Tara (Mahavidya)

This article is about the Hindu goddess. For the Buddhist bodhisattva, see Tara (Buddhism).

Tara
Devanagari	तारा

In Hinduism, the goddess Tara (Sanskrit: Tārā, Devanagari: तारा) meaning "star" is the second of the Dasa (ten) Mahavidyas or "Great Wisdom [goddesses]", Tantric manifestations of Mahadevi, Kali, or Parvati. As the star is seen as a beautiful but perpetually self-combusting thing, so Tara is perceived at core as the absolute, unquenchable hunger that propels all life.

Iconography

Tara is said to be more approachable to the devotee (Bhakta) or Tantrika because of her maternal instincts; however a large population of Bengali Hindus approach Kali herself as "Ma" or "mother". In Tantras, the god Shiva forbids every Sadhaka to see any difference in Kali and Tara, and warns that those who think them separate shall go to hell as punishment.

Tara

Tara can be distinguished visually from Kali primarily via her implements. Four armed, she carries a sacrificial sword, a severed head or skull cup, a lotus and scissors. Kali never holds a lotus or a pair of scissors.

Tarapith temple

Main article: Tarapith

The murti at the Tara Ma mandir in the village of Tarapith, a highly important Tantric site for Bengali Shaktas (and highly contested as to whether or not it is truly a Shakti Pitha; scholarly evidence points towards no), is mostly covered by Garlands of flowers. There are two Tara images in the sanctum. The stone image of Tara depicted as a mother suckling Shiva – the "primordial image" (seen in the inset of the fierce form of the image of Tara) is camouflaged by a three feet metal image, that the devotee normally seen. It represents Tara in her fiery form with four arms, wearing a garland of skulls and a protruding tongue. Crowned with a silver crown and with flowing hair, the outer image wrapped in a sari and decked in marigold garlands with a silver umbrella over its head. The forehead of the metal image is adorned with red kumkum (vermilion). Most devotees will not have a chance to see the actual stone image, as there are only 15 or so minutes of Darshan or viewing of the stone at 4:30AM when the temple opens and only the first lucky few will be admitted into the sanctum sanctorum to see the stone.

Unlike most Indian villages and towns, the smashan or cremation ground is not situated on the periphery of the village. As cremation grounds are seen to be polluting, most Indian smashans are located far from the center of town. Both the Tarapith mandir and smashan are very close (within 100 yards or so) to the center of the town. It is said that Tara Ma's footprints are preserved in the smashan; this is a common theme in Hinduism, where deities or their especially holy followers are said to leave their footprints in rocks. Many Sadhus and Tantrikas live in the smashan, some with permanent huts as residences. The smashan is filled with dogs, traditionally polluting animals who were said to share food with the Vamamarga saint Bamakhepa, whose samādhi or tomb is located next door to the main Tarapith temple.

Mantra

oṁ tāre tuttāre ture svāhā

oṁ hrīṁ strīṁ hūṁ phaṭ

See also

• Tarapith
• Shaktism
• Tara in Buddhism
• Maa Taratarini Temple
• Maa Tarini
• Maa Ugra Tara

References

• Banerjee, Sumanta (2002). Logic in a Popular Form: Essays on Popular Religion in Bengal. Seagull Books. ISBN 8170461626. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Kinsley, David R. (1988). Hindu Goddesses:Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Reigious Tradition. University of California Press. ISBN 0520063392. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Kinsley, David R. (1997). Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahāvidyās. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-0520204997.
• MacDaniel, June (2004). Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195167902. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• MacDaniel, June (1989). The Madness of the Saints: Ecstatic Religion in Bengal. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0226557235. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Shankaranarayanan, Sri (1972). The Ten Great Cosmic Powers. Dipti Publications. ISBN 8185208387. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Svoboda, Robert E. Aghora: at the Left Hand of God. ISBN 0-914732-21-8. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Svoboda, Robert E. Aghora II: Kundalini. ISBN 0-914-73231-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Svoboda, Robert E. Aghora III: The Law of Karma. ISBN 0-914-73237-4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• A Short Biography of Vamaksepa

External links

• Tara Sadhana
• Tara in the Hindu tantric tradition
• Birbhum District India's official website for Tarapith