Green Tara

སྒྲོལ་མ་ལྗང་ཁུ · श्यामतारा

Swift saviouress of Tibetan Buddhism, "she who liberates"

Green Tara, Jetsün Drölma in Tibetan, is the swift saviouress of Tibetan Buddhism. Her name means "she who liberates." Devotees say she arose from the compassion of Avalokiteshvara, who wept at the world's suffering. In a popular telling, a tear formed a lake and a lotus opened there. Sources differ on which eye the tear fell from.

Devotees turn to her for rescue from fear and danger, the removal of obstacles, and swift, active compassion. She is honoured in Nepal, Tibet and Mongolia, and is the most important form of Tara in Tibetan Buddhism. Her ten-syllable mantra is chanted widely, and Tara Day is kept on the eighth day of the Tibetan lunar month.

See the gallery

Green Tara, 18th century. Wikimedia Commons (public domain), Unknown author

How to recognise Green Tara

Emerald-green skinHer whole body is green, like dark emerald, a colour read as youthful vigour and activity.
Moon-disc lotus throneShe sits on a moon disc resting on an open lotus, often framed by a halo and rainbow aureole.
Royal-ease postureHer left leg is folded in and her right leg extends downward, the foot resting on or just above a small lotus, as if she is about to step down and help.
Boon-giving right handHer right hand lies lowered over the right knee in varada mudra, palm open and facing outward, the gesture of giving.
Refuge gesture and blue lotusHer left hand at the heart makes the three-jewels (refuge) gesture and holds the stem of a blue utpala, or night lotus, that blooms beside her shoulder or ear.
One serene face, two handsShe has a youthful, gently smiling face with two hands only; the third eye and the eyes on palms and soles belong to White Tara, not to her.
Crown and jewelsA jewelled crown and rich ornaments, with silks in Himalayan art, mark her as a figure of enlightened beauty.

Names and titles

Jetsün Drölma, She Who LiberatesHer Tibetan name, 'venerable liberator'; Drölma means 'she who liberates'
She Who Ferries AcrossA translation of her name Tara: the one who carries beings across the ocean of existence
The Swift SaviouressThe Praise in Twenty-One Verses lauds Green Tara for her swiftness in action
Foot Poised to Step DownHer extended right leg shows she is ready to rise and act
Born from a Lotus of TearsA popular story says she arose from a tear of Avalokiteshvara that became a lake, with a lotus opening to reveal her