According to Buddhist scriptures, Green Tara is an emanation born from the tears of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. Legend has it that upon witnessing the suffering of sentient beings, Avalokiteshvara shed tears of great compassion. These tears gathered and formed a sea, from which a lotus blossom emerged, and from this lotus, Tara was born. She vowed to take a female form to save and deliver all sentient beings.
Like a mother, she swiftly responds to the pleas of sentient beings, rescuing them from the eight great calamities of human existence (such as dangers from lions, elephants, snakes, water, fire, imprisonment, thieves, and non-human entities). Hence, she is also known as the "Savioress from the Eight Calamities." In Tibetan Buddhist belief, she is revered as the embodiment of the enlightened activities of all buddhas. Whether seeking wisdom, accumulating merit, removing obstacles, or praying for safe journeys and successful endeavors, devotees turn to her with their supplications. She is like an ever-accessible and omnipotent "cosmic mother," who never turns away the cries of any of her children.
Her mantra, (Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha), is a stream of compassionate sound that penetrates all hardships. These brief syllables are ceaselessly recited by countless devotees day and night. It is not merely a signal of invocation to Green Tara; the vibration itself carries purifying power. When fear strikes, it becomes a soothing solace; in moments of confusion, it serves as a guiding light; when karmic obstacles manifest, it acts as nectar that cleanses negative karma. This sacred sound is the most direct bridge connecting the ordinary human heart with divine compassion.
In Tibetan Buddhism, Green Tara holds an immensely revered status. According to legend, Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty was an emanation of Green Tara, who brought Central Plains culture and compassion into the snowy plateau, becoming a beautiful symbol of the integration of Han and Tibetan cultures. Throughout generations, esteemed masters and practitioners often turn to her with devout prayers seeking blessings before embarking on retreats or distant journeys.
Today, her presence is no longer confined to the snowy plateaus of Tibet. In many Han Chinese monasteries and practice communities, the verdant form of Green Tara is increasingly encountered, while her compassionate mantra is being widely learned and recited by a growing number of people. She has thus become a shared spiritual refuge transcending cultural boundaries.
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