White Tara- Buddhist GodDeity"Seven-Eyed Tara"

The Seven-Eyed Goddess

White Tārā (Śītā Tārā in Sanskrit, Drolma Karmo in Tibetan) is one of the two principal forms of the great feminine bodhisattva Tārā, complementing Green Tārā's dynamic, action-oriented compassion with serenity, healing, and the granting of long life. Her distinctive iconographic feature is the seven eyes: two in the normal position, one in the center of her forehead representing the eye of wisdom, and one in each palm and each sole of her feet. These seven eyes signify her ability to see and respond to suffering in all directions and all realms of existence simultaneously. She is depicted seated in the full lotus position (vajrāsana) with her right hand in the gesture of granting (varada mudrā) and her left holding the stem of a white utpala blooming at her shoulder. Her complexion is luminous white, symbolizing purity, peace, and the perfection of truth.

The origins of White Tārā's cult are traced in Tibetan tradition to the Indian master Vāgīśvarakīrti (c. 11th century), who is credited with systematizing her sādhana and propagating longevity rituals centered on her. The practice was transmitted to Tibet through the lineage of Atiśa Dīpaṃkara, who is said to have received White Tārā's protection and attributed his own long life to her blessing.

Practice and Devotion

White Tārā longevity practices (tshe sgrub) are among the most widely performed rituals in Tibetan Buddhism, employed when practitioners, teachers, or their students face illness, obstacles, or the approach of death. The practice typically involves visualization of White Tārā, recitation of her mantra (Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Mama Āyuḥ Jñāna Puṇye Puṣṭiṃ Kuru Svāhā), and the accumulation of specific numbers of recitations to generate merit for healing and life-extension. In the Suryagupta tradition of the Twenty-One Tārās, White Tārā is praised as the compassionate mother who grants long life and removes obstacles to spiritual practice. Her practice is considered particularly appropriate for those whose lifespan has been shortened by karmic obstacles. Monasteries throughout Tibet, Nepal, and Mongolia regularly perform collective White Tārā rituals on behalf of ailing or aging teachers, and her image appears in homes as a protective blessing.