Tibetan style - Green Tara Thangka

Green tara thangka – Tibetan style is hand-painted and is painted on Cotton Canvas in Kathmandu Nepal. The size of this thangka is 79*54cm (31*21 inch) and its weight is 0.2 kg (0.44 lbs).

Green Tara is presented at the center of the thangka. Amitabha Buddha is presented at the top of the Green Tara in the thangka.

Mantra of Green Tara

The mantra of Green Tara is om tare tuttare ture soha.

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 Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment. Her right hand is gracefully lowered in Varda 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 which are The Buddha State, The Body of teachings, 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 emanating from her outer aureole. The crescent moon and sun symbolize the union of males and females ubiquitous in Tantric art.

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 Pure land is a place of infinite bliss & boundless light.

Amitabha Buddha is also one of the five Tathagatas representing the wisdom Amitabha 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.