TARE TUTARE TURE SARVA DZARA SARVA DHUKKA

BRASHA MANAYA PEH SOHA

Tara who heals sickness

19. OM TARE TUTARE TURE BRAJA AYIU SHEI SOHA

Tara who bestows longevity

20. OM TARE TUTARE TURE DZAMBEH MOHEH DANA METI

SHRI SOHA

Tara who bestows prosperity

21. OM TARE TUTARE TURE SARVA ATA SIDDHI SIDDHI KURU

SOHA

The wish fulfilling Tara