Discover Power of the 21 Tara: Meanings, Symbols & Practices

You might have heard of Green Tara or White Tara, but did you know Tara actually appears in 21 different forms? Well, the 21 Tara aren’t separate beings; they’re different expressions of Tara. 

Each one of them offers a unique ray of enlightened activity, protection, healing, and wisdom. If you are ready to meet the 21 Tara and invite the transformative power into your life. Then, let’s begin. 

Tara: The Fearless Protector and Guiding Star

Tara is known as the “Mother of All Buddhas”. She is a compassionate protector who quickly answers the prayers of anyone in need. 

Her name comes from the Sanskrit word “Tara” which translates as “star” or “she who saves,” symbolizing her role as a guiding light through the darkness of fear, suffering, and ignorance. 

More than just symbolizing compassion, she also symbolizes action in compassion. Her energy is immediate, kind, and fearless. She also portrays ready-to-help beings across the ocean of samsara (the cycle of birth and death). 

Traditionally, Tara is invoked for:

• Removing obstacles
• Healing illness
• Granting wisdom and spiritual growth
• Offering protection from fears and dangers
  
  

Bring the protection, empowerment, and healing power of 21 Tara Thangkas. Connect with the Buddha’s Art of Healing today. 

Meaning Behind 21 Tara

21 Tara represent 21 unique aspects of Tara’s enlightenment activity. Each Tara is distinguished by color, symbolism, and role that addresses different human and spiritual needs. 

Some hold lotuses, some make fearless mudras, and some sit ready to leap into action. Together, they show us that Tara’s love and protection can reach us in every situation life throws our way. 

The meaning of  21 Tara is simple yet profound. Each form of Tara will guide us whenever we encounter any challenges and difficulties in our life. 

The form of Tara reminds us of the infinite nature of compassion and that help is just a heartfelt prayer away. Collectively, 21 Tara form a complete spiritual journey, including practice that helps practitioners: 

• Overcome physical, emotional, and spiritual obstacles
• Develop courage, patience, and wisdom
• Purify Karma and mental illness
• Receive protection, prosperity, healing, and guidance
  
  

Bring 21 Tara Thangkas into your home and evoke the peace; start your journey with us. 

The 21 Tara: Names & Symbolization

Tara actually manifests in 21 different forms. Each with a unique purpose and energy. 

Let’s explore each of the 21 Tara in detailed form. So, you can truly understand their meanings, symbols, and blessings. 

1. Noble Lady Tara Jetsun Drolma

Jetsun Drolma, the principal form of Tara, is radiant green in color. She symbolizes the mother of swift compassion and enlightened activity. She represents the active compassion of all Buddhas.

She is always ready to act to relieve suffering, symbolized by her extended right leg and open hand of generosity. 

Her left hand holds a blue lotus that symbolizes purity and freedom from attachment. She protects from fears and grants quick assistance. 

2. Noble Lady Tara Loter Yangchenma

Loter Yangchenma, also known as Saraswati, is depicted in white color. She symbolizes radiant wisdom and purity. 
She dispels ignorance and delusion with her brilliant white light. Her name means “Lady of Majestic Melody”. Signifies her role in teaching dharma through sound and mantra, purifying obscurations, and guiding beings with the music of wisdom. 

3. Noble Lady Tara Sonam Tobche

She is depicted in a golden yellow color, which traditionally symbolizes richness, prosperity, and the flourishing of virtues. Her name, Sonam Tobche, translates to “Bestower of merit and accomplishments”. 

Her blessings establish the conditions for compassion, generosity, and patience to develop and eliminate obstacles to our own inner abundance (as well as outer). 

She assists practitioners in the accumulation of sonam, or positive karmas, and supports worldly success and religious development. When actively invoking her blessings, one is assured that his or her life will be filled with a prosperous and yet balanced life, which benefits oneself and others.

4. Noble Lady  Tara Tsugtor Namgyalma

Noble Lady Tara Tsugtor Namgyalma is a golden yellow-colored Tara. She symbolizes long life, healing, and victory over death. 

She is crowned with a stupa, representing the unchanging nature of enlightenment and spiritual purity. Her blessings help to remove life-threatening obstacles, protect from untimely death, and grant vitality, strength, and longevity. 

5. Noble Lady Tara Rigje Lhamo

Noble Lady Rigje Lhamo is depicted in red color. She symbolizes magnetizing power and compassionate influence. 

She magnetizes wisdom, love, and spiritual growth, guiding practitioners toward a life of virtue and enlightenment. Her blessings help attract favorable conditions, drawing beings toward the Dharma and away from harmful actions. 

6. Noble Lady Tara Zhengyi Mithumba

Zhengyi Mithumba is a dark blue or black Tara. She symbolizes the subjugation of harmful forces and fierce compassionate protection. 

Tara Shengyi Mithumba is known as “she who crushes adversaries”; she removes obstacles, negative energies, and destructive spirits. 

Her powerful energy helps destroy ignorance and inner demons, shielding practitioners from both external threats and internal struggles. 

7. Noble Lady Tara Zhengyi Migyalma

Zhengyi Migyalma is depicted in a dark red color. She represents victory over inner and outer enemies. Her compassionate strength clears the way for peace and progress.
She protects against wars, violence, and conflicts, while also helping practitioners overcome internal struggles like jealousy, hatred, and pride. 

8. Noble Lady Tara Sengdeng Nagchi

Sengdeng Nagchi is represented by the green color. She embodies fierce compassion that removes spiritual hindrances. 

As she is surrounded by flames of wisdom, she burns away karmic obstacles and liberates beings from samsaric entrapments. Her energy is transformative, helping break deep-rooted patterns of suffering.

9. Noble Lady Tara Jigten Sumle Gyalma

Jigten Sumle Gyalma is depicted in red color. She is depicted with rainbow light emanating from her body and a victory banner upon her utpala flower, symbolizing her power to overcome all obstacles and distractions of the desire realm. 
Her blessings bring supreme joy to all beings, and she is invoked for protection against worldly distractions, empowering practitioners to gain victory over suffering and set out firmly on the path of liberation. 

10. Noble Lady Tara Phagma Norter Drolma

Phagma Norter Drolma is yellow or golden yellow in color. She represents wealth, abundance, and fulfillment of wishes. She is the Goddess of Wealth and Treasures. 
She aids practitioners in achieving material stability while fostering spiritual generosity. Her practice supports both worldly needs and altruistic activities.

11. Noble Lady Tara Tashi Donje

Tashi Donje, depicted in red or gold color, represents power, completeness, and indestructible blessings. Also known as "Vajra of Auspiciousness," she cuts away negative karma and gives spiritual protection. 
Her energy manifests the success of one's virtuous acts and protects practitioners on the path.

12. Noble Lady Tara Yulle Gyalma

Yulle Gyalma symbolizes purification and spiritual taming. She subdues harmful spirits and restless energies. 
Calms disturbances in both the inner and outer world. Her practice restores balance, clears mental agitation, and protects from unseen negative influences.

13. Noble Lady Tara Thronyer Chen

Thronyer Chen embodies fierce compassion that removes extreme obstacles. 
She protects from dangers like death, black magic, and severe karmic debts. Her wrathful motherly energy cuts through negativities, offering powerful support in times of crisis.

14. Noble Lady Tara Rabzhima

Rabzhima pacifies conflicts, dissolves tensions, and restores unity in families, communities, and spiritual gatherings. 
She symbolizes peace, harmony, and balance. Her practice brings calmness and cooperation wherever there is discord.

15. Noble Lady Tara Rigngag Tobjom

Rigngag Tobjom represents purification of spiritual pollution and wrong views. 
She helps remove misconceptions and protects practitioners from false teachings, ensuring alignment with authentic Dharma. Her blessings clear confusion and guide practitioners toward truth.

16. Noble Lady Tara Maja Chenmo

Maja Chenmo, the Great Peahen Lady, symbolizes healing and transformation from sickness. 
Like the peacock that turns poison into beauty, she transforms disease into healing and purifies karmic illnesses. Her practice promotes health and longevity for both body and mind.

17. Noble Lady Tara Dugkarmo

Dugkarmo represents the removal of poisons and detoxification. Her blessings purify the body, mind, and environment, promoting overall well-being.
She neutralizes physical toxins and emotional poisons like anger and jealousy and clears harmful energies. 

18. Noble Lady Tara Rito Loma Jonma

Rito Loma Jonma symbolizes protection from epidemics and skin diseases. 
Known as "She Who Removes Skin Diseases," she was historically invoked for protection from leprosy and contagious illnesses. Today, she is also called upon for healing during pandemics and health crises.

19. Noble Lady Tara Lhamo Ozer Chenma

Lhamo Ozer Chenma radiates beams of wisdom light that dispel ignorance and confusion. 
She guides beings through darkness, helping them make wise decisions and see the Dharma clearly. Her energy illuminates the spiritual path with clarity and insight.

20. Noble Lady Tara Jigje Chenmo

Jigje Chenmo, often referred to as the Great Lady of Speech, is associated with powerful and clear communication. Her color is often depicted as white or light blue. 
She symbolizes purity and clarity. She embodies the ability to speak truth with compassion, helping practitioners overcome obstacles related to misunderstandings, miscommunication, and harmful speech. 

21. Noble Lady Tara Pagme Nonma 

Pagme Nonma, called the Lotus Tara, is closely related to spiritual purity and protection. She is generally described with colors relating to white or pale in shades. The lotus represents purity that arises from the mud without being defiled, symbolic of her ability to assist beings in rising above.

She represents peace and gentle compassion. She assists practitioners with washing away negative karmic impressions and provides protective blessings from dangers in life, helping them step gracefully along the path of enlightenment.

Benefits of Connecting with the 21 Tara

Each Tara in 21 Tara relates to a particular style of compassionate action and enlightened power. Interacting with the 21 Tara is an act of respectfully calling on their available qualities and brings meaningful spiritual, sacred, and worldly benefits.

Each individual Tara practice is not solely for devotion but can ignite activities that change vicissitudes of life from suffering into learning opportunities.

• Below is an overview of the benefits:
• Removal of fears and protection from danger
• Overcoming inner obstacles and negative emotions
• Healing and health benefits
• Accumulation of merit, wealth, and prosperity
• Removal of spiritual pollution and wrong views
• Magnetizing positive relationships and opportunities
• Peace, harmony, and conflict resolution

Get Your Personalized 21 Tara Thangka from Buddha’s Art of Healing.

1. Who are the 21 Tara?

The 21 Tara are all different emanations of Tara. Each one of them being an expression of a quality of enlightened activity, such as compassion, healing, protection, or wisdom. Each Tara is an aspect of a complete system of spiritual support in Tibetan Buddhism.

2. What is the difference between Green Tara and the 21 Tara?

Green Tara is the principal aspect of Tara. The 21 Tara include Green Tara plus 20 other forms of Tara, each representing a specific quality or blessing.

3. Can I focus on just one Tara?

Yes, you can focus on one Tara that resonates most with your needs, whether for healing, overcoming fear, or growing wisdom.

4. Where can I get a 21 Tara Thangka?

We are one of the oldest Thangka sellers at Boudhanath Stupa. At Buddha's Art of Healing, we offer authentic hand-painted 21 Tara Thangkas and statues crafted by skilled artists. 

Embrace the compassion of the 21 Tara with Buddha’s Art of Healing. Bring peace, protection, and profound spiritual growth.