Green Tara is a Buddhist Goddess of Compassion and a Savior Goddess. She is worshiped, or called upon in times of great difficulty, fear, danger, anxiety.

Tara was born from the tears of compassion of bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. who wept upon the suffering beings of the world. The tears formed a lake, where a lotus sprung up and when it opened the goddess Tara was revealed.

Green Tara is considered an active goddess of virtue representing the night in a half bloomed lotus, while White Tara is goddess of grace and serenity representing the day in a fully bloomed lotus. Together they represent the ever present compassion of the goddess who relieves suffering day and night.

Green Tara medieval devotional hymn:

On a lotus seat, standing for realization of voidness,
(You are) the emerald-colored, one-faced, two-armed Lady
In youth's full bloom, right leg out, left drawn in,
Showing the union of wisdom and art - homage to you!

Like the outstretched branch of the heavenly turquoise tree,
Your supple right hand makes the boon- granting gesture,
Inviting the wise to a feast of supreme accomplishments,
As if to an entertainment-homage to you!

Your left hand gives us refuge, showing the Three Jewels;
It says, "You people who see a hundred dangers,
Don't be frightened-I shall swiftly save you!"
Homage to you!

Both hands signal with blue utpala flowers,
"Samsaric beings! Cling not to worldly pleasures.
Enter the great city of liberation!"
Flower-goads prodding us to effort-homage to you!

-First Dalai Lama (1391-1474)



White Tara symbolizes wisdom, truth, purity and the compassionate energy of a mother. She is able to see all the suffering of the world with seven eyes. She is depicted with a third eye along with her two eyes, and an eye on each hand and foot. White Tara assists in overcoming obstacles, often those obstacles which relate to religious practice.