21 Taras | The Ultimate Guide to the 21 Taras Meaning, Benefits, Mantras & Sacred Feminine Wisdom in Himalayan Buddhism
The 21 Taras, known in Tibetan Buddhism as Drolma Nyerchig, form one of the most complete and profound systems of divine feminine wisdom in the Himalayan spiritual tradition. They represent twenty-one emanations of Tara, the enlightened goddess of compassion, protection, and swift assistance.
Tara is believed to arise from the tears of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. When he wept for suffering beings, his tears fell upon a lotus, and from that lotus emerged Green Tara and White Tara, followed by the full manifestation of the 21 Taras—each embodying a unique form of enlightened activity.
Today, practitioners, meditators, yogis, and collectors search for:
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21 Taras meaning
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What each Tara represents
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Green Tara meaning
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White Tara meaning
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Tara mantra meaning
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Tara for protection, healing, abundance
This guide synthesizes traditional Tibetan teachings with modern spiritual understanding, offering the definitive English explanation of the 21 Taras.
1. Who Is Tara?
The Divine Feminine of Tibetan Buddhism**
Tara is one of the most widely revered female Buddhas. Her name means:
“She Who Liberates.”
She embodies:
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swift compassionate action
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maternal protection
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fearless courage
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healing and longevity
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abundance and wisdom
Practitioners turn to Tara during moments of fear, illness, emotional turmoil, life transitions, or spiritual seeking.
In the Himalayan world, Tara is regarded as:
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The Mother of All Buddhas
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The Swift Saviouress
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The Goddess of Universal Compassion
Her twenty-one emanations collectively offer protection, healing, prosperity, wisdom, purification, and spiritual awakening.
2. Tara’s Mantra Meaning
The most famous mantra is:
Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha
Meaning:
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Tare — calling upon Tara
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Tuttare — removing fear and outer obstacles
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Ture — removing inner emotional and karmic obstacles
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Soha — establishing protection in one’s heart
This mantra is recited across Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, and the Himalayas to invoke Tara’s immediate presence.
3. Green Tara Meaning vs White Tara Meaning
Green Tara Meaning — The Swift Liberator
Green Tara is the principal form of Tara and the source of all 21 emanations.
She represents:
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swift action
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protection from fear
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overcoming obstacles
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courage and movement
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compassionate response
Her right foot extends outward, symbolizing her readiness to rise and help instantly.
👉 Explore Green Tara thangkas:
21 Taras – ThangkaMarket
White Tara Meaning — Healing, Longevity, Serenity
White Tara is the Tara of long life, health, purification, and peaceful compassion.
Her most recognizable feature is seven eyes:
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two on her face
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one on her forehead
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one on each palm
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one on each foot
These symbolize her omniscient awareness of suffering in all realms.
4. What Are the 21 Taras?
The 21 Taras represent twenty-one aspects of enlightened feminine energy. Each Tara possesses a distinct color, mudra, sacred object, and spiritual function.
They fall into four categories:
1. Protection Taras
Rescuing from fear, disasters, danger, and external threats.
2. Prosperity & Wish-Fulfilling Taras
Providing abundance, success, merit, and longevity.
3. Healing & Purification Taras
Removing toxins, illness, emotional suffering, and karmic obstacles.
4. Wrathful & Spiritual Power Taras
Destroying negativity, harmful energies, illusions, and spiritual obstacles.
Together, these emanations form a complete mandala of Tara’s enlightened activities.
5. The 21 Taras Explained
Group One: Protection & Fear-Removing Taras
Eliminating danger, obstacles, and emotional fear
1. Green Tara — The Swift Saviouress
Color: Green
Meaning: Protection, courage, rapid response
Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha
Power: Removes the eight great fears
👉 See Green Tara thangkas
21 Taras – ThangkaMarket
2. White Tara — The Bestower of Long Life
Color: White
Features: Seven eyes
Power: Healing, longevity, foresight, purification
3. Earthquake-Subduing Tara
Blue
Power: Stability, grounding, protection from sudden collapse
4. Fire-Pacifying Tara
Golden yellow
Power: Protection from fire, anger, agitation; emotional cooling
5. Water-Pacifying Tara
Red
Power: Protects against drowning, overwhelm, emotional floods
6. Wind-Pacifying Tara
White
Power: Calms wind, storms, nervous system imbalance
7. War-Pacifying Tara
Blue
Power: Protection from conflict, aggression, weapons
8. Prison-Liberating Tara
Red
Power: Freedom, justice, breakthrough, release from limitations
9. Anti-Theft Tara
Black
Power: Protects wealth, assets, boundaries
10. Beast-Subduing Tara
Black
Power: Dispels predatory forces, primal fears
Group Two: Prosperity, Abundance & Wish-Fulfilling Taras
Blessings for livelihood, success, relationships, and opportunity
11. Treasure Tara (Wealth Tara)
Gold
Power: Wealth, resources, prosperity, removing poverty
12. Wish-Granting Tara
Orange
Power: Fulfilling noble desires, harmony, partnership blessings
13. Power-Increasing Tara
Red
Power: Authority, influence, magnetizing positive relationships
14. Merit-Increasing Tara
Orange-gold
Power: Fortune, opportunities, stability in livelihood
15. Long-Life Tara
White
Power: Longevity, vitality, protection from premature death
Group Three: Healing & Purification Taras
Healing physical, emotional, and spiritual toxins
16. Anti-Poison Tara
White
Power: Removes toxins (physical & energetic), infections, harmful energies
17. Medicine Tara (Healing Tara)
Green
Power: Epidemics, chronic illness, long-term healing
18. Desire-Pacifying Tara
Red
Power: Transforms craving into clarity and wisdom
19. Poverty-Eliminating Tara
Blue
Power: Physical & emotional nourishment, stability, basic needs
Group Four: Wrathful Taras of Protection & Spiritual Power
Overcoming negativity, spirits, illusions & fear
20. Demon-Subduing Tara
Black-blue
Power: Cuts through harmful forces, nightmares, dark emotions
21. Tara of Ultimate Joy & Liberation
Red-gold
Power: Spiritual awakening, liberation from suffering, inner freedom
6. Benefits of Tara Practice
People around the world search for:
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Tara benefits
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Tara for healing
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Tara for abundance
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Tara for protection
Here is a clear summary:
Protection Benefits
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removes fear
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protects from danger
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dispels harmful energies
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shields from obstacles
Healing Benefits
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emotional healing
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physical health
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longevity
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inner peace
Abundance Benefits
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wealth and resources
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opportunities
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positive relationships
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life success
Spiritual Benefits
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wisdom
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clarity
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karmic purification
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awakening
7. How to Practice Tara
Tara practice in Tibetan Buddhism includes:
1. Reciting Tara’s mantra
Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha
2. Visualizing Tara’s form
Practitioners imagine her emerald, peaceful, or radiant presence.
3. Chanting the Praise to the 21 Taras
A powerful text recited daily in many monasteries.
4. Using Tara thangkas in meditation
Tara thangkas act as sacred mirrors of enlightenment.
👉 Browse Tara deity thangkas:
21 Taras – ThangkaMarket
8. How to Choose a Tara Thangka
Many search for:
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Tara thangka for sale
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Green Tara thangka
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White Tara thangka
Here is a simple guide:
Choose Green Tara Thangka if you want:
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protection
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swift assistance
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courage
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progress
Choose White Tara Thangka if you want:
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healing
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longevity
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serenity
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family protection
Choose 21 Taras Thangka if you want:
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complete protection
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all blessings together
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spiritual empowerment
9. FAQ About the 21 Taras
1. What are the 21 Taras?
Twenty-one emanations of Tara expressing different enlightened activities.
2. What is the meaning of the 21 Taras?
They represent protection, healing, abundance, wisdom, and liberation.
3. What is the meaning of Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha?
A mantra calling Tara to remove fear and obstacles.
4. What is Green Tara’s meaning?
Swift protection and compassionate action.
5. What is White Tara’s meaning?
Healing, long life, peaceful compassion.
6. Which Tara is for protection?
Green Tara and the first ten Taras.
7. Which Tara is for healing?
White Tara, Medicine Tara, Anti-Poison Tara.
8. Which Tara is for wealth?
Treasure Tara, Wish-Granting Tara, Merit Tara.
9. Which Tara is wrathful?
Tara #20 and #21 subdue negativity and harmful forces.
10. How do I practice Tara?
Mantra recitation, visualization, thangka meditation.
11. Are the 21 Taras different goddesses?
They are 21 forms of the same enlightened feminine energy.
12. Where can I learn more about Tara?
Visit our Learning Center:
Learning Center – ThangkaMarket
10. Conclusion
The 21 Taras form a holistic mandala of feminine awakened energy—fierce, gentle, healing, protective, abundant, wise, and liberating.
They guide practitioners through every aspect of life: fear, illness, uncertainty, growth, prosperity, and spiritual awakening.
May the blessings of Tara illuminate your path.







