Explore White Tara, the Buddhist goddess embodying compassion, healing, longevity, & enlightened wisdom.
The goddess Sītatara, also known as White Tara, is a highly venerated female deity in Tibetan Buddhism, regarded as the goddess of compassion, healing, and longevity. The seven eyes on her body (three on the face and one on each palm and sole) and her serene and radiant face represent her all-seeing knowledge of the suffering of sentient beings. White Tara is a symbol of purity, protection, and enlightened wisdom, and a guide for practitioners to practice patience, loving-kindness, and mindfulness. As a result, her statues and thangkas are not simply pieces of art but also tools for meditation and ritual, used by devout people to find health, courage, and spiritual growth, and to embody her virtues of mercy, compassion, and long life.
Who is White Tara?
White Tara is honoured in Tibet as a bodhisattva (enlightened person) and a woman Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism; she is not a lesser spirit but a female manifestation of Tara. Known as the “Saviouress” because she helps guide beings towards spiritual wellness, she is a personification of compassion, healing, and protection. While the wrathful deities are filled with anger and wrath, White Tara is filled with peace, benevolence, and meditative serenity and can provide a soothing presence of great power to inspire devotion and trust.
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Her blessings aren't just about being healthy and long-lived. White Tara is used for inner healing, to soothe mental afflictions, to bring patience, and to foster devotion. She is sought by practitioners to vanquish fear, ignorance, and emotional barriers and is a companion on the path to samsara, the cycle of rebirth and liberation.
The image of White Tara is frequently seen in sacred places, monasteries, and family shrines, especially in Nepal and Tibet. She has a practice in many aspects of Buddhist tantra, both as a meditative focus and a devotional aid. In her rituals, mantras, and visualisations, practitioners are drawn into her attributes of compassion, longevity, and spiritual blessing, and bring her blessing into their lives and practice.
Her Origin in Buddhist Tradition
The tradition of white Tara is rooted in the Buddhist tradition, with a focus on compassion and spiritual symbolism. She is said to have sprung from the kind mind of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara. Seeing the great suffering of sentient beings, Avalokiteshvara shed a tear of compassion, which fell to the earth and grew into a lotus on which emerged White Tara. This tale of the origins of compassion shows that it is nothing more than a sincere wish to relieve suffering-and that this is what is required to show compassion.
She gained particular prominence in Tibet and the Himalayan areas, with the help of some great masters such as Atisha (982-1054 CE). White Tara is also frequently pictured and meditated upon as a meditational deity (yidam) whose blessings are for longevity, protection, and spiritual development. The devotees pray to her with devotion and meditate on her virtues of healing, patient care, and compassion.
It is noteworthy that White Tara is often found in monasteries and house shrines, highlighting her significance as a symbol of physical and spiritual health. These visualisations, mantras, and offerings enable a devotee to build their inner strength, serenity, and understanding of the Dharma through their practice. Her story and practice ignite inspiration in practitioners to live with compassion and mindfulness.
Iconography of White Tara
White Tara is easily identifiable in thangkas and statues because of her unique attributes:
White Body: Her white body represents purity, peace, and compassionate intention. She is holding a white lotus (utpala) between her thumb and ring finger, which symbolises an awakening from the world that is free from all stain and brings forth spiritual blossoming.
Seven Eyes: The seven eyes of White Tara are two on the face, one on the forehead, and one on each palm and sole, symbolising that she possesses full awareness, vigilance, and perceives the suffering of all beings. They are also freed from the four gates of birth, ageing, disease, and death.
Five Jewelled Crown: The crown she wears, decorated with five jewels, represents the five Buddha families and the merging of wisdom, compassion, and enlightened qualities. It is a symbol that awakens her as a fully fledged goddess, and also highlights her royal spiritual status.
Mudras of Generosity and Protection: Her right hand is extended in the varada mudra, which represents giving and blessing, while her left hand holds the lotus close to her heart, signifying her willingness to guide beings towards purity and awakening.
The posture and the seat: She is seated in the vajra posture, upon a moon disc that rests on a lotus base, symbolising her stability, grounding, and meditative serenity.
Symbolism: Layers of Meaning
White Tara’s iconography is rich with symbolic layers, each element conveying profound spiritual meaning. Her calm smile represents inner calmness, non-aggression, and the transcendence of enlightened compassion, reminding practitioners that real kindness comes from a calm and clear mind. The lotus she is holding or sitting upon represents purity and the sprouting of enlightenment, a testament to the birth of spirituality amid material reality.
Each of her eyes represents one of the cardinal directions and the four cardinal seasons, with the seven eyes having been placed on her face, palms, and soles, symbolising perfect awareness and omnipresent compassion, whereby her eyes are able to see the sufferings of all, no matter where they may occur. The white colour symbolises her purity, healing, and all her virtues. In total, White Tara's images convey a message of pure compassion: that it is far-sighted, steadfast, and luminous, deeply reaching out from suffering to provide firm and protective blessings for all.
Why Practice White Tara?
White Tara is well-loved in Tibetan Buddhism due to its combination of spiritual and practical advantages. People come to her to develop their inner attributes but also to receive blessings for health, protection, and longevity. Practitioners use meditation, visualisation, and mantra recitation to engage with her loving energy and to find tools to support them in dealing with the difficulties of life and increasing their spiritual journeys.
Longevity and Health: White Tara is called upon for longevity and to guard against disease. Her practice is regularly chanted when one is sick or setting up the karmic circumstances for a long and healthy life.
Inner Peace and Compassion: When meditating on White Tara, patience, gentleness, and compassionate empathy arise. Her calm vibrations can help to alleviate mental agitation and balance the emotions.
Protection from Fear and Obstacles: Traditionally, White Tara is believed to guard against the “eight fears” (symbolic archetypes of danger and suffering) to which beings are exposed in this world and in practice. They are afraid of beasts, natural disasters, disease, violence, and internal enemies, like pride and ignorance.
The mantra of the white Tara is:
Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Mama Āyuḥ Puṇya Jñāna Puṣṭiṃ Kuru Svāhā
-is chanted to seek her blessings for long life, more wisdom, and protection from hindrances on the path of the soul.
Depiction of White Tara in Thangka Art
Traditionally, the thangka art of Tibet depicts White Tara in a serene and compassionate pose, surrounded by a gentle, calming radiance that symbolises serenity and compassion. She is frequently depicted with clouds, flames, or other deities surrounding her, symbolising her divine power and protection. From her calm hands to the subtle expressions of her mudras, every aspect of the painting tells a story about her peaceful and compassionate qualities of healing, longevity, and mindfulness, creating an elaborate meditation map.
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Often, the thangka paintings feature figures, such as Amitayus above her or other figures related to longevity and protection. The figures that surround her underscore her role in a larger spiritual economy and indicate that her blessings are connected to other support systems that help sustain the practitioner's journey towards spiritual awakening. The artist's attention to detail, particularly the seven eyes, lotus position and symmetrical composition, further emphasises White Tara's all-seeing eye and her steadfast compassion for all sentient beings.
White Tara thangkas are not just works of art but also powerful tools for visualisation and devotion. They are used by practitioners to focus their minds, to embody her virtues, and to develop attributes like patience, empathy, and protective care. The visualisation of the thangka can also facilitate a direct encounter with the enlightened presence of White Tara, and her teachings can resonate on both a symbolic and experiential level, enhancing one's spiritual practice and promoting inner peace and longevity.
Depiction in Statues
White Tara statues are handcrafted from a range of materials, including bronze, copper, or gilt metals, and are often filled with exquisite detail to show her divine attributes. The statues accurately reflect her classic iconography with her expression, lotus seat, seven eyes, and meditative posture, conveying her peaceful presence and spiritual power. The attention to detail conveys her compassion, healing, and longevity with every gesture, gaze, and symbolic attribute.
The statues are important means for ritual and devotional practise. They are placed on altars or shrines and are used to focus the mind and heart on White Tara's merits, with which to make offerings, recite mantras, and meditate. The statue is surrounded by water bowls, flowers, incense, and other items used in ritual, forming a sacred space that fosters spiritual connection and reverence.
White Tara statues serve as more than just religious icons; they are symbols of guidance and protection that have stood the test of time. Meditating in front of the statue is a way to remind oneself of her ceaseless loving-kindness and the potential for awakening through wisdom and loving-kindness. By having the statue there, you build your awareness, get to spiritual practices, and invite in blessings of long life, healing, and clarity in your daily life.
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Alternative Names of White Tara
There are many names for White Tara, all of which describe her attributes, qualities, and spiritual roles. Her name, Sītātarā, means “White Tara” in Sanskrit, and Drolma Kar Mo or Drolkar means “White Saviouress” in Tibetan. These names reflect her purity, compassion and protective nature, and her role as a compassionate guide for those on the path to enlightenment.
Other names refer to her more particular qualities and abilities. Saptalochani, which means “Seven-Eyed Tara,” is the name given to her because she has extra eyes on her face, palms, and soles, representing all-seeing and all-loving. The Chintamanichakra Tara (White Tara of the Wish-Fulfilling Wheel) emphasises her power to fulfil spiritual wishes, while Mrityuvanchana Tara (White Tara of the Death Purging) emphasises her skill in bringing longevity and in protecting from untimely death. These Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Himalayan names together offer a glimpse into the depth of her enlightened qualities and her timeless importance in spiritual practice.
White Tara in Daily Devotion
Devotees may practice White Tara as a way to enhance their daily spiritual practice, seeking its presence to bring mindfulness, compassion, and protection to their actions. In the morning or in the evening, one can offer her flowers, incense, and recite her mantras, thus having a regular association with her enlightened energy. Additionally, White Tara is revered in many traditions for healing prayers, both for personal use and for the benefit of others, believing in her ability to provide comfort and peace.
In particular, she is known for her practice of the longevity ritual, which is commonly conducted before meditation retreats or other spiritual events, as White Tara is a symbol of long life and vitality. Visualisation meditations involve concentrating on her serene form, lotus posture and seven eyes, allowing her qualities to be internalised and her spiritual awareness to be increased. Devotees who experience White Tara on a daily basis receive her blessings and also experience the transformation of their own inner selves, cultivating more compassion, clarity and devotion in their daily lives.
Conclusion: White Tara’s Enduring Blessings
Today, White Tara is still a symbol of compassionate wisdom, healing, and life-affirming blessings. Whether in the form of ancient thangkas, elaborately crafted statues, or her personal meditations, her presence continues to inspire practitioners to practice longevity, health, fearlessness, and attain a more intimate relationship with the Dharma. Her calm gaze, the lotus position, and her seven eyes serve as a reminder for devotees to be alert, aware, and to recognise the power of compassion that extends beyond the spiritual realm to everyday life.
Practitioners relish the qualities of White Tara through rituals or the recitation of the mantras and visualisation meditations, so that patience, empathy, and protective care flourish in their hearts. Her presence is a constant reminder to engage in the spiritual journey not just with understanding, but also with commitment and a deep sense of love. Practitioners incorporate her blessings into their daily devotions, cultivating a transformative, insightful, and compassionate outlook on the world around them.
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