Green Tara is regarded as spiritual consort of Amogh Siddhi, The Dhyani Buddha.
Mythologically, Green Tara came into being when the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara cried upon seeing all of the suffering in the Universe. He cried so much that a pond grew out of his tears. Out of this pond grew a blue lotus flower, and on this flower appeared a beautiful woman. Her translucent green color was luminous with a great energy. She held a deep blue lotus, symbolizing limitless giving and refuge. The
color green is said to symbolize her quick action, and also her role as a forest deity.
Tara is usually depicted with her right leg extended, ready to spring into action, while her left leg is folded in the Buddhist contemplative position. The right leg symbolizes compassion and the left leg wisdom.These are the two virtues that, when developed together, lead one to enlightenment.Green Tara is portrayed similar to that of the White Tara. One can find the difference only in her left hand which holds a half-closed lotus or water-loly flower with long petals which is often blue. One of the main tara in this group is Arya Tara.
Tara's Bodhisattva Vow
Tara was once just an ordinary person, but after many lifetimes of practicing the Bodhisattva Path, she attained perfect enlightenment and vowed to stay and help all other creatures on their paths to enlightenment. The interesting thing about Tara is that she vowed not only to be a bodhisattva, but to do this in the form of a woman. Typically, in Buddhist thought, a Bodhisattva takes the male form.Tara's vow is striking because it went against traditional teaching. Her inspiring independence, along with many other qualities, has lead her to be perhaps the most popular Bodhisattva in the Buddhist tradition besides Avalokitesvara.
Tara's Qualities as a Bodhisattva
One of the characteristics of Tara is her title "Mother of All the Buddhas". This represent her perfect wisdom, and also symbolizes the feministic quality of wisdom. (In Buddhist tradition wisdom is represented by the female while compassion by the male.). And, as we are all to be Buddhas eventually, Tara is also our Mother.
Another characteristic of Tara as a Bodhisattva is her role of saviouress. She leads all beings across the river of samsara to the shore of enlightenment. She is also called "She Who Leads Across". Tara herself says, "I, O Lord, shall lead beings across the great flood of their diverse fears..." So not only does Tara help those who seek Nirvana; actually a major role she plays, but she also offers protection from the eight great fears. These are the fears of lions, elephants, fire, snakes, robbers, imprisonment, drowning, and demons. Of course in modern times we rarely fear snakes and elephants, so these outer fears are only symbolic of the eight inner fears, which affect us all. The inner fears are: pride, delusion, anger, envy, wrong views, avarice, attachment, and doubt. Tara helps to overcome all these inner negative emotions.
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References:
Ven. Thubten Chodron's Pearl of Wisdom, Book II
Description of Gods, Goddesses and Ritual Objects of Buddhism and Hinduism in Nepal, Handicraft Association of Nepal
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