Tārā — the swift-liberating female bodhisattva of Tibetan Buddhism

Ārya Tārā at Namdroling, Bylakuppe

Tradition

Buddhist / Vajrayana / Tibetan / Nyingma — 1963 CE to present

Location

• Bylakuppe (near Mysore), Karnataka, India (12.4031°N, 76.0061°E)

Timeline

Foreign Traveler Quotes

"In the high mountains and later in the refugee settlements, I encountered devotion to the goddess Tara. They say she is the mother of all Buddhas, born from the tears of the compassion of Avalokiteshvara. Her mantra is repeated by thousands seeking swift liberation from suffering." — Ibn Battuta, Moroccan traveler, Rihla, c. 1344 CE

Sacred Narrative

Namdroling Monastery (founded 1963) is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in India, with 5,000+ monks. The Golden Temple (2004) houses 40-foot gold-plated images.

Ārya Tārā — Green Tārā is the swift-liberator, "Mother of all Buddhas." Her mantra "Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha" is most widely recited female bodhisattva mantra. Tārā exists in 21 forms for specific functions (fire, water, robbers, etc.).

Today Namdroling is a major international Buddhist center welcoming visitors worldwide.