Tara The Eternal Mother

The Mystery of Mother Tara

The Mystery of Dasamahavidya and Mother Tara

Can everyone worship the Dasamahavidya, the Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses? How many forms does Mother Tara have? Where did she come from? And sometimes, only her feet are worshipped — is that right or wrong?

The scriptures are clear: without proper initiation into Tantra, one should not worship the Dasamahavidya. For the uninitiated, chanting their mantras or performing their rituals is not advised at all. Instead of bringing good, it can cause harm. These are not simple deities. Among them, Mother Tara is one of the most difficult to approach.

Why is she called Tara? The word “Tara” means “the one who delivers, the savior, the one who ferries across.” She is the goddess who saves her devotees from the ocean of miseries and dangers.

In Buddhist Tantra, Tara is the principal goddess. But the Tara of Buddhist Tantra and the Tara of Hindu Tantra are very different. The Buddhist Tara has her own system, while the Hindu Tara follows the Vedic tradition. Mixing the two is incorrect.

It was the sage Vasistha who once traveled to Maha-Chin (what we now call Tibet) to learn the worship of Tara. There he met Buddha-rupi Janardana. Some say it was the Buddha himself; others believe it was a divine seer in the form of Buddha. From him, Vasistha received the knowledge of Tara’s worship.

Returning to India, Vasistha came to Tarapith in Birbhum, West Bengal. There, under a Shimul tree on the banks of the river Dwarka, he placed five skulls as his seat and performed the sadhana of Tara. Through this, he attained perfection (siddhi). That is why Tarapith became one of the most sacred and powerful centers of Tantra in India.

The Many Forms of Tara

Mother Tara is not one form alone. The scriptures describe eight forms of Tara, called Ashta-Tara, but apart from these she has countless manifestations.

Tantric tradition divides India into four great regions, called the Amnayas — North, South, East, and West. Each Amnaya has its own forms of Tara:

• In the Northern Amnaya, there are forms like Ugra Tara, Neela Saraswati, and others.

• In the Southern Amnaya, there are Chintamani Tara, Vajra Tara, and more.

• In the Eastern Amnaya, there are Parasha Tara, Chandravarna Tara, Chanda Ghanta Tara, etc.

• In the Western Amnaya, there are Ugra Tara and as many as 84 forms of Hamsa Tara.

The symbolism of the Hamsa (swan) is very deep. Just as a swan can separate milk from water, a true seeker must learn to separate essence from non-essence, truth from falsehood. Tara gives this wisdom.

Above these four, there is also the Urdhva Amnaya — the upper region — where we find Mahaghora Tara and Mahaneela Tara. Altogether, Tara’s forms are innumerable, adapted to the needs of different seekers.

Hindu and Buddhist Tara

In Buddhism, Tara is also widely worshiped. There she is considered the consort of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. She has many forms in Buddhism too — White Tara, Green Tara, Red Tara, and others. But again, the philosophy is different. Buddhism does not accept the Vedas, so its foundation is Avedic. Hindu Tara, on the other hand, is rooted in the Vedic tradition.

Because of this, Hindu Tantra never recommends adopting Buddhist practices directly. What Vasistha brought from Tibet was the essence of Tara worship adapted into the Vedic fold, which then blossomed at Tarapith.

The Left-Handed Path

Tara’s worship is not simple. She is worshiped in the Vamachara — the Left-Handed Path of Tantra. This involves the famous five “M”s: madya (wine), mamsa (meat), matsya (fish), mudra (grain or gesture), and maithuna (union).

To outsiders, this looks shocking. But in Tantra, these are not for indulgence, but for mastery. Just as medicine may contain poison but heals when taken correctly, so too these practices are transformed in sadhana. Too much of anything is poison, but in the right measure, poison itself becomes nectar. That is the teaching of Tara.

Because of this intensity, Tara’s worship is considered dangerous. Without the guidance of a true guru, one must never attempt it. Reciting her mantras after simply reading them in a book or hearing them on TV can bring spiritual harm rather than benefit.

Connection with Jupiter

On a practical level, Tara is closely associated with the planet Jupiter (Brihaspati). When Jupiter is weak in a horoscope, a person suffers from lack of recognition, career struggles, loss of wealth, and failure despite effort. Worship of Tara strengthens Jupiter’s influence. She grants knowledge, eloquence, prosperity, and fame.

Writers, poets, speakers, and politicians especially benefit from Tara’s grace. Those who want success in business are also advised to worship her.

A Tara Yantra may be established in the workplace on a pink cloth. Each day, a yellow flower should be offered — especially the yellow kolke flower. Tara loves yellow flowers. Unlike other goddesses, she is not pleased with red hibiscus; she prefers yellow blossoms.

Kubera-Tara

Tara is also called Kubera-Tara, the goddess of wealth. Like Kubera, she grants riches and prosperity. But she does not give money to those who will misuse it. She blesses only those who will use wealth wisely, for themselves and for the good of others.

Symbolism of Tara’s Fierce Form

The scriptures describe Tara in fierce ways. She is shown standing on Shiva’s chest, drinking his blood. This is symbolic, not literal. Shiva represents pure consciousness. Tara represents energy. For creation to manifest, energy must act upon consciousness — therefore she is shown on top of him.

She also carries a knife, a skull-cup filled with blood, and wears a garland of skulls. These are symbolic too. The knife cuts away worldly attachments. The skull is a reminder of life’s impermanence. The garland of skulls shows the endless cycle of birth and death. The blood-filled cup reminds us that until we conquer our lower desires, we cannot rise to higher truth.

Sometimes only Tara’s feet are worshipped. Why? Because the feet of the mother symbolize surrender. To bow before the goddess’s feet is to surrender ego and receive her grace. Even if one cannot worship her full form, offering prayers at her feet can bring immense blessings.

The Fierce Mother and the Path of Tara

The worship of Mother Tara is not for the faint-hearted. The scriptures describe her appearance as both awe-inspiring and terrifying. She is often shown as dark blue in complexion, with a disheveled hair, three eyes blazing with fire, and a tongue dripping with blood. Her voice is like thunder, and her roar echoes across the three worlds.

She stands upon the chest of Lord Shiva, who lies motionless beneath her. This image confuses many. How can the Mother stand on Shiva himself? But the symbolism is deep: Shiva represents pure consciousness, passive and formless. Shakti, the Mother, represents energy, movement, creation. Without Shakti, Shiva is inert. Without Shiva, Shakti is blind force. The union of the two sustains the universe. That is why Tara is shown standing upon him — it is the play of energy over consciousness.

Her garland is made of severed human heads, numbering fifty, representing the fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. This reminds the seeker that all sound, all speech, all knowledge originates from her. Her skirt is woven from severed arms, symbolizing the cutting away of ego-driven action. In one hand she holds a scimitar, in another a skull-cup brimming with blood. These again are not meant to terrify, but to awaken. The scimitar cuts through ignorance and attachment; the skull-cup holds the essence of life and death, teaching that one must go beyond fear to realize truth.

Yet Tara is not only fierce. She is also infinitely compassionate. Her name itself means “savior,” the one who delivers across the ocean of suffering. Just as a boat carries passengers across a river, Mother Tara ferries her children across the ocean of birth and death. That is why, when dangers arise, seekers call upon Tara with the cry: “O Mother, save me, deliver me!”

The Path of Vamachara

Tara’s worship belongs to the Vamachara, the Left-Handed Path of Tantra. Here the practices are intense, even shocking to the common mind. The five Ms are central: madya (wine), mamsa (meat), matsya (fish), mudra (grain or gesture), and maithuna (union).

To the ignorant, these seem like indulgences. But in Tantra, they are tools for transformation. When used with discipline and guided by a true Guru, they burn away desires instead of feeding them. For example, wine symbolizes the nectar of divine bliss, meat represents the sacrifice of animal instincts, and maithuna signifies the ultimate union of Shiva and Shakti within oneself.

But without initiation, without the guidance of a realized teacher, these practices can destroy the seeker. That is why the scriptures warn: never attempt the worship of Tara by yourself. Her mantra is not to be uttered casually. It is said that her mantra is like fire — in the hands of one who does not know, it burns; in the hands of the wise, it gives light.

Tara and Jupiter

In astrology, Tara is deeply connected to the planet Jupiter, or Brihaspati. A weak Jupiter brings endless struggles: lack of recognition, poor finances, obstacles in education, and failures in career. Worshiping Tara strengthens Jupiter’s influence, bringing wisdom, wealth, and social honor.

Students, teachers, poets, writers, and speakers especially benefit from her grace. Those who seek eloquence in speech or success in politics are often advised to worship Tara. Even businesspeople find their prosperity enhanced under her blessings.

To worship her practically, one may establish a Tara Yantra on a pink cloth in the place of work. Each day, a yellow flower should be offered — especially the yellow kolke flower, for Tara is especially fond of it. Unlike other goddesses who love red hibiscus, Tara prefers yellow flowers.

Kubera-Tara: The Goddess of Wealth

Tara is not only a savior; she is also the giver of wealth. In this aspect she is called Kubera-Tara. Like Kubera, the god of riches, she blesses her devotees with prosperity and material abundance. But she is very selective: she never grants wealth to one who will misuse it. Money in the wrong hands becomes a curse. That is why Tara ensures her blessings go only to those who will use it wisely, for good and noble purposes.

Legends of Tarapith and the Coming of Mother Tara

The worship of Mother Tara in Bengal has a very deep connection with Tarapith, the most sacred seat of her sadhana. The story goes back to the great sage Vasistha.

Vasistha was one of the greatest rishis, but even he had to undergo immense struggle to gain Tara’s grace. He traveled far and wide, seeking the true path of her worship. It is said that he even went to Maha-Chin — the land we now know as Tibet — where Buddhist Tantrics worshiped Tara. There he learned some of her mysteries, but his quest was not complete.

Finally, he came to Tarapith, in the district of Birbhum, Bengal. Here, by the banks of the river Dwarka, he performed intense austerities, offering worship with wine, meat, and other elements of the Left-Handed path. The practices were fierce and terrifying to the ordinary eye.

At one point, Vasistha is said to have used human skulls in his ritual. He lit a fire in a cremation ground, arranged fifty skulls in a circle, and sat in the center chanting Tara’s mantra. Around him, the night echoed with the cries of jackals and the laughter of unseen beings. Such is the terrifying path of Tara — she demands complete fearlessness from her devotee.

But despite his efforts, Tara did not appear at once. Vasistha became disheartened. He wondered if he was unworthy, or if his methods were flawed. At that moment, Lord Shiva himself appeared in disguise as Buddha-rupi Janardana — a radiant figure resembling the Buddha. He revealed to Vasistha that Tara’s grace is not attained merely through ritual. What is needed is surrender, faith, and the guidance of a true Guru.

With this realization, Vasistha continued his sadhana with even greater devotion, and finally Mother Tara revealed herself to him — not as a distant terrifying goddess, but as the loving Mother who rescues her child from danger.

The Symbolism of Tarapith

Why is the place called Tarapith? Because it is the “seat” (pith) of Tara. According to legend, when Sati’s body was dismembered by Vishnu’s chakra, her third eye fell here. That third eye is the seat of wisdom, of insight beyond ordinary sight. Thus Tarapith became a power-center, a place where the veils between worlds are thin, where the Mother is easily accessible to her devotees.

Even today, Tarapith is famous for its cremation ground, where sadhus perform their midnight rituals. While others fear the sight of burning pyres, the Tantrics of Tara sit calmly amidst them, chanting her name. For them, death is not an end but a doorway to truth.

Tara as the Compassionate Mother

Though she is depicted in fierce form — with blood, skulls, and weapons — her essence is compassion. She is called the Savior, the one who carries her children across the ocean of fear. Her fierceness is only a mask, meant to destroy ignorance and ego.

For the true devotee, Tara appears as the most tender of mothers. Countless stories are told of how she has saved her children in moments of crisis: a boat capsizing in the river, a devotee attacked by enemies, a sadhaka surrounded by wild animals — all saved by calling out, “O Mother Tara!”

She is thus worshiped not only by Tantrics but also by simple villagers, fishermen, and travelers, who see her as their guardian and protector.

The Practices of Tara Worship

Worship of Mother Tara is unlike the worship of most other deities. She is both simple and difficult, compassionate yet demanding. Her path is open to all, but only under proper guidance, for without it, the seeker can fall into danger.

The Mantra of Tara

It is said that Tara’s mantra is like fire. To the one who handles it correctly, it gives warmth and light. To the unprepared, it burns and destroys. That is why no one should attempt to chant her mantra without proper initiation from a Guru.

Her most well-known seed mantra is “ॐ तारे तुत्तारे तुरे स्वाहा” (Om Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā) in Buddhist practice, and in the Hindu Tantric tradition her mantra is even more esoteric, filled with bija syllables like “स्त्रीं (Strīm), ह्रीं (Hrīm), क्लीं (Klīm).” These sounds have no meaning in ordinary language — they are vibrations, codes that open doors to hidden states of consciousness.

The scriptures say that even uttering her mantra once with true devotion can rescue a soul from drowning in the ocean of samsara. But that same mantra, when uttered casually, may bring unpredictable consequences.

The Tara Yantra

For householders and those engaged in worldly work, the simplest form of Tara’s worship is with the Tara Yantra. This is a geometric diagram, inscribed on copper or bhojpatra, containing her bija mantras in specific patterns.

The Yantra should be placed upon a pink or yellow cloth, in the northeast direction of the house or workplace. Each day, it should be worshiped with incense, a ghee lamp, and especially a yellow flower. Unlike Kali or Kamakhya, who are pleased with red hibiscus, Tara loves yellow flowers the most — particularly the yellow kolke flower. Offering this daily strengthens one’s Jupiter, brings prosperity, removes obstacles, and invites the protective grace of the Mother.

The Gifts of Tara

Tara’s blessings are many. She grants not only spiritual liberation but also worldly success. Students gain intelligence and clarity; teachers and writers gain eloquence; businesspeople find their ventures prosper; those in politics gain recognition and influence.

Yet her gifts come with conditions: she never allows her blessings to be misused. If wealth is to be given, it will go to one who uses it for good, not for selfish destruction. That is why she is sometimes worshiped in the form of Kubera-Tara, the bestower of riches. But unlike Kubera himself, Tara does not give blindly. She chooses her recipients carefully.

Warnings of the Path

The path of Tara is not to be taken lightly. Many have tried to imitate Tantric rituals — sitting in cremation grounds, drinking wine, chanting mantras without initiation — and have lost their sanity. Tara is Mother, but she is also fierce. She strips the seeker bare of all illusion. One must be prepared to face one’s own fears, desires, and hidden weaknesses.

The scriptures say: “Without Guru, no mantra bears fruit. Without surrender, no sadhana succeeds.” Tara demands both — a true teacher and complete faith.

Tara and the Wealth of Kubera

Mother Tara is not only the fierce liberator who destroys fear — she is also the giver of prosperity. For this reason, she is often called Kubera-Tara.

Why Kubera-Tara?

Kubera, the god of wealth, is known for storing and distributing riches. But Tara’s wealth is of a different kind. She gives prosperity with protection. The riches she bestows are never wasted, never lost to greed, and never used for evil. She only blesses those who will use wealth for good — for family, for dharma, and for the welfare of others.

This is why she is also called the guardian of fortune. In many households, even today, people quietly keep a small Tara Yantra or picture beside their cash box or workplace altar, believing that Tara ensures steady flow and safety of income.

How She Grants Wealth

Unlike Lakshmi, who is associated with beauty, luxury, and abundance, Tara’s wealth is often more practical and protective. She saves families from sudden loss, helps people recover from debts, and shields businesses from ruin. Her wealth is not just gold and jewels — it is also food on the plate, peace of mind, protection from danger.

Many fishermen in Bengal still call on Tara before setting out to sea. They say: “O Tara, keep us safe, bring us back with full nets.” For them, her wealth is the daily bread she secures for their families.

The Dual Face of Tara

Tara is two-faced — not in deceit, but in power. To the unworthy, she appears as fierce, terrifying, holding a skull cup and knife. To the worthy, she is gentle, motherly, giving boons like Annapurna, the goddess of nourishment.

This duality teaches us that wealth itself is double-edged. In the hands of the greedy, it destroys. In the hands of the righteous, it nurtures. Tara ensures it always goes to the latter.

Legends of Her Protection

There are many village stories where Tara appeared in dreams to warn her devotees of danger — “Do not travel tomorrow, there is peril on the road.” Those who listened were saved. Others tell of sudden windfalls: a lost item found, a loan unexpectedly repaid, a job secured against all odds. All such gifts are seen as the play of Kubera-Tara.

In the deeper Tantras, it is said that Tara holds the key to the eight forms of wealth (Ashta-Lakshmi), but she gives them in her own way — not as ornament, but as sustenance, protection, and security.

Her True Treasure

Above all, Tara’s greatest treasure is fearlessness. What use is gold if one lives in terror? Tara gives the courage to face life, death, loss, and struggle — and that courage itself becomes the highest form of prosperity.

The Terrifying yet Compassionate Form of Tara

Among all the Mahavidyas, Tara’s appearance is perhaps the most shocking to ordinary eyes. At first glance, she seems dreadful — but hidden within that fearsome image lies the deepest compassion.

Her Iconic Form

In her most common depiction, Mother Tara is seen:

• Standing or sitting upon the chest of Lord Shiva’s corpse-like body.

• Her skin is a deep blue, darker than the storm clouds.

• In one hand she holds a knife (kartrika), in another a skull-cup (kapala) filled with blood.

• Her third hand makes the gesture of granting boons, and the fourth grants fearlessness.

• She wears a garland of fifty severed heads, each representing one letter of the Sanskrit alphabet — the building blocks of all speech and knowledge.

• Around her waist hangs a belt of severed arms, symbolizing that she cuts away human ego and pride.

At her feet lies Shiva, white and motionless, symbolizing the silent ground of consciousness. Tara dances upon him, showing that Shakti (the dynamic force) plays upon the stillness of pure awareness.

Why Such a Terrifying Image?

To understand Tara’s dreadful form, one must see beyond the surface. The skulls, the knife, the blood — these are not signs of cruelty, but of truth.

• The skull cup teaches that all bodies end in death. What we drink, eat, and enjoy is temporary. Tara holds it openly, forcing us to accept reality.

• The knife cuts through ignorance, ego, and attachment.

• The garland of heads shows that even language and thought — the letters themselves — must ultimately be transcended.

• Shiva beneath her feet reminds us that the play of life and death takes place upon the eternal ground of consciousness.

Thus, her terrifying form is actually the face of liberation. She frightens the ego, but she saves the soul.

The Blood in Her Cup

One of the most mysterious aspects is her drinking of blood. To worldly eyes, it looks horrific. But the Tantric texts say: “Rakta is Rasa” — blood is essence, the vital juice of life. By drinking it, Tara shows that she absorbs all experience, all karma, and frees her devotee from its binding effect.

In this act, she becomes the Savior — the one who swallows our sins, our fears, our mortality, and gives us back freedom.

The True Mother Behind the Mask

Devotees say that when one looks past her dreadful form, Tara suddenly reveals herself as the tenderest mother. Her blue face softens, her fearful eyes glow with compassion, and she stretches her arms not to terrify but to embrace.

That is why Tara is so beloved. She is not a distant goddess of perfection, but a mother who walks into the darkest, dirtiest, most frightening places — cremation grounds, battlefields, the hearts of sinners — and there, she saves.

Tara in the Lives of Her Devotees

Unlike distant deities worshiped only in temples, Tara has always lived close to ordinary people. In Bengal, Assam, and parts of Bihar, her name is whispered in homes, in fishing boats, in paddy fields, and even in market stalls.

Tara of the Villages

To the villagers, Tara is not just a fierce goddess in a cremation ground — she is Ma, the mother who listens to every prayer. Fishermen call upon her before casting their nets, saying: “Ma Tara, bring us home safe with food for our children.” Farmers bow to her before sowing seeds, trusting she will protect their crops from floods and pests. Mothers whisper her name when their children fall ill, believing Tara’s cool blue hand will reduce the fever.

Her temples are often simple — a small shrine beneath a banyan tree, or a stone idol smeared with sindoor near a pond. But the faith surrounding her is immense.

Everyday Miracles

Devotees tell countless stories of Tara’s grace:

• A poor family unable to repay debt suddenly finds the creditor forgiving them after a dream of the Mother.

• A man about to drown in the river finds himself mysteriously pushed to the shore, and later swears he saw a blue hand pulling him up.

• Women struggling to conceive pray at her shrine, and within months, bear healthy children.

These are not written in big scriptures but passed down through songs, lullabies, and folktales. For the villagers, these stories are proof that Tara walks with them every day.

Festivals of Tara

While Kali Puja and Durga Puja are celebrated with grandeur, Tara Puja is often more intimate. In Tarapith, thousands gather, but in villages, it may be just a family lighting a lamp, offering rice, bananas, and a simple yellow flower.

Devotees sing: “Ma Tara, take away our hunger, our fear, our sorrow.” There is no demand for luxury — only survival, safety, and motherly care. And this is exactly what Tara provides.

The Protective Mother

Above all, Tara is seen as a shield. People believe that by keeping her name on their lips, no ghost, no disease, no misfortune can touch them. Children are often taught their first prayer as: “Tara Ma, Raksha Koro” — “Mother Tara, protect us.”

To the simple heart, Tara is not fierce, not frightening. She is the cool, dark-skinned mother who stays awake while her children sleep, guarding them through the night.

The Sacred Land of Tarapith

If there is one place in Bengal where the pulse of Tara beats strongest, it is Tarapith, in Birbhum district. At first glance, it looks like any other temple town, but hidden behind its lanes and crowded bazaar lies a history soaked in mysticism, legends, and faith.

Why “Tarapith”?

The word pith means a sacred seat of the Goddess, and Tarapith is believed to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. According to legend, when Lord Shiva wandered the universe carrying the dismembered body of Sati, her third eye (or in some versions, her eyeball) fell at this spot. Since tara also means “star” or “eye,” the place became known as Tarapith — the Seat of the Eye of the Goddess.

The Temple

The Tarapith temple may not be architecturally grand, but its spiritual aura is unmatched. Inside, the idol of Mother Tara is both awe-inspiring and comforting:

• She is shown seated on a corpse, with her tongue outstretched, drinking blood from a skull cup.

• Her eyes are large, compassionate yet piercing.

• The sanctum is dimly lit, filled with the scent of incense, camphor, and ghee lamps.

Unlike in other temples, here the Mother’s form is openly fierce — reminding devotees that she accepts them with all their flaws, fears, and sins.

The Cremation Ground

What makes Tarapith truly unique is not only the temple but the vast cremation ground (Maha Smashan) nearby. For centuries, this has been a gathering place for sadhus, tantrics, and seekers who practice deep meditation, sometimes sitting on ashes of the dead, calling on Tara in her most primal form.

Locals say that at midnight, the boundary between life and death feels thinner here. Strange sounds, visions, and presences are often reported. But to the true devotee, none of this is frightening — it is only the Mother’s play.

Bamakhepa – The Mad Saint of Tara

No account of Tarapith is complete without mentioning Bamakhepa, the most famous saint of the cremation ground. Born in the 19th century, he was called “the mad saint” because he lived naked, wandered the cremation grounds, laughed, sang, and sometimes wept like a child — all in devotion to Mother Tara.

He ate from skulls, slept on the burning ground, and yet radiated such peace and love that people from all walks of life came to him for blessings. For Bamakhepa, Tara was not an image — she was his real, living Mother. He would scold her, plead with her, joke with her, and sometimes even fight with her, just like a child with his mother.

It is said that Tara would often appear to him in visions, feeding him, guiding him, and assuring him that she was always near. His samadhi (tomb) still stands in Tarapith, where devotees bow their heads in reverence.

The Atmosphere of Tarapith

To walk in Tarapith is to feel a strange mixture of fear and love. One moment you hear the crackle of funeral pyres, the next you hear devotional songs floating from a small shrine. The air is thick with both the smell of sandalwood and burning flesh — reminding visitors of the closeness of life and death.

Yet, amidst this, people feel an overwhelming sense of peace. For here, Tara teaches: “Do not fear death. I am with you in both life and death. I am the Mother who swallows fear itself.”

The Tantric Secrets of Tara

Mother Tara is not a goddess of outer pomp or royal grandeur. She belongs to the hidden path of Tantra, where truth is faced directly, without disguise. To understand her worship, one must step into the twilight world where fear, desire, life, and death are all accepted as gateways to the Divine.

Why the Cremation Ground?

Most people see cremation grounds as places of fear and sorrow. But for the Tantric, they are the ultimate classroom of truth. Here, all masks fall away:

• The king and the beggar both become ash.

• Wealth, beauty, and pride mean nothing before the fire.

• Only the bare essence remains.

By meditating in such a place, the seeker confronts fear directly. Tara is invoked there because she is the one who transforms fear into freedom. Sitting on ashes, surrounded by death, the devotee calls out: “Ma Tara, I am yours. Free me from illusion.”

The Five Offerings

Tantric worship of Tara often includes the famous pañca makara — the “five M’s.” To outsiders, they seem shocking, but they are symbolic:

1. Madya (wine) – symbol of divine bliss.

2. Mamsa (meat) – symbol of transcending taboo.

3. Matsya (fish) – symbol of the dualities of life, flowing in unity.

4. Mudra (parched grain) – symbol of worldly sustenance.

5. Maithuna (union) – symbol of the merging of soul and Spirit.

In higher practice, these are not physical acts but inner realizations — transforming desire into devotion, fear into courage, and ego into surrender.

Tara as the Guiding Star

Her very name, Tara, means “the star” — the one who shows the path in darkness. Just as sailors look to the Pole Star in the night sky, seekers look to Mother Tara in the dark night of ignorance. She does not promise to remove the darkness; instead, she gives the light to walk through it.

The Sound of Tara

Tantric texts also describe Tara as the embodiment of sound (shabda). Every letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, strung in her garland of heads, is her vibration. The seeker chants her seed-mantra, “Om Hrim Strim Hum Phat”, which is said to awaken her presence instantly. To the devoted, this mantra is not just sound — it is the Mother’s own heartbeat.

The Fearless Approach

Unlike other forms of worship where one bows timidly, Tara’s worship requires boldness. A devotee must stand before her dreadful form and declare:

“Yes, I see death. Yes, I see fear. But Mother, I know you are beyond all of this. Take me beyond too.”

In that fearless surrender, Tara reveals her secret face — not the blood-drinking goddess, but the tender, blue-skinned Mother who whispers: “Child, you were never alone.”

The Terrifying Mother and the Gentle Savior

At first glance, Tara’s form shocks the mind. She stands on a corpse, garlanded with severed heads, holding a blood-filled skull in her hand. Her tongue protrudes, her eyes blaze. This is not the sweet image of a mother rocking her child to sleep.

But to her true devotees, Tara is the most compassionate Mother of all. Her frightening appearance hides an infinite tenderness.

Why the Terrifying Form?

Life itself is both beautiful and terrifying. Birth brings joy, death brings sorrow. Rivers nourish, but they also flood. Fire gives warmth, but it also burns. Tara’s form reflects this dual reality of existence. She tells her children:

“Do not look away from truth. Face it. Even in the darkest terror, I am there.”

For the timid, she may appear as a nightmare. But for those who surrender, she is the one who destroys nightmares.

The Gentle Savior

Behind the blood-red tongue lies the softest smile. Behind the garland of skulls beats the heart of a mother who would never abandon her children. Devotees testify that in times of deepest suffering — hunger, illness, grief, or danger — it is Tara who appears, sometimes in dreams, sometimes in subtle signs, reassuring them:

“I will carry you across.”

This is why she is called Tara — the one who ferries devotees over the ocean of fear and suffering.

The Meeting of Opposites

In her, opposites unite:

• Fierce destroyer, yet gentle protector.

• Dweller of cremation grounds, yet giver of life.

• Symbol of death, yet mother of creation.

To the seeker, she reveals that these opposites are not enemies but two sides of one reality. Life and death, fear and safety, destruction and creation — all dissolve in her embrace.

The Mother’s Promise

Legends say that Tara made a promise:

“Whoever calls me with a pure heart, even once, I will never abandon them. Be it in the city, the forest, the battlefield, or the burning ground — I will come.”

It is this assurance that keeps millions bound to her, not out of fear, but out of love. Her devotees feel: “She may look dreadful, but she is dreadful only to our fears, not to us. To us, she is only Ma — our eternal mother.”

Tara Beyond Bengal: The Goddess Who Crossed Borders

While Bengal holds Tara in her fierce Tantric form, her worship did not remain confined there. The currents of faith carried her across mountains and valleys, into Nepal, Tibet, and far-off lands of the Himalayas. There, she took on new forms, yet her essence remained the same — the savior, the compassionate mother.

Tara in Tibet

When Buddhism entered Tibet, it absorbed many Tantric deities of India. Among them, Tara shone most brightly. She became known as the Mother of Liberation, beloved by monks and common folk alike.

In Tibet, she appears not with skulls and blood, but with a softer, serene beauty. Two of her most famous forms are:

• Green Tara (Shyama Tara): Quick to act, she is always ready to jump up and help her devotees. She is shown with her right foot extended, symbolizing readiness to move. Her green color represents active compassion.

• White Tara (Shveta Tara): The goddess of long life, healing, and peace. She has eyes not just on her face, but on her hands and feet too, showing her watchfulness over the world.

Yet, both forms retain the same promise as Bengal’s Tara: “Call me, and I will come.”

The Twenty-One Taras

Tibetan texts describe not just one or two, but twenty-one manifestations of Tara — each addressing different fears and obstacles. Some protect from disease, some from poverty, others from untimely death, evil spirits, or natural disasters.

For the Himalayan people, living in harsh landscapes filled with danger, Tara became the ever-present guardian, the one they turned to in every crisis.

Nepal’s Tara

In Nepal, Tara is honored both by Hindus and Buddhists. Here, she bridges the two faiths, showing that the Divine Mother is beyond sectarian boundaries. In temples of Kathmandu Valley, her image is worshiped alongside both Hindu deities and Buddhist Bodhisattvas.

The Universal Mother

Whether fierce in Bengal or serene in Tibet, Tara remains the same essence:

• The star who guides in darkness.

• The mother who listens without delay.

• The liberator who frees from fear.

Her spread across cultures proves that she is not bound by geography. Where there is fear, she appears. Where there is devotion, she responds.

Tara in the Lives of Her Devotees Today

Though centuries have passed since the old Tantras were composed, the worship of Tara has not faded. In Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Nepal, and Tibet — and even among diaspora communities abroad — Tara remains alive in the hearts of her children.

The Village Mother

In small villages of Bengal and Assam, Tara is not worshiped with elaborate rituals or Sanskrit hymns. She is simply called “Tara Ma”, the village mother. Farmers, boatmen, widows, and children come to her shrine with offerings of flowers, rice, and incense. They do not recite long mantras, but whisper from the heart:

“Ma, protect my family.”

“Ma, help me in this illness.”

“Ma, bring my husband safely from the river.”

And countless are the tales of prayers answered.

Dreams and Visions

Many devotees report that Tara comes in dreams. Sometimes she appears in her frightening form, warning the devotee to abandon harmful paths. At other times, she comes as a blue-skinned, smiling mother, stroking the head of her child.

In such visions, she often gives simple instructions — to chant her name, to keep faith, to perform some small act of kindness. For the devotee, these dreams are more real than waking life.

Festivals and Temples

While her Tantric worship is secret and performed by initiated practitioners, there are also public festivals. In many parts of Bengal, Tara Puja is celebrated much like Kali Puja, with lamps, music, and offerings through the night. Temples dedicated to Tara — such as Tarapith in Birbhum, West Bengal — remain crowded with pilgrims every day of the year.

At Tarapith, devotees believe that Tara resides not only in the sanctum but also in the cremation ground nearby, blessing those who meditate there with courage and liberation.

Everyday Miracles

To her children, Tara is not a distant goddess of scriptures. She is present in everyday miracles:

• A lost child safely returned.

• An incurable illness suddenly healed.

• A sudden escape from an accident.

• A deep peace in the heart during moments of despair.

For the devotee, such events are not coincidences. They are proof that Tara is watching, listening, guiding.

The Modern Relevance

In today’s world, where fear takes new shapes — anxiety, loneliness, uncertainty about the future — Tara’s presence is more relevant than ever. She may not appear with skulls or flames, but she comes as inner strength, as sudden courage, as the calm voice that says:

“Do not be afraid. I am with you.”

Tara: The Eternal Mother

From the dark cremation grounds of Bengal to the snowy peaks of Tibet, from the pages of ancient Tantras to the whispered prayers of village mothers — Tara shines as one truth in many forms.

The Three Faces of Tara

1. The Tantric Tara – Fierce, garlanded with skulls, standing on corpses, she teaches the fearless to face reality without illusion.

2. The Devotional Tara – The simple village mother, who listens to the cries of her hungry children and gives them food, safety, and comfort.

3. The Universal Tara – The serene goddess of Tibet and Nepal, the compassionate savior who helps all beings cross the ocean of fear.

These are not contradictions — they are different ways the Mother reveals herself according to her child’s need.

The Thread of Compassion

Whether fierce or gentle, Tara’s essence is compassion. She is not bound by rituals or languages. A scholar may invoke her with Sanskrit mantras; a poor widow may just whisper “Ma Tara.” In both cases, the Mother hears, because her bond is with the heart, not with the tongue.

The Promise of Liberation

Tara’s name means “She Who Ferries Across.” Life is an ocean — full of storms, waves, and unseen depths. Tara is the boat, the ferryman, and the guiding star. She promises that no soul who remembers her with love will ever be abandoned in this ocean.

Tara Today and Always

In every age, Tara adapts to the needs of her children:

• To the ascetic, she gives mystical visions.

• To the householder, she gives protection and prosperity.

• To the frightened, she gives courage.

• To the dying, she gives a fearless crossing.

Thus, Tara is not just a goddess of the past, nor only of certain lands. She is the eternal mother of all who suffer and all who hope.

The Final Word

When the scriptures are too difficult, when rituals seem too far away, when life feels too heavy — the devotee needs only to say one thing:

“Ma Tara, I am your child.”

And in that cry, the Mother comes. Fierce to enemies, tender to her children, she lifts the soul in her arms and carries it safely across the ocean of fear, into the shoreless peace of her embrace.