Green Tara with 2 Offering Goddesses is hand-painted and is painted on Cotton Canvas in Kathmandu Nepal. Green Tara is popularly known as Samaya Tara. She is portrayed with maroon Buddhist robes and jewelry.
Green Tara is depicted at the center of the thangka. Amitabha Buddha is presented at the top of the Green Tara in the thangka. Shakyamuni Buddha is presented at the top left of the green Tara in the thangka. Medicine Buddha is presented at the top right corner of the Green Tara in the thangka. Two Offering Goddesses are presented at the bottom left and right corner of the thangka.
Iconography of Green tara
Green Tara is presented at the center of the thangka. She is shown with a benevolent countenance seated upon a white moon disk which is associated with special restorative nectar associated with the naval chakra center. In Buddhists, the moon symbolizes the wisdom aspect which when coupled with compassion leads to Sakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment. Her right hand is gracefully lowered in Varada mudra, the boon-granting gesture.
Green Tara's special lotus is the blue lotus or 'night lotus' which she bears in both hands. The word Utpala means to 'burst open'. Her left-hand holds a stem with an open blooming flower and an unopened bud. The bent lower part of the stem represents the root.
The open blossom represents the present and also the present Buddha; the bud represents the future and also Buddhas yet to be born. The future here also refers to a safe journey's end and a future well being. Her right-hand wisdom hand is in the gesture of giving refuge.
The third finger touches the thumb to create a circle representing the union of wisdom and compassion, and the three extended fingers symbolize the Three Jewels of Buddhism a. The Buddha State b. The Body of teachings c.
The Principles of the Universe The same hand holds the stem of a blue lotus representing her willingness to assist. The closed blossom in her right hand represents the past and also the Buddhas of the past. Green Tara is shown in a place of paradise called Khadiravani where Tara dwells. Khadiravani is described as a great mountain kingdom with many trees, flowers, and animals rainbow tails emanate from her outer aureole. The crescent moon and sun symbolize the union of male and female ubiquitous in Tantric art.
Mantra of Green Tara
The mantra of Green Tara is om tare tuttare ture soha.
Iconography of Amitabha Buddha
Amitabha Buddha is presented at the top of the green tara in the thangka. Amitabha is head of the Lotus Family, one of the oldest & significant of the Five Buddha Families. This family represents love, purity, compassion & peace. Amitabha Purelandis a place of infinite bliss & boundless light.
Amitabha Buddha is also one of the five Tathagatas representing the wisdoAmitabha Buddha is also one of the five Tathagatas representing the wisdom of discriminating awareness. Amitabha Buddha is red in color. He is represented in the stupa facing to the west. He rides on a peacock symbolizing that he can take away the suffering of others just as the peacock eats poisonous plants and yet his tail shines forth.
Mantra of Amitabha Buddha
The mantra of Amitabha Buddha is Om ami dewa hr.
Iconography of Medicine Buddha
Medicine Buddha is presented at the top right corner of the Green Tara in the thangka. Medicine Buddha is the popular term for Bhaisajyaguru and refers to healing blue light transmitted by his representation and conception. Bhaisajyaguru means “Master of Blue Light”.
His healing energy is transmitted through a blue light wavelength called Vaydurya light. Medicine Buddha radiates this healing energy. Think of the light as internal chakra energy.
Mantra of Medicine Buddha
Namo bhagavate bhaisajyaguru vaiduryaprabharajaya tathagataya arhate samyaksambuddhaya tadyatha: om bhaisajye bhaisajye bhaisajya-samudgate svaha.
Iconograpy of Shakyamuni
Shakyamuni Buddha is presented at the top left of the green Tara in the thangka. His left hand is in the lap holding a begging bowl while the right arm is extended across the leg with the fingers touching the earth.
His skin is golden in color, the eyes partially closed and the hair piled with a gold ornament adorning the top of the head.
A dot (bindi or “urna”) between the eyebrows and the earlobes are elongated and pierced.
The shoulders are covered with an orange and red robe wrapped around the torso and legs and tied at the waist with a green sash.
Mantra of Shakyamuni
The mantra of Shakyamuni is Om Muni Muni Maha Muniye Soha