In Praise of Mother Tara

Dark green and exceedingly wrathful,

with one face, three eyes, and eight hands

You are ever ready to protect the Great Middle Way.

Adorned with a tiara of five skulls,

with gold earrings, and bracelets and anklets of bone

You wear a necklace of freshly severed heads

and a lower garment of tiger skin about Your waist.

Your four right hands hold a lotus tipped arrow

a double-sided drum, a curved knife, and the gesture of giving.

Your left hands hold a lotus with the stem against Your heart

a bow of flowers, a trident, and a blood-filled cup.

The staff of renunciation rests against Your precious shoulder.

On a sun disc and multi-colored lotus seat,

Your right leg pendant, Your foot resting on a blossom,

You are surrounded by the brightly burning flames of pristine wisdom.

Over Your crown is the primordial Buddha Vajradhara,

holding scepter and bell crossed at the heart.

At His left is Mahasiddha Buddhagupta, and on His right sits Jetsun Taranatha,

his right hand in the gesture of blessing at the heart.

You expand as Blue Tara, subduing all,

holding an Upraised Sword and mounted on a buffalo.

You expand as Red Tara, attracting all,

holding a Goad and mounted on a horse.

You expand as White Tara, pacifying all,

holding a Lotus Blossom and mounted on a swan.

You expand as Yellow Tara, increasing all,

holding a Vase of Plenty and mounted on an elephant.

Merciful Mother and Protector, all glory and victory to You!

Merciful Mother, Samaya Tara Yogini,

dispeller of fear, grant me your protection!

Sustain my practice with your Mighty Forms,

that the pure stream of your force may flow within me

in this world and the worlds to come.

Protect and sustain the pure Dharma of definitive meaning!

Protect and sustain the Great Middle Way!

Subdue all hindrances and pacify obstructers!

 

Make my way straight,

that I may swiftly accumulate vast wisdom and compassion

and attain the Great Purpose!

om tare tuttare ture so’ha