Who is White Tara?
In the rich pantheon of Tibetan Buddhism, White Tara — Sitatara in Sanskrit — holds a very special place. She is the goddess of long life, wisdom, and boundless compassion. While other deities represent strength or protection, Tara embodies something rarer: active, maternal care for all sentient beings.
Tara exists in 21 different forms — White and Green Tara are the best known. White Tara symbolizes purity, healing, and the transcendence of suffering. She is the silent force working in the background — patient, inexhaustible, omnipresent.
The Legend of Tara — Born from Tears
The most famous legend tells that Tara was born from the tears of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) — the Bodhisattva of Compassion. When he saw the immeasurable suffering of all beings and wept, two lotus flowers emerged from his tears, from which Green and White Tara arose.
Another tradition tells of a princess named Yeshe Dawa, who achieved enlightenment millions of years ago through profound spiritual practice. Monks advised her to be reborn as a man in her next incarnation — but she refused. She vowed to always return in female form to liberate all beings. From this vow, Tara was born.
The Symbolism of White Tara
Every detail of White Tara carries deep meaning:
The Seven Eyes — The most striking feature of White Tara are her seven eyes: one on her forehead, one in each palm, and one in each sole of her feet. These seven eyes symbolize her all-encompassing perception — she sees the suffering of all beings in all directions and at all times. Nothing escapes her compassionate gaze.
The White Color — In Tibetan Buddhism, white represents purity, truth, and the overcoming of all obstacles. White Tara is free from all defilement — she embodies the pure, untainted mind.
The Lotus — In her left hand, she holds a white lotus (utpala), the symbol of spiritual purity and enlightenment. The lotus grows from the mud and blooms immaculately — an image of the human mind, capable of enlightenment despite all suffering.
The Gesture of Giving — Her right hand is open in the Varada Mudra, the gesture of giving and generosity. She gives unconditionally — protection, healing, long life.
The Moon Disc Throne — White Tara sits on a moon disc throne, symbolizing her cool, calming energy — in contrast to Green Tara, who sits on a sun disc throne.
White Tara and Long Life
In Tibetan Buddhism, White Tara is one of the three most important deities for longevity practices — along with Amitayus and Ushnishavijaya. Her mantra is recited to overcome illnesses, prolong life, and dissolve spiritual obstacles.
The most famous mantra of White Tara is:
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA AYUH PUNYA JNANA PUSTIM KURU SVAHA
Translated, it roughly means: "Om, Tara, liberate me, quickly liberate me — increase my life, merits, and wisdom." This mantra is recited daily by millions of people worldwide — in Tibet, Nepal, India, and increasingly in the West.
Tara in Art — From Thangkas to Fine Art Prints
The depiction of White Tara has an artistic tradition spanning millennia. Tibetan Thangkas — religious scroll paintings on silk or cotton — show her in precise iconographic form: the seven eyes, the white lotus, the gesture of giving. Every detail is fixed and carries spiritual meaning.
In modern fine art interpretation, this tradition is continued — with contemporary means that preserve the essence of the goddess: her stillness, her purity, her infinite kindness. A picture of White Tara in the living space is more than decoration — it is an invitation to contemplation.
At Babasan, we honor this tradition with high-quality fine art prints, crafted to museum quality. Each print is unique — produced to order, with attention to detail.
Why White Tara is more relevant today than ever
In a time of stress, uncertainty, and overstimulation, many people yearn for stillness and compassion — for a force that does not fight, but heals. White Tara embodies exactly that. She reminds us that true strength lies not in dominance, but in the ability to see openly, act compassionately, and give patiently.
Her seven eyes see — and do not judge. They see suffering and respond with kindness. That is perhaps her most timeless message.