Material: acrylic. Tassel. Embroidery. Pendant (White Tara)

Size: 7 X 4.5 cm

Description:

White Tara (Tibetan: Dolma Garm) is one of the most important deities in Tibetan Buddhism. She is regarded as the incarnation of Avalokitesvara and one of the twenty-one Taras. She is known for her compassion, wisdom and longevity. She is also known as the "Three Longevity Deities" along with Amitayus and Vajrapani. She has a high status in the belief and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. The following will explain the influence, status and use of White Tara pendants in Tibetan Buddhism.

1. The influence and status of White Tara in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **Religious meaning and symbol**:

- **Incarnation of Avalokitesvara**: White Tara is believed to be the left tear of Avalokitesvara, representing compassion and wisdom. She is responsible for saving sentient beings from suffering and granting longevity, blessings, wisdom and liberation. Her seven eyes (three eyes on the forehead, one eye on each hand and foot) symbolize the insight into the ten directions of the Buddha land and the six realms of sentient beings. She can thoroughly understand the suffering of sentient beings and provide them with relief, so she is also called the "Seven-Eyed Buddha Mother".

- **One of the Three Longevity Deities**: White Tara is listed as one of the "Three Longevity Deities" along with Amitayus Buddha and Vajrayogini. In Tibetan Buddhism, she is widely prayed for health, longevity and smooth practice. She is often mentioned in the prayers of eminent monks and great virtues, showing her importance in prolonging life and protecting practice.

- **Representative of female deities**: White Tara symbolizes the attainment of Buddhahood in a female body, reflecting the lofty status and wisdom achievements of women in Buddhism. Her gentleness, kindness and omniscience make her the object of help for sentient beings, and she can be called the "King of Goddesses".

2. **Cultural and religious influence**:

- **Widely spread**: In Tibetan Buddhism, White Tara and Green Tara are the two most revered Taras. Their statues or thangkas are often seen in temples, especially in the Sakya and Gelug traditions. The practice of White Tara is believed to eliminate illness, demonic obstacles and plague, increase wisdom and blessings, and is deeply loved by believers.

- **Artistic expression**: The image of White Tara is widely seen in thangkas, Buddha statues and Buddhist cultural relics. She is often presented with a white body, a dignified face, holding a lotus and applying a seal, symbolizing purity and salvation. These works of art are not only objects of religious worship, but also important carriers of Tibetan culture.

2. The origin and use of White Tara pendants

1. **Origin of pendants**:

- **Tradition of Buddhist amulets**: Tibetan Buddhism has a long tradition of amulets and blessings. Believers often wear or offer small Buddha statues, scriptures, vajra knots or images of the deity for protection. The emergence of White Tara pendants originated from this tradition, combining White Tara's longevity and salvation merits, becoming a symbol of faith that is easy to carry.

- **Thangka and miniaturized art**: The images of White Tara pendants are mostly derived from the smaller versions of thangkas or Buddha statues. They are often made of metal, gems, wood or bones, and depict the Dharma image or mantra of White Tara (such as "Om Darre Du Darre Du Re Soha"). These pendants gradually developed with the popularization of Tara belief in the later period of Tibetan Buddhism (after the 11th century), especially after Atisha promoted Tara practice.

- **Bonism and Buddhism integration**: Tibetan Buddhism absorbed part of the amulet culture of Bonism and integrated the blessing power of the deity into daily jewelry. White Tara pendants are believed to carry its blessing power to save the eight difficulties and increase life span, and have become a medium for believers to pray for peace and longevity.

2. **How to use the pendant**:

- **How to wear**: White Tara pendants are usually worn as necklaces, pendants or pendants around the neck or placed in a carry-on bag. Believers believe that it can protect them at any time and eliminate illness, disasters and demonic obstacles. When wearing it, it is often accompanied by chanting the White Tara mantra to enhance the blessing power.

- **Offering and ritual**: Some believers place the White Tara pendant on the altar at home or in the car as a small offering object, accompanied by simple offering rituals such as burning incense and offering water. Temples or masters may also consecrate and bless the pendant to enhance its spiritual power.

- **Practice aid**: Practitioners of the White Tara method may use the pendant as a visualization aid, carrying it with them to remind themselves to focus on the compassion and wisdom of White Tara, especially when chanting the "Twenty-one Taras Praise Sutra" or practicing the longevity method.

- **Blessing function**: White Tara pendants are used to pray for health, longevity, wisdom growth and career success, especially in Tibetan areas, where believers often give them to the elderly or patients to pray for health, or to pray for newborns and children.

3. **Cultural and practical value**:

- **Daily protection**: White Tara pendants are regarded as amulets by Tibetans, Mongolians and other Tibetan Buddhist areas, especially worn when traveling, sick or in danger, in order to avoid the eight difficulties (lion difficulties, elephant difficulties, snake difficulties, etc.) and external obstacles.

- **Gift and inheritance**: Pendants are often used as religious gifts, symbolizing blessings and protection, and are often given as gifts at festivals, weddings or religious ceremonies, reflecting the compassionate culture of Tibetan Buddhism.

- **Art and collection**: The exquisite White Tara pendant combines Tibetan metal craftsmanship and gem inlays to become a Buddhist cultural relic with collection value, reflecting the artistic achievements of Tibetan Buddhism.

3. Historical and cultural background

- **Origin**: The belief in White Tara originated in ancient India. It was introduced to Tibet by Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal in the 7th century. Atisha promoted it vigorously after entering Tibet in the 11th century, making it one of the core deities of Tibetan Buddhism. The production and use of White Tara pendants are closely related to the development of cultural relics in the later period of Tibetan Buddhism. Especially under the promotion of Sakya and Gelug, amulets related to Tara gradually became popular.

- **Bon influence**: Tibetan Buddhism integrates the amulet and mantra traditions of Bon, so that White Tara pendants not only have religious functions, but also carry the characteristics of local culture, such as the integration of Tibetan metal crafts and totem symbols.

- **Modern application**: As Tibetan Buddhism spreads to the world, White Tara pendants are also popular among Buddhists in the West and other regions. They are often used as meditation aids or cultural accessories, reflecting their cross-cultural influence.

IV. Summary

In Tibetan Buddhism, White Tara has become an important deity for believers to pray for health and liberation with her virtues of compassion, longevity and wisdom. The pendant is a practical medium to integrate the blessing of White Tara into daily life. The White Tara pendant originated from the amulet tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, combined with Thangka art and Bon culture. Through wearing, offering or practicing, it plays the role of protection, blessing and practice assistance. Its influence is not only reflected in the religious field, but also extends to the global dissemination of Tibetan culture, art and modern Buddhism, becoming a bridge connecting faith and life.