White Tara: The Timeless Goddess of Compassion, Healing and Longevity
Have you ever wondered which deity in Tibetan Buddhism embodies healing, endless compassion, and the gentle power of enlightenment? Meet White Tara, also known as Sita Tara.
While some of you may already be familiar, others might be wondering, who is White Tara? She is the revered goddess in Tibetan Buddhism and is known as the “Mother of Liberation.”
Her gentle gaze holds the power to heal and transform. Let’s dive into her fascinating story and explore the wisdom she offers.
Understanding the White Tara’s Essence
In Tibetan Buddhism, White Tara is also known as Sita Tara. She is a highly revered female deity.
White Tara Goddess embodies maternal compassion, healing, and longevity. She symbolizes purity, wisdom, and protection. She guides practitioners on their spiritual journey and offers blessings of long life, health, and inner peace.
Sita Tara is a compassionate savior who listens to the cries of sentient beings who are caught in the cycle of life and death (Samsara). As the embodiment of the feminine wisdom and compassion, she is invoked to remove obstacles, cure illnesses, and grant longevity to practitioners.
Her presence is central to Tibetan Buddhism, where she is deeply regarded as a gentle mother figure and a symbol of enduring compassion.
Name and Epithets
Her names reveal her core qualities. In Sanskrit, White Tara is known as Sita Tara, “The White Liberator.”
In Tibetan she is Drolkar (sgrol dkar), which means “White Savioress.” Another beautiful Sanskrit name is Chintamanichakra Tara, which translates to “Tara of the Wish-Fulfilling Wheel,” highlighting her ability to grant legitimate spiritual wishes and needs.
Perhaps one of her most telling epithets, “She Who Cheats Death,” underscores her power to avert untimely death and extend one’s lifespan.
Historical Origins and Cultural Emergence
Emergence from Avalokiteshvara’s Tears
White Tara's story begins with compassion itself. A central legend suggests that she was born from Avlokiteshvara's tear, who is the Bodhisattva of immense compassion. As he saw the pain of all sentient creatures, a single tear fell on the ground and blossomed into a lake.
From the center of this lake emerges a lotus, and within it was White Tara, a manifestation of his active, healing compassion.
Role of Atisha in Transmitting Her Cult to Tibet
While many forms of Tara have been honored in India for millennia, White Tara's distinctive form was deeply powerful in its transmission to Tibet.
The great Indian master Atisha (982–1054 CE) was an important person. He was a dedicated follower of Tara and brought her practices, especially White Tara, to Tibet.
It is said that she guided and protected him on his journey, and she became central to the Kadam school. Cemented her role as a personal meditational deity (yida) and a protector for all Tibetan Buddhists.
Integration into the “Trinity of Longevity”
Over time, her iconography and function became integrated into a triad of deities known as the “Trinity of Longevity” (Tse Lha Nam Sum), alongside Ushnishavijaya (a wisdom deity of long life) and Amitayus (the Buddha of Infinite Life). Together, they represent a comprehensive approach to overcoming the obstacles to a long and spiritually fruitful life.
Symbolism and Iconography
A White Tara thangka is a map of her enlightened qualities. Every detail is rich with meaning.
|
Element |
Depiction |
Symbolic Meaning |
|
Color |
Radiant, Luminous White body |
Purity, ultimate truth, wisdom, and her white color symbolize that she contains all enlightened qualities and is unstained by delusion |
|
Seven Eyes |
Two on the face, one on the forehead, one on each palm, and one on each sole. |
Perfect awareness, vigilance, and the ability to see the suffering of beings in all realms |
|
Crown with Amitabha Buddha |
Small image of Amitabha Buddha on her crown |
Connection to the Buddha of infinite light signifies enlightened wisdom. |
|
Lotus Flower (Utpala) |
Often depicted blooming near her left shoulder |
Purity born from samsara, spiritual awakening untouched by worldly defilements |
|
Ornaments and Silks |
Adorned with silks, jewels, and celestial ornaments |
The perfection of enlightened qualities and virtues |
|
Throne and Halo |
Seated on a moon disc atop a lotus, surrounded by an aura or halo |
Enlightenment, divine radiance, and freedom from samsara |
|
Posture (Mudra) |
Right hand in Varada Mudra (gesture of generosity), left hand holding lotus |
Boundless giving of blessings, protection, and guiding beings toward liberation |
Spiritual Role of White Tara
White Tara is the ultimate spiritual mother.
- Compassionate Maternal Care: She provides comfort and protection like a mother who sees her child only.
- Healing, Longevity, and Protection: She is a powerful healer for physical and mental illness. Removes obstacles in a life and protects from disaster.
- Religious Practice: White Tara’s blessings help commit to spiritual practice and to overcome obstacles on the path of practitioners.
White Tara Mantra and Chanting Practice
The heart of White Tara practice is her mantra, a powerful sequence of Sanskrit syllables that invokes her essence.
Mantra:
“OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA AYUH PUNYA JNANA PUSTIM KURU SVAHA”
- OM: Essence of ultimate reality
- TARE: Liberates and protects
- TUTTARE: Swiftly rescue from suffering
- TURE: Eliminates negative influences
- MAMA: My (or form someone you are dedicating the mantra to)
- AYUH: Long life
- PUNYA: Merit (positive actions and karma)
- JNANA: Wisdom
- PUSTIM: Abundance, nourishment, fulfillment
- KURU: “Do it” and “make it so”—an an imperative request
- SVAHA: Hail or may blessings be upon
Chanting this mantra is believed to increase vitality, remove obstacles to health, and bring clarity and peace of mind. Devotees often recite it while meditating on her image or before a White Tara thangka.
Insight on White Tara and Green Tara
Both the White Tara and Green Tara are the manifestations of the Buddhist deity Tara. The difference is that they emphasize different qualities. Let’s explore their differences:
|
Element |
White Tara |
Green Tara |
|
Body Color |
Radiant White |
Lively Green |
|
Symbolism |
Purity, healing, longevity, compassion |
Active compassion, protection, swiftness in granting aid |
|
Number of eyes |
Seven eyes (face, forehead, palms, soles) |
Two eyes (normal human form) |
|
Symbolic Posture |
Seated in full vajra posture, fully cross-legged and meditative |
Right leg extended. Left foot folded in semi-seated position (royal ease) |
|
Iconographic focus |
Stability and Purity. Her posture suggests eep meditation and healing |
Movement and readiness. Her posture suggests immediate intervention |
|
Primary quality |
Nurturing and Sustaining life, merit, and wisdom to create the conditions for practice |
Speed and action in saving beings from eight great fears (external and internal) |
|
Analogy |
Healing or Nurturing Mother |
Emergency responder: swift, powerful, and immediate. |
|
Role |
Nourishes with the strength and health to the path of enlightenment |
Saves from the immediate danger of drowning in the samsara |
Ritual and Cultural Significance of White Tara
White Tara has a deep ritual and cultural significance in Tibetan Buddhism.
- Longevity practice is performed to expand life, improve vitality, and protect against untimely death.
- Healing practice performed to reduce disease and restore vitality, inner peace, emotional balance, and spirituality.
- Merit and purification practices are performed for karma purification and merit accumulation.
- Protection and guidance from illness, misfortune, and obstacles.
The cultural significance of White Tara shines through meditation, longevity practices, rituals, and also through the thangkas.
White Tara Thangka
A White Tara thangka is not only a sacred painting but also a powerful spiritual tool. In Tibetan tradition, thangkas serve as a bridge between the practitioner and the divine. A White Tara thangka often portrays her seated on a lotus throne, surrounded by luminous auras and offering blessings.
You can also explore our White Tara thangka, alongside a collection of other revered deities.
These thangkas are believed to:
- Increase attention and visual practices
- Create a spiritual atmosphere of peace and healing.
- Serve as a source of inspiration and connection to her compassionate energy.
White Tara is more than just a Buddhist goddess—she is an incarnation of infinite compassion.
1. Who is White Tara in Buddhism?
In Buddhism, White Tara is a female deity who is distinguished as the mother of liberation. Symbol of compassion, purity, healing, and longevity.
2. What is the significance of White Tara’s seven eyes?
The seven eyes represent the ability to see sorrow in all realms: past, present, and future. Furthermore, readiness to work with compassion in helping emotional beings.
3. What are the main practices associated with White Tara?
Practices include visualization of a White Tara statue, image, or Thangka, as well as mantra chanting and meditation
4. How does White Tara differ from Green Tara?
The white Tara is a symbol of longevity, while the green Tara represents swift action and overcoming obstacles. They are both symbols of compassion but emphasize various qualities.
Discover Buddha's Art of Healing if you're looking to get White Tara Thangka. We provide classes on painting them too if you're interested.
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