Brass Tara 20
(code: OOAAT020)
lotus goddess -Tara
The Lotus Goddess existed in India long before the invasion of the Aryans. When the divine life substance is about to put forth the universe, the cosmic waters grow a thousand-petalled lotus of pure gold, as radiant as the sun. This is the womb of the universe, the generative organ of the waters - the female, maternal, procreative aspect of the Absolute. The lotus is personified as the Mother Goddess through whom the Absolute moves into creation: She stands upon a lotus, which is her 'vehicle'.
The lotus expresses the idea that we are all virtually Buddhas, There are several manifestations of The Lotus Goddess in the Eastern traditions.
The Lotus Goddess, TARA is the patron goddess of Tibet. It is said she was born of a tear shed by Avalokita in pity for the suffering of sentient beings. There are 21 forms of Tara, the two principle embodiments known as the Green Tara & the White Tara. They are much alike except that, from her seat upon a moon disc supported by a giant lotus, the Green Tara extends one foot as though about to rise from meditation, whereas the White Tara sits in meditation posture.
She is further differentiated by having a visible 'wisdom eye" in the centre of her forehead as well as eyes set in the palms of each hand. With both forms, the head is charmingly inclined , the body a trifle arched so that the left shoulder is perceptibly higher than the right; one hand, held close to the heart, forms the mudra of protection & the other, resting lightly upon the knee, forms the gesture of bestowing gifts. A long-stemmed lotus rises from the crook of the left arm. Heavy ornaments of gold adorn the high-piled hair, throat, wrists & ankles; the filmy garments - bright gauzy silks fluttering from the shoulders & a series of many-hued silken skirts - leave the slender torso & smoothly rounded breasts uncovered in the manner of ancient India. The whole effect is so ravishing that she might well arouse the very passion that she is frequently invoked to calm were it not that she inspires a kind of exalted reverence.....she is imbued with the power to vanquish lust as easily as sorrow.
Though sweetly dignified when invoked during meditation., Tara's nature is as fun-loving & mischievous as that of any of the sixteen-year-old girls she so often resembles.....
In Tibetan Buddhism personified forms (such as Tara) are regarded as representations of possible aspects of one's own inner nature - & not as strictly separate entities. Meditation on various "deities" & other images has a profound effect on one's inner being. Each image visualized serves as an archetype, evoking responses at a very subtle level of consciousness, thereby aiding in the delicate work of inner transformation.
Tara's mantra is: "Om Tare Tutare Ture Svaha".
In China She is known as KUAN SHI YIN "She-Who-Hearkens-to-the-Cries-of-the-World" - and is the Chinese Goddess of love & compassion.
Kuan Yin is unique among the heavenly hierarchy in being utterly free from pride or vengefulness, & reluctant to punish even those to whom a severe lesson would be salutary.
She portrays compassion & its liberating powers.
Rocks, willows, lotus pools, or running water are often indications of the presence of Kuan Yin.
Kuan Yin & Avalokita's mantra is "Om Mani Padme Hum".
In Japan Tara is known as Kwannon.
Kuan Yin's appeal is that she responds to the heartfelt needs of ordinary people. She does not impart any great new philosophical truth, nor lead the initiate into deep mysteries of meditation. She is accessible to the most ordinary & the most lowly. She is the friend you call upon in times of trouble.
She is the hand that guides. She understands the longing for children, the fear of pain, the anguish of a lost child or of a lonely parent. She is familiar & she is family. It is in this that the strength of Kuan Yin lies - and all this is based upon her basic attribute of compassion, derived, as ever, from the Lotus Sutra."
Adapted from "THE MYTHS & SYMBOLS OF INDIAN ART"
by Heinrich Zimmer - edited by Joseph Campbell
and from Kuan Yin
by Martin Palmer & Jay Ramsay with Man-Ho Kwok.
Dimensions: 50 x 20 x 10 cm NEW!!
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