Twenty-one Emanations of Taras

Praises to the Twenty-One Taras is a traditional prayer in Tibetan Buddhism to the female Bodhisattva Tara (also known as Arya Tara, or Jetsun Dolma) 

The prayer is found in all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Each of the twenty-one emanations of Tara has her own name, and a specific mantra with which she is associated, offering protection from various types of fears, harm, and calamities.

The iconographical traditions

The various authors of the commentary tradition often placed a special emphasis on the iconography of each of the 21 forms of Tara, describing her colour, seat, posture, number of faces and arms, implements and hand gesture. The iconographical descriptions in the commentaries may not always correspond to the description of the Taras in the Praises to the 21 Taras. There are three main iconographic traditions that formed in Tibet.

Suryagupta Tradition

Depicting the 21 Taras as differing in all details such as posture, number of heads and hands, colour, implements and hand gestures.

Nagarjuna and Atisha’s tradition

In which the 21 Taras are rarely distinguished except by colour, peaceful or wrathful expression, and the colour of the vessel that each holds in the left hand.

The Nyingma Terma tradition of Jigme Lingpa and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

Depicting them as in Nagarjuna and Atisha’s tradition, but of different colours and holding individual emblems on top of the lotus in the left hand, rather than vessels. Jikme Lingpa’s and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa’s tradition differ only slightly from each other.

The individual of the Twenty-one Emanations of Tara based on Nyingma Terma traditions:

1. Tara, who is swift and courageous for development of Bodhichitta
2. Tara, who is melodious for knowledge and wisdom (i.e. Sarasvati)
3. Tara, who grants supreme merit for the force of merit
4. Tara, who is completely victorious for long life (i.e. Ushnishavijaya)
5. Tara, Kurukulla for magnetising people and wealth
6. Tara, who causes terror for destroying the power of harmful influences (i.e. Vajravidarana)
7. Tara, who is invincible for protection from hailstorms and lightning
8. Tara, triumphant over others for repelling blame
   
9. Tara of the Khadira Forest for protection from the eight great fears. (She is the main Tara, green in colour)
10. Tara, who conquers the three worlds to have power over the world
11. Tara, who bestows wealth for dispelling poverty and granting good fortune
12. Tara, who brings auspiciousness for the auspiciousness of children, fame, rain and so on
13. Tara, who destroys the power of enemies for victory in war
14. Tara, furrowing Brow for protection from spirits
15. Tara, who is perfect peace  for purifying harmful actions
16. Tara, who is ablaze with light for dispelling spells and negative effects
17. Tara of limitless subjugation for protection from robbers, thieves, animals and hunters
18. Tara, majestic as the Great Peahen to protect from and neutralize poison
19. Tara, who is unconquerable and victorious for protection from quarrels and bad dreams (i.e. Sitatapatra)
20. Tara, Dweller in the mountains for protection from epidemics
21. Tara, ‘Rays of Light for restoring the spirits and energies of sick people (i.e. Marichi)

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