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White manifestation of Tara . White tara sits in dhyanasana, the pose of meditation and holds her hands in vitarka mudra ( chos jin chag gya ). This gesture is a combination of abhaya mudra ( jigmed chag gya ) with a finger touching the thumb and varada mudra( chogjin chag gya ), left and right hands respectively. Abhaya symbolizes protection and peace while varada denotes compassion and charity. Together, they symbolize discussion of the dharma and is sometimes called the mudra of explanation. It is commonly used by the great Buddhas and Taras. White Tara is often represented with seven eyes, three on the head, on the soles of each foot, and the palms of the hands. Similar to the thousand eyes of Avalokiteshvara, this allows Tara to see the suffering of beings and to assist them. She wears beautiful gold jewelry and wears her hair in the jatamukuta style, the tiara like crown of hair of bodhisattvas. Both her aureoles are white and plain, symbolizing her purity.
Dolkar is seated on a white lotus throne and holds a white lotus in her hand, the lotus of bodhisattvas. Placed before her is an offering bowl with a lute, grain offering ( tsamba ), a wheel of dharma, and a conch shell holding the elixir of immortality. White Tara's special function is to help beings elongate life, therefore she is considered the goddess of life. During the Teaching of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetans made sure to not miss the White Tara Long Life Empowerment. |
