The
Green Tara is believed to help overcome dangers,
fears, and anxieties, and that she will grant wishes. She
is also believed to help one cross over from danger
to safety or from suffering to happiness.
Representing
active compassion, she is particularly worshipped
for her ability to overcome the most difficult
situations.
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Goddess Tara, a female Buddha and
meditation deity, is arguably the most popular goddess
in the Buddhist pantheon. She is considered to be
the goddess of universal compassion who represents
virtuous and enlightened activity.
The word Tara itself is derived from the root 'tri'
(to cross), hence the implied meaning:' the one who
enables living beings to cross the Ocean of Existence
and Suffering'. Her compassion for living beings,
her desire to save them from suffering, is said to
be even stronger than a mother's love for her children.
The story of Tara's origin, according to the Tara
Tantra, recounts that aeons ago she was born as a
king's daughter. A spiritual and compassionate princess,
she regularly gave offerings and prayers to the ordained
monks and nuns. She thus developed great merit, and
the monks told her that, because of her spiritual
attainments, they would pray that she be reborn as
a man and spread Buddhist teachings. She responded
that there was no male and no female, that nothing
existed in reality, and that she wished to remain
in female form to serve other beings until everyone
reached enlightenment, hence implying the shortfall
in the monk's knowledge in presuming only male preachers
for the Buddhist religion. Thus Tara might be considered
one of the earliest feminists. |
