Goddess Tara is probably the oldest goddess who is still worshipped extensively in modern times. Tara originated as a Hindu goddess, a Great Goddess -- the Mother Creator, representing the eternal life force that fuels all life.
There are many embodiments of Tara, but the best known are the White Tara and the Green Tara.
The peaceful, compassionate White Tara gently protects and brings long life and peace. The more dynamic goddess, Green Tara is the "Mother Earth", and a fierce goddess who overcomes obstacles, and saves us from physical and spiritual danger.
In Sanskrit, the name Tara means Star, but she was also called She Who Brings Forth Life, The Great Compassionate Mother, and The Embodiment of Wisdom, and the Great Protectress.
Adopted by Buddhism, she become the most widely revered deity in the Tibetan pantheon. In Buddhist tradition, Tara is actually much greater than a goddess -- she is a female Buddha, an enlightened one was has attained the highest wisdom, capability and compassion. . . one who can take human form and who remains in oneness with the every living thing.
Tara is an archetype of our own inner wisdom. She guides and protects us as we navigate the depths of our unconscious minds, helping us to transform consciousness, our own personal journeys of freedom.
It is the goddess Tara who helps us to remain "centered". The myths of the Goddess Tara remind us of our "oneness" with all of creation and the importance of nurturing the spirit within.
Green Tara Golden Ghau Box 3.5 inch
The main Tara forms in the tradition is the set called the 21 Taras. Some of the 21 Taras are correlated with other female deities, such as Saraswati, and some of them are different aspects, functions or forms of Tara.
1) Green Tara—The Source of the Other 20 Emanations
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA
2) The Tara Who Averts Disasters
OM BANZA TARE SARVA BIGANEN SHINDHAM KURU SOHA
3) The Tara Who Averts Earth-Born Calamities
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA SARVA LAM LAM BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA
4) The Tara Who Averts Destruction Wrought by Water
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA SARVA BHAM BHAM DZALA BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA
5) The Tara Who Averts Destruction Wrought by Fire
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA SARVA RAM RAM DZALA BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA
6) The Tara Who Averts Destruction Wrought by Wind
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA SARVA YAM YAM DZALA BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA
7) The Tara Who Increases Wisdom
OM RATANA TARE SARVA LOKA JANA PITEYA DARA DARA DIRI DIRI SHEWNG SHENG DZA DZANJIA NA BU SHENG KURU SOHA
8) The Tara Who Averts Heaven-Born Calamities
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA SARVA EH EH MAHA HANA BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA
9) The Tara Who Averts Destruction Caused by Armies
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA SARVA EH EH MAHA HANA BHAYA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA
10) The Tara Who Averts Hell-Born Calamities
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA SARVA RANDZA DUSHEN DRODA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA
11) The Tara Who Averts Evil Caused by Robbers
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA SARVA DZORA BENDA BENDA DRKTUM SOHA
12) The Tara Who Increases Power
OM BEMA TARE SENDARA HRI SARVA LOKA WASHUM KURU HO
13) The Tara Who Averts Evil Caused by Demons
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA DUSHING BIKANEN BHAM PEH SOHA
14) The Tara Who Averts Evil Affecting Catle
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA HAM HAM DUSHING HANA HANA DRASAYA PEH SOHA
15) The Tara Who Averts Evil Caused by Wild Beasts
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA HEH HEH DZALEH BENDA PEH SOHA
16) The Tara Who Averts the Evil Affects of Poison
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA DIKSHA DZALA YAHA RAHA RA PEH SOHA
17) The Tara Who Subdues Demons
OM GARMA TARE SARWA SHATDRUM BIGANEN MARA SEHNA HA HA HEH HEH HO HO HUNG HUNG BINDA BINDA PEH
18) The Tara Who Heals Sickness
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA DZARA SARVA DHUKKA BRASHA MANAYA PEH SOHA
19) The Tara Who Bestows Longevity
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE BRAJA AYIU SHEI SOHA
20) The Tara Who Bestows Prosperity
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE DZAMBEH MOHEH DANA METI SHRI SOHA
21) The Wish-Fulfilling Tara
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA ATA SIDDHI SIDDHI KURU SOHA