Topic: Tara

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

White Umbrella Tara

She has the awe-inspiring majesty and radiates light. Taking the white parasol as Samayamandala she protects all beings.

She has beautiful face and two arms. She holds a parasol in her hand as the major religious instrument. It is said that in extremely hot India aristocrats and leading monks used the parasol to avoid being exposed in the sunlight. The parasol is one of the seven treasures and eight auspicious things. It helps eliminate evil thoughts and symbolizes that the Buddhist virtues shine on all beings.
http://www.thangka.ru/gallery/ge_belzont.html

[Michael]

That's a beautiful one.

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

[Michael]

These are beautiful - so calming and gentle

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

Tara is one of the most popular female deities in Tibetan culture. She is particularly associated with protecting from a group of calamities known as the Eight Fears, depicted here as scenes surrounding her: ghosts/sickness (bottom center), drowning (center), fire (mid-left), false imprisonment (bottom right), bandits (top right), wild elephants (top), snakes (bottom left), and lions (top left). Although these dangers center on the worries of secular life, they also have a more esoteric meaning, namely associations with inner obstacles that prevent spiritual progress.

This painting exemplifies the “Khamri,” style of southeastern Tibet. Khamri paintings feature deep blues and greens in the landscape with thicker applications of pigment than other local styles. Some elements, such as the bluegreen crags to the main figure’s right and the flowers and leaves beneath her lotus seat, derive from the parent New Menri style in central Tibet out of which this tradition grew. However, other elements, such as the sky fading into blank canvas and the depiction of the clouds back-shaded with indigo are not found in central Tibet, but rather are regional characteristics borrowed from the other major local painting style. One hallmark of this Khamri style is the dramatic twisting rainbow lights seen in the scene at the upper right.
~Rubin Museum
http://rubinmuseum.org/collection/artwork/tara