The Praise of Twenty-One Taras

The twenty-one Taras can be distinguished by the colour of their bodies, adornments and postures. They
protect people from eight and sixteen kinds of fears. The eight fears are 1) danger of pride and from lions,
) danger of torpor and from elephants, !) danger of anger and bla"ing fire, #) danger of $ealousy and
poisons of snakes, %) &iolence of false &iew and of thie&es, ') danger of insatiable greed and
imprisonment, () danger of desire and waters, )) danger of doubts and demons. *+okar ,inpoche)

The sixteen fears are the fear of the fi&e elements *earth -uakes, floods, wind, fire and fear of space),
fear of weapons, tyrannous authority, criminals, spirits, elephants, wild animals, poisonous animals,
sickness, accidents and untimely death, po&erty and frustrations of hopes and plans. *.henchen Thrangu
,inpoche)

/ccording to old tradition the twenty aspects of Tara are &isualised around the main figure. /ccording to
new terma tradition the twenty-one aspects are &isualised below the main 0reen Tara who is thus
&isualised twice, because /tisha added a &erse, which praises the main deity.

0reen Tara *the main deity) and each of her 1 aspects are mentioned in the praise &erse by &erse. The
twenty-one Taras are explained by +okar ,inpoche and ,ingu Tulku ,inpoche respecti&ely along the
&erses. There are many different traditions for the &isuali"ation.

Preliminary stan"a praising the 1ain 2eity *added by /tisha 2ipankar)3

O1 45T-678-1/ P/-1/ 2,O9-1/ 9/ :;/-T6/9-9O
Om. < pay homage to Tara, the 8oble One, the /rya

:;/-T6/9 T/-,5 8=7,-1/ P/-1O
8amo. Tare, she who is swift, the ;eroine,

T7T-T/-,5 =< 4<-P/ 659-1/
6he who eliminates all fear with tuttare,

T7-,5 2>8-.?8 4<8-P5 2,O9-1/
The 6a&iouress who gi&es all benefit with ture

6O;5 =<-.5 :;>-9/ 27-2O
< bow down to =ou, swaha.

/spects of Tara3
*1)
:;/-T6/9 2,O9-1/ 8=7,-1/ P/-1O
8amo. Tara, 6he who is 6wift, the ;eroine,

:;58-8< .5-:;<. 9O-2/80 2,/-1/
6he who has 5yes like instantaneous lightning

4<-T58 671-0>8 :;7-:;5 6;/9-:;<
6he who appeared from the opened blossom

05-6/, :;5-@/ 95-8< :;780-1/
Of the 9otus Aace of the 9ord of the Three @orlds *:henre"i).

- Pra&ira Tara, rabtu pawai drolma, 9iberating One with Perfect :ourageB red. 5ight arms, two hands
abo&e her head are in the mudra of great bliss holding a &a$ra and a bell. <n the other right hands she is
holding an arrow, @heel of 2harma and a sword. <n the other left hands she holds a bow, a conch and a
rope. *+okar ,inpoche)
- 8yurma pamo, the 6wift One, ;eroine. ,ed, slightly angry, slightly smiling. <n her left hand she is
holding a lotus and on top of the lotus there is a conch shell. /ll the 1 Taras are holding a lotus or utpala
flower in their left hand, and the difference is only the symbol on top of that. The right hand is in the
mudra of gi&ing protection, or in the mudra of supreme gi&ing. *,ingu Tulku)

*)
:;/-T6/9 T>8-.5 2/-@/ .78-T7
8amo. 6he who has the Aace of a hundred completely full moons

./80-@/ 4/-8< T65-P5 6;/9-1/
Of /utumn, laid one upon another.

./,-1/ TO80-2,/ T6O-P/ 8/1-:;<
6he who is shining intensely with the completely diffused light

,/+-T7 :;5-@5 >-,/+ +/,-1/
Of a multitude of thousands of stars.

- :handrakanti Tara, dadang gyi drolma, 9iberating One with 1oon ,adianceB white. Three faces
symboli"e the three +odies3 right blue, centre white and left golden. 6he has twel&e arms symboli"ing the
twel&e interdependent factors. <n her right hands she is holding a garland, a &a$ra, a $ewel, a wheel and a
khat&anga, in her left hands she holds a text, a treasure &ase, a bell, a lotus and a &ase. Two arms are in
a meditation posture. *+,)
- =angchenma, 6aras&ati, also called tCnshalma in Tibetan *tCn means autumn and shal means face),
meaning 6he who has the Aace of a hundred completely full moons of autumn. 6he is white, shining
intensely with the completely diffused light of a multitude of thousands of stars. 6he dispels darkness of
ignorance by her strong light. On top of the lotus in her left hand there is a text or the letter hri. *,T)

*!)
:;/-T6/9 65, 80O :;7 85 :;5 :;<
8amo. 6he whose ;and is perfectly adorned

P5-15 :;/-8< 8/1-P/, 458-1/
+y a gold and blue lotus born from water.

4<8-P/ T6>8-2,7 ./-T7+ 6;<-@/
6he who is the embodiment of the field of acti&ity of gi&ing,

D>-P/ 6/1-T58 :;>-=79 8=<-1/
diligence, the difficult, peace, patience and dhyana.

- .anaka&arna Tara, serdokchen gyi drolma, 0olden 9iberating OneB golden. Ten arms symbolising the
Ten Perfections. <n her right hand she holds a mala *rosary), a trident, a &a$ra, an arrow and a sword. <n
her left hands she holds a silk scarf, a lasso, a lotus, a bell and a bow.
- 6er-ngo sCnam chukter is gi&ing of all &irtues, all positi&e. 0i&ing is her main acti&ity. ;er colour is yellow
and blueB greenish, and she is holding a wishfulfilling gem on top of her flower.

*#)
:;/-T6/9 25-6;<8 6;5-P5 T67.-TO,
8amo. 6he who has the acti&ity of complete, infinite &ictory

T/-=5 8/1-P/, 0=/9-@/, :;>-1/
7pon the 7shinishas *;ead-mounds) of the Tathagatas

1/-9=-P/ ,O9 :;<8-P5 TOP-P5
6he, on whom the +uddhaEs daughters and sons

0=/9-@5 65-:;< 6;<8-T7 T58-1/
@ho ha&e attained all paramitas without exception, utterly depend.

- 7shinisha&i$aya Tara, tsuktor nampar gyalwai drolma, 9iberating One with a Perfectly Fictorious :rown
ProtuberanceB golden. 6he has four arms, the right hands are holding a mala and displaying the gi&ing
mudra. <n her left hands she holds a stick and a &ase.
- Tsuktor namgyal, tsuktor means the head mound. 0olden in colour, symbol is tsebum, a life-gi&ing &ase
on top of a lotus.

*%)
:;/-T6/9 T7T-T/-,/ ;780 =<-05
8amo. 6he who fills 2esire, 2irection and 6pace

2>-2/80 :;>-2/80 8/1-.;/ 0/80-1/
@ith tuttara and the syllable hung

4<-T58 278-PO 6;/P-:;< 858-T5
6he who has the power to s-uash down the se&en worlds with her Aeet

97-P/ 15-P/, 07-P/, 87-1/
/nd summon all without exception.

- ;ums&ara-nadini Tara, hum dra drokpay drolma, 9iberating One Producing the sound ;um *;ung)B
yellow. Two arms, with her right hand in a protecting mudra and the left in the mudra of Three 4ewels,
holding a lotus.
- ,ikchema, her colour is &ery dark red, almost brown. 6he holds a bow and arrow on top of a lotus and
her acti&ity is to summon and empower e&erything. 6he is &ictorious o&er three realms3 desire realm, form
realm *GdirectionH) and formless realm *GspaceH).

*')
:;/-T6/9 4/-:;<8 15-9;/ T6/80-P/
8amo. 6he to whom <ndra, /gni, +rahma, Pa&ana

9780-9;/ 8/-T6O @O80-:;7 :;>-1/
/nd the Farious 0reat 0ods make offerings

4780-PO ,O-9/80 2,<-6/ 8/1 2/80
6he who is praised by multitudes of bhutas, &etalas

8>-4<8 T6O-:;< 278-85 T>-1/
0andhar&as and yakshas gathered before ;er.

- Trailokya-&i$aya Tara, $ikten sumlay nampar gyalway drolma, 9iberating One, Fictorious o&er the Three
@orldsB red. 6he has four arms, right hands holding a sword and a &a$ra, left hands holding a rope and
displaying the threatening mudra.
- The usual 0reen Tara, called tsenden ngachi drolma, the 2rolma of 6andalwood Aorest. 6he is holding a
lotus flower, sometimes a wheel on it, but usually $ust blue lotus or utpala flower, which is bluish. ;er
acti&ity is to summon *call) and to gi&e fearlessness.

*()
:;/-T6/9 T,5 :;5 :;/-T/80 P;5 :;<
8amo. 6he who completely defeats the magical de&ices of ad&ersaries

P;/-,O9 T,79-.O, ,/+-T7 4O1-1/
+y what is named trad and phat

=5-.71 =>8-:;/80 6;/+-:;< 858-T5
6he who s-uashes down with ;er legs, the right indrawn, the left extended,

15-+/, 2,7-P/ 6;<8-T7 +/,-1/
/nd bla"es intensely with whirling bla"ing fire.

- Fadipramardaka Tara, golwa $ompay drolma, 9iberating One, Fictorious o&er ;ostilityB black. @rathful
with four arms, right hands holding a sword and wheel, left hands displaying the threatening mudra and
holding a rope.
- Digchedma shishig serngo, red in colour, holds a dagger *phurba, kilaya) on top of a lotus. ;er acti&ity is
to defeat negati&ity.

6e&en wrathful aspects3
*))
:;/-T6/9 T7-,5 4<-P/ :58-1>
8amo. Ture, the 0reat Terroress,

27-:;< P/-@O 8/1-P/, 4O1-1/
@ho completely &an-uishes the 1ara-@arriors

:;7-:;5 6;/9-8< T,O-8=5, 258-2D5
6he who has a 9otus-Aace grimacing angrily,

2,/-@O T/1-:;5 1/-97 6>-1/
@ho slays all enemies without exception.

- Fashitottamada Tara, wangchuck terway drolma, 9iberating One @ho 0i&es the 6ublime 5mpowermentB
golden. 6he is seated on makara *sea monster) and has four arms, right hands holding a branch of the
ashoka tree and a $ewel, left hands holding a &ase and a lotus.
- :hensi motu, black in colour, &ery wrathful, holding a sword. ;er -uality is to gi&e the power of
in&incibility.

*I)
:;/-T6/9 .>8-:;O. 671-T6>8 :;/ 4<
8amo. 6he whoEs ;eart is perfectly adorned

6O,-1O T7-./, 8/1-P/, 458.1/
+y ;er fingers in the 1udra symbolising the Three 4ewels,

1/-9= :;O-:;< .O,-9O 458-P5
6he who whirls her own multitude of lights,

,/8-0< >-:;< T6O-8/1 2,7-1/
/dorning the wheel of all directions without exception.

- Farada Tara, chok tsolway drolma, 9iberating One @ho 0rants the 6ublimeB red. 6he has four arms, two
hands abo&e her head in the mudra of $oy, holding a &a$ra and bell. The other right hand is in a mudra of
*J) and the other left hand is holding a branch of the ashoka tree.
- :hen migyalma, it means would not get the other, the negati&e aspect or force to get &ictory. 6he is red
in colour, &ery wrathful, holding a dor$e.

*1K)
:;/-T6/9 ,/+-T7 0/-@/ 4<-P5
8amo. 6he who has a Tiara of brilliance and complete $oy

7-458 >-:;< 2,580-@/ P59-1/
:reating more and more streams of light.

6;5-P/ ,/+-6;5 T7T-T/-,/ =<
6he who with laughter, the perfect laughter of tuttara,

27 2/80 4<-T58 @/80-27 2D5-1/
O&erpowers 1aras and worlds.

- 6hoka-&inodana Tara, nya-ngen selway drolma, 9iberating One @ho 2issipates 6ufferingB red. Aour
arms, two hands abo&e her head in the mudra of $oy *palms $oined), other right hand holding a sword,
other left hand holding a branch of the ashoka tree.
- 4igten sumgyal, that means &ictory o&er the three worlds, she is o&erpowering the maras *negati&e
forces of attachment and a&ersion etc.) of the world. 6he is red, holding a &ictory banner, gyaltsen.

*11)
:;/-T6/9 6/-6;< :;O80-@5 T6O-8/1
8amo. 6he who has the power to summon

T/1-:;5 07-P/, 87-P/ 8=<-1/
/ll the multitudes of Protectors of the @orld.

2,O-8=5, =O-@5 =<-05 ;780 0<
6he who perfectly liberates from all destitution

PO80-P/ T/1-:;5 8/1-P/, 2,O9-1/
@ith the syllable hung of the @rathful 0rimacer.

- 4agad&ashi Tara, drowa gukpay drolma, 9iberating One, @ho 0athers +eingsB black. 6he has two arms
and holds in each hand a hook *to gather beings).
- 8orter, it means Ggi&ing wealthH, that is her acti&ity. 6he is red in colour, wrathful and holding a dor$e.

*1)
:;/-T6/9 2/-@5 271-+7 7-458
8amo. 6he, whose head-adornment, which is a sli&er of the moon,

458-P/ T/1-:;5 6;<8-T7 +/,-1/
/nd all ;er adornments, are shining intensely.

,/9-P5 T,>-8/ >-P/-15 95
6he who creates eternal, intense light

T/-P/, 6;<8-T7 >-8< 2D5-1/
Arom /mitabha in the midst of ;er gathered hair.

- 1angalaloka Tara, tashi nangway drolma, 9iberating One with auspicious 9ightB golden. 6he has eight
arms, in the right hands a &a$ra, trident, hook and sword. <n the left hands a $ewel, hook, stick and &ase.
- Tashi tunshik, her acti&ity is to bring auspiciousness. 6he is yellow in colour and holding an endless knot,
the knot of eternity.

*1!)
:;/-T6/9 ./9P5 T/-15 15 T/,
8amo. 6he who resides in the centre of a bla"ing garland

+/,-@5 2,580-@5 7-8/ 85-1/
like the fire at the end of the kalpa.

=5-:;/80 =>8-.71 .78-85 .O,-0/
6he who, with right leg extended, left indrawn, with the $oy of complete re&ol&ing

2,/-4< P780-8< 8/1-P/, 4O1-1/
Totally defeats the hordes of enemies.

- Paripachaka Tara, yongsu minpar"epay drolma, 9iberating One @ho 9eads to :omplete ,ipeningB red.
Aour arms, in the right hands she holds a sword and arrow, in the left hands a wheel and a bow.
- 2apu nyama, red in colour, &an-uishes the enemies. 6he holds a &a$ra on top of a lotus and the &a$ra
has its upper spokes open.

*1#)
:;/-T6/9 6/-6;< 80>-9/ :;/-0<
8amo. 6he who stamps with ;er Aeet and s-uashes down with ;er ;ands

T<9-:;< 878-:;<80 6;/P-:;< 2780-1/
The surface of the 5arth.

2,O-8=5, :;58-2D5 =<-05 ;780-0<
6he who manifests as *+hrikuti The /ngry 0rimacer), and with the syllable hung

,<1-P/ 278-PO 8/1-8< 051-1/
Fan-uishes all of the 6e&en 9e&els.

- +hrikuti Tara, thronyer yoway drolma, 9iberating One Arowning ;er 5yebrowsB black. Three faces3 right
is white, centre black and left red. 6he has six arms, holding in right hands a sword, a hook, and a stickB
in her left hands she holds a skullcup, a wheel and a rope.
- Trho nyerchen, manifests as +hrikuti, The /ngry 0rimacer. 6he throws the world upside down, crushes
all and brings them to liberty. 6he is black and wrathful, holding a pestle.

2harmakaya aspect3
*1%)
:;/-T6/9 25-1/ 05-1/ 6;<-1/
8amo. 6he who is +liss, 6he who is 0oodness, 6he who is Peace,

8=/-8058 25-6;< :;>-479 8=<-1/
6he who is the embodiment of the field of experience of 8ir&anaEs Peace.

6O-;/ O1 2/80 =/80-2/0 258-P5
6he who, through that which truly possesses swaha and om *TaraEs mantra)

2<-P/ :;58-PO 4O1-P/ 8=<-1/
<s the embodiment of the defeat of great bad karma.

- 1ahashanti Tara, shiwa chenmoy drolma, 9iberating One with 0reat PeaceB white. 6ix arms, in her right
hands a mala, gi&ing mudra and a stick, in her left hands a lotus, a &ase and a cup filled with fruits.
- ,abchema, &ery peaceful, white in colour. ;er acti&ity is to pacify all bad karma and negati&ities. 6he
holds a small &ase with a flat bottom.

6ambhogakaya aspect3
*1')
:;/-T6/9 .78-85 .O,-,/+ 0/-@5
8amo. 6he who totally &an-uishes the bodies of the enemies

2,/-=< 97-8< ,/+-T7 051-1/
Of those with perfect $oy at the complete circling.

=<-05 :;7-P5 80/-8< .>-P5
6he who is the 6a&iouress arisen from the @isdom-hung

,<1-P/ ;780 95 2,O9-1/ 8=<-1/
Of the arranged ten-syllable speech.

- ,aga-nisudana Tara, chakpa $ompay drolma, 9iberating One, Fictorious o&er /ttachmentB orange-red.
Two arms, a trident in her right hand and a tree branch in left.
- +arwe orgyen, means Gbla"ing with colourH, red. 6he is +uddhaLs acti&ity aspect, holding a double dor$e.

*1()
:;/-T6/9 T7-,5 6;/P-8< 2/P P5
8amo. Ture, who by stamping ;er Aeet,

;780 0< 8/1-P5 6/-P>8 8=<-1/
6he who is the nature of the 6eed in the form of a hung,

,<-,/+ 158-2/-,/ 2/80 +< :;5
6hakes the 6umeru, 1andara and Findhya mountains,

4<-T58 671-8/1 =O-@/ 8=<-1/
/nd all the three worlds.

- 6ukha-sadhana Tara, drolma dedrupma, 9iberating One /ccomplishing ;appinessB orange. Two arms,
holding a moon disc with both hands.
- Pame nCnma, mild orange, holding a chCrten *stupa) on lotus. Pame means immeasurable and nCnma
means to press on, so, stamping her feet.

*1))
:;/-T6/9 9;/-=< T6O-=< 8/1-P5
8amo. 6he who holds in ;er ;ands that which has the emblem of a wild animal

,<-2/ T/-:;58 :;/-8/ 8/1-1/
/nd has the form of the 9ake of the 2e&as.

T/-,/ 8=< 457 P5; :;< =<-05
6he who eliminates all poisons without exception

27-8/1 1/-97-P/, 8< 659-1/
Through reciting the two taras and the syllable phat.

- Fiaya Tara, drolma namgyalma, Fictorious 9iberating OneB white. 6eated on a goose she has four arms,
two hands abo&e the head in the mudra of $oy, holding hooks. Other right hand in a gi&ing mudra and
other left hand holding a lotus, upon which rests a text.
- 1agya chenmo, peaceful, white in colour, holding a moon. 6he eliminates all poisons, which is clearly
mentioned in the text.

*1I)
:;/-T6/9 9;/-=< T6O-8/1 4/9-PO
8amo. 6he to whom the multitudes of 2e&a-.ings

9;/-2/80 1<-/1 :;<-=< T58-1/
2e&as and .imnara depend.

.78-85 0O-:;/ 0/-@5 4<-:;<
6he who eliminates -uarrels and e&il dreams

T6>-2/80 1<-9/1 8058-P/ 659-1/
@ith the ma$esty of ;er $oyous complete armour.

- 2ukha-dahana Tara, drolma dug-ngal selma, 9iberating One +urning 6ufferingB white. Two arms, holding
in her hands a triangle symboli"ing fire.
- 1ipham gyalmo, she is bright white and carries a white umbrella eliminating -uarrels and e&il dreams.

*K)
:;/-T6/9 8=<-1/ 2/-@/ 45-P5
8amo. 6he with the intensely &i&id light

:;58-8=< PO-9/ >-,/+ 6/9-1/
Of the full sun and moon in both eyes,

;/-,/ 8=< 4> T7T-T/-,/ =<
6he who eliminates extremely fierce diseases

6;<8-T7 2,/-P> ,<1-85 659-1/
+y reciting the two haras and tuttare.

- 6iddhi-sambha&a Tara, drolma ngCndrup $ungma, 9iberating One 6ource of /ccoplishmentsB orange. Two
arms, holding in her hands a &ase containing the accomplishments *supernormal powers and the
realisation of the nature of the mind).
- ,itCma, ritC lhamo, orange. 6he carries a casket *with a corpse) on top of a lotus and her acti&ity is to
eliminate diseases.

*1)
:;/-T6/925-8=< 671-8/1 .>-P5
8amo. 6he who truly possesses the power of Peace,

6;<-@5 T7-2/80 =/80-2/0 258-1/
Through the arrangement of the three Thatnesses,

2>8-2/80 ,O-9/80 8>-4<8 T6O 8/1
6he who is the totally supreme ture, the con-ueror

4O1-P/ T7-,5 ,/+-:;O 8=<-1/
Of the multitudes of a&aharas, &etalas and yakshas.

- Paripurana Tara, drolma yong"ok $ema, 9iberating One @ho has /chie&ed PerfectionB white. 6eated on a
bull, two arms, her right hand in the mudra of protection and left holding a trident.
- >"er chenma, she is reddish white and holds a golden fish on top of a lotus. ;er acti&ity is to pre&ent
stealing and robbery and all kinds of mishaps.

:oncluding lines3

T6/@5 80/ :;< T>-P/ 2<-2/80
This praise of the ,oot-1antra

:;/-T6/9-@/ 8< 8=< 6;7 T6/ :;<
/nd the twenty-one 8amos.