Material: Brass. Gilded face (bottom can hold sacred objects)

Size: 11 cm

Description: Green Tara (Sanskrit: Śyāmatārā, Tibetan: Dölma Jangkhu; "Green Savior Tara" or "Green Mother Savior") is one of the manifestations of Avalokiteśvara, and is regarded as the "Mother of Saviors" in Mahayana Buddhism (especially Vajrayana). Her origin legends mainly come from Indian Vajrayana scriptures and the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The core story is as follows:

1. **The Legend of Avalokiteśvara's Tears (Most Widely Reached Version)**:

- According to Vajrayana scriptures such as the *Twenty-One Praises of the Holy Savior Tara*, Avalokiteśvara made great vows of compassion throughout countless eons to save countless sentient beings. One day, he observed that the sea of ​​suffering for sentient beings was endless, and although he had saved countless beings, countless others still fell into the cycle of rebirth. The Bodhisattva wept, and his tears fell to the lower realms.

- White Tara (symbolizing gentleness and compassion) manifests from the **right tear** of the Bodhisattva; Green Tara (symbolizing courage and success) manifests from the **left tear**. Green Tara is therefore known as the "Wrathful Incarnation of Avalokiteshvara" or "Mother of Activities," specifically protecting sentient beings from obstacles, disasters, and fears.

- Another interpretation: Avalokiteshvara purified the world with her tears, from which Green Tara was born, representing "swift salvation"—she responds to prayers instantly, like a mother protecting her child.

2. **Indian Origins and Tantric Integration**:

- The worship of Tara can be traced back to the 5th–7th century AD Indian tradition of a blend of Vedic and Buddhist teachings. Tara may have originally been a Buddhist version of a Hindu goddess (such as Durga), later integrated into the Mahayana Lotus Sutra and the Tantric Jataka tales.

- In the 8th century, the Indian Tantric master Padmasambhava introduced Tara to Tibet, where she merged with the local Bon goddess. Green Tara became the first (principal) of the 21 Taras, her green color symbolizing "wind" (swift action) and "achievement in endeavors."

3. **Indigenization of Tibetan Buddhism**:

- In the 11th century, Atisha systematized the Tara faith, and Green Tara was regarded as the "protector of the Tibetan kings." Legend has it that Songtsen Gampo's Nepalese consort, Princess Bhrikuti, transformed into White Tara, and Princess Wencheng into Green Tara, symbolizing the connection between Buddhism in China, Nepal, and Tibet.

Influence on Buddhist Culture

Green Tara has had a profound influence on Buddhist culture (especially Tibetan and Han Chinese Tantric Buddhism), transcending mere faith and integrating into art, rituals, and social life:

1. **Faith and Practice**:

- **Salvation Function**: Green Tara specializes in "achievement in endeavors" and "removal of obstacles." Believers pray for success in their endeavors, health and longevity, and freedom from the eight calamities (fire, water, lion, elephant, snake, thief, prison, and ghosts). Her mantra, "Om Tare Tuttāre Ture Svāhā," is considered a "universal mantra," capable of providing immediate spiritual response.

- **Female Bodhisattva Symbolism:** As a female deity, Green Tara breaks away from the traditional Buddhist "male-dominated" image, representing "maternal compassion" and "female enlightenment," inspiring modern feminist Buddhist movements (such as the Dalai Lama's promotion of female spiritual practice).

2. **Art and Symbolism:**

- **Sculptural Characteristics:** Green body, right leg hanging down (representing readiness to rise and save), left hand holding a blue lotus (symbolizing purification), right hand in the gesture of granting wishes. Commonly seen in Thangkas and Buddhist statues, influencing Nepalese, Mongolian, and Bhutanese art.

- **Twenty-One Praises:** The daily recitation of the "Twenty-One Praises of the Holy Tara" in Tibetan Buddhism has become a daily ritual in Tibetan Buddhist centers worldwide (such as Dharamshala, India).

3. **Social and Cultural Impact**:

- **Protector of Tibet**: Regarded as the "Mother of the Nation" in Tibet, Green Tara is considered a personal deity by the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan exile community uses her to maintain its cultural identity.

- **Integration with Han Chinese Buddhism**: In Han Chinese Tantric Buddhism (such as the Tang Dynasty Esoteric Buddhism), Green Tara's worship has merged with that of Avalokiteshvara, appearing in temples such as the Yonghe Temple. "Green Tara rituals" are also popular in modern Taiwan and Japan.

- **Global Influence**: Western Buddhist centers (such as the Center for Compassion and Wisdom in the United States) regard Green Tara as an "environmental bodhisattva" (green symbolizing ecology) or a symbol of "psychological healing."

Summary: The legend of Green Tara emerging from Avalokiteshvara's tears embodies the core of Mahayana Buddhism's "swift compassion." She is not only a guardian of salvation but also a model of female bodhisattvas, profoundly influencing Tibetan Buddhist rituals, art, and social structures. To this day, she remains the primary deity for which Buddhists worldwide seek "immediate salvation."