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Goddess Tara, who was a female Buddha and meditation deity, is arguably the most popular goddess in the Buddhist pantheon. She is considered to be the goddess of universal compassion who represents virtuous and enlightened activity. The word Tara itself is derived from the root tri, which means to cross. It also implies the meaning of the one who enables living beings to cross the Ocean of Existence and Suffering. Her compassion for living beings and her desire to save them from suffering was said to be even stronger than a mother's love for her children. The story of Tara's origin, according to the Tara Tantra, recounts that eons ago she was born as a king's daughter. As a spiritual and compassionate princess, she regularly gave offerings and prayers to the ordained monks and nuns. She developed great merit, and the monks told her that due to her spiritual attainments, they would pray that she would be reborn as a man and spread Buddhist teachings. She responded that there was no male and no female and that nothing existed in reality, and she wished to remain in female form to serve other beings until everyone reached enlightenment. She was implying to the short fall in the monk's knowledge in presuming that there could only be male preachers for the Buddhist religion. This is why Tara might be considered one of the earliest feminists. Legend has it that Tara was born from the compassionate tears of Avalokiteshvara, which is Buddha of the form of compassion. Avalokiteshvara was looking down from his heaven on the world of suffering beings, and he wept to see that more and more of them were in pain. From the tears streaming down his face two Taras were born, a peaceful white one from the left and a fierce green one from the right. Tara is also often referred to as Avalokiteshvara's consort. In a historical sense, Tara is associated with the two pious and virtuous wives of Tibet's first great religious king, Songsten Gambo. White Tara is associated with his wife from imperial China, Wen Cheng, and Green Tara is identified with Bhrkuti, his Nepalese wife. To the Buddhists the symbolism of color is of great import, and the sadhanas, which are the ancient manuals laying down procedures for worship, are very particular in stipulating the colors of the deities visualized. This color is intended not only to unfold the nature of the deity represented, but also to indicate the functions to be performed by that deity. Specifically, colors are used in the paintings under a definite mystic scheme, based on the psychic experiences of the sadhaka or worshipper. It is no wonder then that her devotees visualize Tara in a myriad variety of colors. Tara has come in visions as red as the sun's ray and redder than the vermilion, while others see her in visions of sapphire blue. Still there are others that see her whiter than milk, then others see her as simply being golden. The most popular of all the known forms of Tara are the widely worshipped Green and White Taras. It is believed that the first artists modeled Green Tara on a young virgin, and the White Tara on a physically mature, was a voluptuous woman. Traditionally, the Green Tara is visualized as young girl having a mischievous and playful nature, whhile the White Tara is represented as a mature woman, full-breasted and wise.
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