Green Tara is one of the most loved Tibetan deities as she represents the ultimate form of ‘swift-acting’ compassion and is a most relevant female Buddha for our troubled world. She can assist us in transforming difficult circumstances in our lives by applying enlightened and compassionate action.
One of the most powerful, yet misunderstood, practices of Tibetan Buddhism is ‘Deity Yoga’. It is not about worshipping a deity but rather seeing the ‘deity’ as having qualities that we want to embrace more fully. By connecting with and transforming into a ‘deity’ is to integrate these inherent and potent qualities into ourselves.
Tara Mandala offers many ways to deepen and illuminate your Green Tara practice. You can –
- join a dharma talk or mantra group on yana, Tara Mandala’s digital dharma hub.
- watch a short video about illuminating Tara
- attend a retreat, on the land or online
- receive the oral transmission, lung’ Tib., to begin the practice – available annually
- read a blog post or book about Tara and the 21 female manifestations of enlightened compassion.
- take a ‘self – paced’ course and learn all about Green Tara and the 21 Taras – courses available this Fall.
Illuminating Tara : with Dorje Lopon Charlotte Rotterdam
“I like to think of practice like Christmas lights … plugging in and lighting up the whole universe.” Dorje Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam says in the video, our compassion becomes like Christmas lights. We are plugged in and able to light up the whole universe.
Greet Tara Practice, Activating the Mandala of Tara, and more on yana
Join our global community on yana for a variety of ongoing Tara practices offered by different sanghas around the world.
Participate in Green Tara Sadhana with the Devon, UK Sangha, or experience the Twenty-One Taras Embodiment Meditations with the French Sangha on each Tara Day. Weekly opportunities include Green Tara Sadhana with the Florida Keys Sangha (Wednesdays at 9am MT) and with the San Diego Sangha (Sundays at 6pm MT). You can also join Green Tara with Tsog with the Australian Sangha on the last Friday of each month at 7pm AEDT.
These practices offer a beautiful way to stay connected with Tara’s blessings and deepen your sadhana within a supportive community.
NEW Green Tara Self – Paced Course available this Fall
Tara Mandala & 21 Taras Collective
In a visionary effort to preserve and share sacred feminine wisdom, three renowned women—teachers and musicians—have come together to create the first comprehensive musical collection of the 21 Taras mantras. These powerful Tibetan Buddhist practices, traditionally passed down through years of dedicated training, are said to take the “wind out of fear and suffering,”
The 21 Taras Collective—featuring Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton, Nina Rao, and Genevieve Walker—is launching a global community initiative to take part in bringing this work to life.The 21 Taras Collective and Tara Mandala are collaborating to complete their groundbreaking Tara Mantra Mala trilogy, which offers all 21 Tara mantras set to melodies designed to honor sacred sound, deepen meditative practice, and make these ancient mantras more accessible to all.
The Thangka of 1,000 Taras
A remarkable, one-of-a-kind Thangka of 1,000 unique Taras—each delicately painted with a single-hair brush—was gifted to Tara Mandala to support the Trikaya Tara Temple. At its heart sits Green Tara, the female Buddha of compassionate action, surrounded by 999 radiant Taras. With 240 Taras still available for sponsorship, now is your chance to dedicate a Tara in honor of yourself, a loved one, or all beings—while directly supporting Tara Mandala’s vision and growth. Be part of this extraordinary offering.
Dakini Store – The Tara Collection
Discover the beauty and blessings of Tara through our curated collection at the Dakini Store. From inspiring Green Tara statues and thangkas to prayer flags, malas, sadhana texts, and other sacred items, each piece is selected to support your practice and deepen your connection with the enlightened feminine. Whether you’re beginning your journey with Tara or enriching an established path, these offerings bring her presence into your home and heart.
“Tārā is you at your most essential inner core … she is your own enlightened mind, the union of bliss and emptiness.” ~ Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton
BOOK: Embodying Tara
Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom
Explore down-to-earth meditations and stories of real women who embody Tara’s qualities and realize the power of Tara, in this modern guide to her 21 forms.
BLOG POST: Who is Tārā
Dorje Lopön Chandra explores the question “Who is Tārā?,” and shares the many ways that Tārā may exist in our lives.
2 Year Program
Embodying the Innate Wisdom and Compassion of the Twenty One Taras
With Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton, Lopön Karla Jackson-Brewer MS, Nina Rao, Spring Washam and special guest, Lama Tsultrim Allione and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
In this immersive and transformative program, Dorje Lopön Chandra will offer us a lens through which we can understand and integrate the contemporary context of the Taras through inspiring stories about historic and modern Buddhist and non-Buddhist women who embody their myriad qualities.
Meet the 21 Taras
1.
Homage To Tara NYURMA PAMO
Swift Heroine Who Increases Bodhicitta and Overpowers Obstacles
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE BODHICITTA SVAHA
NYURMA PAMO is semi-wrathful and red in color. She liberates beings from the suffering of samsara and protects them from fear. With her compassionate power, she removes obstacles and increases bodhicitta, awakened heart. Upon her utpala flower is a white conch shell that curls clockwise, symbolizing the glorious sound of relative and absolute bodhicitta pervading the entire world.
2.
Homage To Tara LOTER YANG CHENMA (VAJRA SARASVATI)
Melodious One, the Treasure of Intelligence
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE PRAJNA HRIM HRIM SVAHA
LOTER YANG CHENMA is peaceful and white in color. She unlocks the treasures of music, art, wisdom, and the four types of knowledge: meaning, phenomena, definitive words, and courageous eloquence. Upon her utpala flower is a clear mirror marked with the syllable HRIM, which radiates light. Her face glows with the white light of one hundred autumn full moons.
3.
Homage To Tara SERMO SÖNAM TOBKYÉ
Golden One Who Increases the Power of Merit
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAHA PUNYE SVAHA
SERMO SÖNAM TOBKYÉ is peaceful and golden yellow in color. Her body radiates light the color of the rising sun, empowering practitioners to enact oceans of bodhisattva activities. She bestows wealth and longevity and liberates beings through the six paramitas: generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, meditative stability, and transcendent wisdom. Upon her utpala flower is a wish fulfilling-jewel that showers down whatever one desires.
4.
Homage To Tara TSUGTOR NAMGYALMA (USHNISHAVIYAYA)
Victorious One of Ushnisha Who Accomplishes Immortality
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE AYUR DATE BHRUM SVAHA
TSUGTOR NAMGYALMA is peaceful and golden yellow in color. She emanates from the crown chakra of the Buddha as Prajnaparamita. She is victorious over all non-virtue and afflictive emotions. Upon her utpala flower is a vase of immortality that radiates light in the ten directions. This light transforms the radiant essence of samsara and nirvana into nectar that fills her vase.
5.
Homage To Tara RIGJÉ LHAMO (KURUKULLÉ)
Magnetizing Goddess of Vedic Knowledge
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE KURU KULLE NRI DZA SVAHA
RIGJÉ LHAMO is semi-wrathful and red in color. The mantra TUTTARE blazes with rainbow light. Its sound magnetizes and conquers through the power arising from the union of emptiness and compassion. Upon her utpala flower is a bow and arrow poised to shoot sharp rays of light that destroy arrogant pride. She effortlessly accomplishes the four enlightened actions: pacifying, enriching, magnetizing, and subduing.
6.
Homage To Tara JIGJÉ CHENMO
Great Terrifying Lady Who Completely Destroys Negativity
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA BIGHNEN BAM HUNG PHAT SVAHA
JIGJÉ CHENMO is wrathful and dark red in color. She is worshipped and praised by all, and her power subdues all negative forces. Upon her utpala flower is an indestructible phurba, a ritual dagger that subdues negativity, surrounded by blazing lassoes of flames and sparks. This turbulent fire and its natural sound, HUNG, splits the heads of demons and obstructing spirits who cause delusion, insanity, and memory loss, rendering them unconscious in the state of suchness, never to rise again.
7.
Homage To Tara ZHENGYI MITUBMA
Unconquerable Fierce Lady Who Dispels Wars and Natural Disasters
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE VAJRA TAKA HANA LITSA PHAT SVAHA
ZHENGYI MITUBMA is wrathful and black, like dense storm clouds. By the ripping sound of the wrathful seed syllable TRET and the splitting sound of PHAT, she completely destroys the spells of enemies, evil deeds, hail, lightning, natural disasters, invading troops, and weapons of mass destruction. Upon her utpala flower is a sword blazing with fire. She is ablaze with masses of wisdom fire. From her compassionate furrowed brow fly meteors and sparks.
8.
Homage To Tara ZHEN MIGYALWA’I PAMO
Invincible Heroine Who Destroys Criticism and Harm
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE DAHA PATSA HUNG PHAT SVAHA
ZHEN MIGYALWA’I PAMO is wrathful and dark red in color. Her compassion is as swift as lightning, and she completely destroys the four demons. Upon her utpala flower is a vajra blazing with fire. Sparks radiate outward, completely burning, scattering, and destroying demons, disturbing emotions, argument-makers, lawsuits, and other troubles.
9.
Homage To Tara SENGDENG NAG
Noble Lady Tara of the Teak Forest Who Protects from All Fears
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE DANA TRAYA SVAHA
SENGDENG NAG is peaceful and blue green like an emerald. She protects beings from the eight great fears, each of which have an outer and inner aspect: water/attachment, thieves/false views, lions/pride, snakes/jealousy, fire/anger, spirits/doubt, imprisonment/greed, and elephants/ignorance. Upon her utpala flower is a universal wheel blazing with turbulent light that tames beings by means appropriate to their needs.
10.
Homage To Tara JIGTEN SUMLÉ GYALMA
Victorious Over the Three Worlds, She Who Overpowers the Universe
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE LOKA PASHAM KURU SVAHA
JIGTEN SUMLÉ GYALMA is peaceful and red in color. Rainbow light emanates from her body and the victory banner upon her utpala flower, overpowering all the gods of the desire realm. She brings supreme joy to all beings. The mantra of her speech, endowed with the eight modes of laughter − HA HAA, HI HII, HE HAI, HO HAU − empowers all beings, setting them on the path of liberation.
11.
Homage To Tara NORTERMA
Bestowing Wealth and Removing Poverty
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA BASU PUSHTIM KURU SVAHA
NORTERMA is semi-wrathful and golden red in color. Her shower of blessings fills the entire world, completely liberating sentient beings from the suffering of poverty. Upon her utpala flower is a treasure vase that grants all wishes. The light of the syllable HUNG radiates from her body, speech, and mind, showering down all the wealth and glory of gods, nagas, and humans.
12.
Homage To Tara TASHI DÖNJÉ MA
Accomplishing Auspiciousness, Bringing Timely Seasons, Prosperity, and Harmony to the Land
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MANGALAM SHRI MAHA PANI SVAHA
TASHI DÖNJÉ MA is peaceful and gold in color. A rain of nectar and auspicious symbols descends from her body, benefitting all beings, plants, and harvests, establishing the entire world in perfect balance and prosperity. Upon her utpala flower is an auspicious infinity knot. Atop her crown are Buddha Amitabha and a crescent moon. Light radiates from her body, the infinity knot, the crescent moon, and Buddha Amitabha.
13.
Homage To Tara YULLAY GYALJÉ
Victorious Over War and Other Obstacles With and Without Form
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE VAJRA DZAWALA PHAT PHAT RAKSHA RAKSHA SVAHA
YULLAY GYALJÉ is semi-wrathful, has three eyes, and is red in color. She brings infinite joy to all beings and protects them from war and obstacles. Upon her utpala flower stands a vajra with open prongs. Light and sparkling vajras radiate from the open vajra, annihilating the hosts of enemies and harm-doers, completely surrounding everything with an indestructible vajra tent.
14.
Homage To Tara TRONYER CHENMA
Frowning Lady, Destroying Evil of the Nine Kinds of Harm-Doers, Eight Classes of Spirits, and Obstructing Forces
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE HUNG HUNG HAM SHAM TRIG NAN PHAT SVAHA
TRONYER CHENMA is wrathful, frowning, and black like dense rain clouds. With the roaring sound of HUNG she radiates light and flaming vajras that split the heads of negative forces and demons causing them to fall unconscious in the state of dharmata (suchness). Upon her utpala flower is a pestle. Her hands and feet strike the earth, stamping out ignorance and causing the ground to tremble.
15.
Homage To Tara RABZHIMA
Perfectly Calm One, Pacifying Evil Deeds and Obscurations
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA PAPAM GATE GATE SVAHA
RABZHIMA is peaceful, white like the full moon, and smiling. Upon her utpala flower is an anointing vase filled with nectar. Countless purifying goddesses holding anointing vases emanate from her heart. The light that radiates from her, and the bath bestowed by the emanated goddesses, wash away all evil deeds and obscurations that cause rebirth in the lower realms.
16.
Homage To Tara RIG NGAG TOBZHOM
Destroyer of the Power of Evil Spells Cast by Enemies and Sorcerers
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE TRAM DU TRINA TRAM DU PHAT SVAHA
RIG NGAG TOBZHOM is peaceful and red in color. The light of her wisdom, compassion, and power completely destroys enemies, evil spells, and Mara, lord of negative forces. She grants the power of true speech to those who pray to her. Upon her utpala flower is a crossed vajra that completely destroys the power of curses, evil, and all negativity.
Special note: at times Drölma Rigngag Tobzhoma is depicted and described as peaceful and at other times as fierce, as in the Smile of Sun and Moon on which the Tara Mandala statues are based.
17.
Homage To Tara PAGMÉ NÖNMA
Boundless Subduer Who Binds Enemies, Robbers, Thieves, and Hunters
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE HUNG HUNG BAM HO SVAHA
PAGMÉ NÖNMA is peaceful and golden red in color like clouds at sunrise. With her magical power, she subjugates bandits, robbers, thieves, hunters, and all enemies, establishing sentient beings in bliss. Upon her utpala flower is a stupa. From the HUNG in her heart, rays of light in the form of countless HUNG syllables radiate out. Peaceful and quick to tame sentient beings, she stamps her two feet on the earth.
18.
Homage To Tara MAJA CHENMO
Great Peacock, Protecting from and Pacifying All Kinds of Poison
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA VISHA TARA PHAT SVAHA
MAJA CHENMO is peaceful and white in color. She protects from poison. Upon her utpala flower is a full moon marked with a rabbit. From this, rays of nectar light radiate, spreading in all directions and completely removing all poisons from the environment and sentient beings. The moon symbolizes self-arisen wisdom that is free from increasing and decreasing, transition or change.
19.
Homage To Tara DUGKARMO
Invincible Queen of the White Umbrella Who Dispels Conflicts and Bad Dreams
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE HUNG HUNG PHAT PHAT RAKSHA RAKSHA MAM SVAHA
DUGKARMO is peaceful and white in color. Meditating upon her and reciting her mantra brings joy and bliss, causing the practitioner’s body, speech, and mind to blaze with power and splendor. Upon her utpala flower is a white umbrella. Fire, weapons, and vajra sparks emanate from her body, completely uprooting hostility toward the dharma, worldly disputes, curses, misuse of mantric power, and negative signs in dreams.
20.
Homage To Tara RITRÖ LOMA GYÖNMA
Noble Lady of Mountain Retreat, Clothed in Leaves, Who Removes Contagious Diseases
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE NAMA TARE MANO HARA HUNG HARA SVAHA
RITRÖ LOMA GYÖNMA is peaceful and yellow red like saffron. Devotedly reciting her mantra dispels all deadly epidemics. Upon her utpala flower is a round vessel filled with nectar. Her eyes are like the sun and the full moon. From the sun of her right eye shines radiant light, destroying all disease-bearing beings. From the moon of her left eye, a rich stream of nectar descends healing all forms of disease, including their causes and consequences.
21.
Homage To Tara LHAMO ÖZER CHENMA
Goddess Endowed With Light Who Replenishes the Longevity and Life Force of the Sick
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MARITSE YE TSE BHRUM NRI DZA SVAHA
LHAMO ÖZER CHENMA is peaceful and white in color. She radiates light, instantly summoning all evil spirits who steal the vitality and longevity of the sick. Upon her utpala flower is a golden fish. Light radiates from the three syllables OM AH HUNG of her body, speech, and mind, completely pacifying all obstacles: outer forces, inner imbalance of the elements, and secret obstacles of dualistic grasping at afflictive emotions.
Photo Credit: Alan Kozlowski
Lama Tsultrim Allione and Tara Mandala would like to offer a deep bow of gratitude to each donor who has contributed to and offered dedications for the 21 Tārā plaques in the Temple. Each plaque and dedication has been placed below its corresponding Tārā. Please enjoy these images of the new plaques, noting your sponsorship and dedication if given.
Thank you for your continued support of Tara Mandala.
Photographs of Tara Statues by Alan Kozlowski
Photographs of Tara Plaques by Josh Brownlee