The Iconography of Tara

The Iconography of Tara

Tara is a goddess of Buddhists in several countries such as Mongolia and Tibet that practice that faith. Similarly, Tibetan Buddhists revere her because they claim that she is as a savior. Her worshippers believe that Tara is the goddess of kindness because her love for human beings surpasses a mother’s affection for her children. Likewise, she ensures that her believers travel safely during voyages around the world. She also protects her disciples on every spiritual journey to illumination. The image of Tara represents more of her celestial characteristics.

Tara has several distinct features that illustrate her as an affectionate mother. Firstly, she has an extra set of eyes on her hands, feet, and her forehead, which signify that she can see all the suffering that her followers encounter. Similarly, she can identify and remove all obstacles that destruct her disciples from practicing religion. Tara’s left-hand displays a protective mudra, and the other one is boon-granting. She dresses in silk robes, scarves, and jewelry that accentuate her presence. Additionally, the three flowers around her indicate that she is the spirit of the three Buddhas namely, Maitreya, Kashyapa, and Shakyamuni, who represent the future, past, and present respectively. The features highlight the goddess and everything that she portrays in Buddhism.

Tara has many followers worldwide especially in nations such that practice Buddhism. The disciples believe in her compassion and ability to protect them from suffering. They also claim that she defends them in the religious expedition of seeking enlightenment. Similarly, most of her features highlight her characteristics as a mother of kindness and protection. She is still a very significant deity in the religion because her followers admire her as a savior.