White Tara

Tara is the female deity of the Buddhist Bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara. She holds a very prominent position in Tibet and Nepal. Tara is believed to protect human beings while they are crossing the ocean of existence. Among the two forms of Tara, White Tara is regarded as a consort of Avalokiteshwora, sometimes also the consort of Varochana. She is portrayed usually seated, dressed and crowned like a Boddhisattwas. In some forms, she is also worshipped as a saptalochana or seven eyed Tara with extra eyes on her forehead, palm, and feet. She holds lotus flower at one or both of her shoulders. She is seated in full vajra posture, her left hand in teaching gesture holding the stem of the lotus. She is wearing all sorts of precious ornaments and looks beautiful. The practice of White Tara is basically performed to prolong life as well as for healing purposes.