Vajrayana
Tara names, characteristics and correspondence with the Tarot
21 Taras
Number
Name [PT]
Arcana [JL]
Name [TM]
Praise [BW]
Rite [BW]
Temper [BW]
Arms [BW]
Praise [TP]
Summary [TM]
Mantra [TM]
Description [TM]
Description [PT]
Color
Color (Text)
1
NYURMA PAMO
Heroic Red Tara
turning back the power of others.
Peaceful
Swift Protection
Swift Heroine Who Increases Bodhicitta and Overpowers Obstacles
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE BODHICITTA SVAHA
NYURMA PAMO is semi-wrathful and red in color. She liberates beings from the suffering of samsara and protects them from fear. With her compassionate power, she removes obstacles and increases bodhicitta, awakened heart. Upon her utpala flower is a white conch shell that curls clockwise, symbolizing the glorious sound of relative and absolute bodhicitta pervading the entire world.
The name of the first Tara, with all her Tibetan titles, is Jetsun Drolma Nyurma Pamo. Nyurma means that Tara’s activity is very quick and swift, without delay. Pamo is the feminine form of the term for a hero, which can be translated as “heroine”. It describes Tara’s heroic courage and commitment to the liberation of all beings.
Red
2
LOTER YANG CHENMA (VAJRA SARASVATI)
Moonlight White Tara
calming infectious disease
Peaceful
Creative Wisdom
Melodious One, the Treasure of Intelligence
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE PRAJNA HRIM HRIM SVAHA
LOTER YANG CHENMA is peaceful and white in color. She unlocks the treasures of music, art, wisdom, and the four types of knowledge: meaning, phenomena, definitive words, and courageous eloquence. Upon her utpala flower is a clear mirror marked with the syllable HRIM, which radiates light. Her face glows with the white light of one hundred autumn full moons.
The second emanation of Tara is named Loter Yangchenma. Loter means “knowledge giver”. The Tibetan term Yangchenma means “melodious, one who possesses melodies” or “source of melodies”. So we might call her Drolma Loter Yangchenma: Melodious Liberator, Source of Wisdom. In Sanskrit she is called both Sarasvati and Vajrasarasvati.
White
3
SERMO SÖNAM TOBKYÉ
Golden Colour Tara
prolonging life.
Peaceful
Impeccable Virtue
Golden One Who Increases the Power of Merit
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAHA PUNYE SVAHA
SERMO SÖNAM TOBKYÉ is peaceful and golden yellow in color. Her body radiates light the color of the rising sun, empowering practitioners to enact oceans of bodhisattva activities. She bestows wealth and longevity and liberates beings through the six paramitas: generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, meditative stability, and transcendent wisdom. Upon her utpala flower is a wish fulfilling-jewel that showers down whatever one desires.
The third Tara is called Tara Sonam Tobche. Sonam means “merit”. It is also often translated as “good fortune, prosperity” or even “luck”. Tob is the Tibetan word which means “power, ability”, and che means “increasing”. Roughly translated, “liberator, increasing the power of prosperity and ability of merit” is the word meaning of this Tara’s name. Other very popular names for her are Vasudhari in Sanskrit and Norjunma in Tibetan. The effect of practicing on this Tara of prosperity is not just that we will acquire external or material wealth, but also that we will develop inner or spiritual wealth. By practicing on Tara Sonam Tobche, we can develop both forms of wealth.
Golden
4
TSUGTOR NAMGYALMA (USHNISHAVIYAYA)
Crown Victorious
neutralizing lethal poisons
Peaceful
All Victorious
Victorious One of Ushnisha Who Accomplishes Immortality
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE AYUR DATE BHRUM SVAHA
TSUGTOR NAMGYALMA is peaceful and golden yellow in color. She emanates from the crown chakra of the Buddha as Prajnaparamita. She is victorious over all non-virtue and afflictive emotions. Upon her utpala flower is a vase of immortality that radiates light in the ten directions. This light transforms the radiant essence of samsara and nirvana into nectar that fills her vase.
Tsugtor in Tibetan means the topknot upon the crown chakra of a Buddha; this is one of the thirty-two marks of a fully enlightened being. Namgyal or vijaya means “victorious one”. Roughly translated, her names mean “victorious one of the top knot”. This particular Tara is renowned as the Tara of long life, with the ability to strengthen the life force, life energy, and vitality of all sentient beings. She is also protecting beings from taking rebirth in unfavourable situations or lower realms.
Golden
5
RIGJÉ LHAMO (KURUKULLÉ)
Proclaiming the Sound of HUM
subjugating
Peaceful
Sublime Intelligence
Magnetizing Goddess of Vedic Knowledge
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE KURU KULLE NRI DZA SVAHA
RIGJÉ LHAMO is semi-wrathful and red in color. The mantra TUTTARE blazes with rainbow light. Its sound magnetizes and conquers through the power arising from the union of emptiness and compassion. Upon her utpala flower is a bow and arrow poised to shoot sharp rays of light that destroy arrogant pride. She effortlessly accomplishes the four enlightened actions: pacifying, enriching, magnetizing, and subduing.
The fifth Tara is Wangdu Rigje Lhamo. She is Kurukulle in Sanskrit and Rigjema or Rigje Lhamo in Tibetan. Wangdu means power of “gathering, summoning”, or “magnetizing”. We can think of it as attracting everything beneficial, to benefit all beings. Rigjema means “she who precisely understands everything”. And Lhamo is “divine lady”. So she is the Tara who precisely understands the power of magnetizing.
Kurukulle‘s practice is very extensively taught throughout Tibetan Buddhism. She is often named the “Red Tara” because of her colour.
Red
6
JIGJÉ CHENMO
Victorious over the Three Levels of the World
purification of all obscurations and negativities
Peaceful
Worthy of Honor
Great Terrifying Lady Who Completely Destroys Negativity
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA BIGHNEN BAM HUNG PHAT SVAHA
JIGJÉ CHENMO is wrathful and dark red in color. She is worshipped and praised by all, and her power subdues all negative forces. Upon her utpala flower is an indestructible phurba, a ritual dagger that subdues negativity, surrounded by blazing lassoes of flames and sparks. This turbulent fire and its natural sound, HUNG, splits the heads of demons and obstructing spirits who cause delusion, insanity, and memory loss, rendering them unconscious in the state of suchness, never to rise again.
The name of sixth Tara is Jigje Chenmo. Jigje means “fierce, frightening” and Chenmo means “Great One”, so this Tara is great, fierce Tara. She is renowned for protecting against any negative force we feel is disturbing us, whether it is due to invisible beings and negativities or visible obstacles.
Dark Red
7
ZHENGYI MITUBMA
Crushes Adversaries
transference of consciousness to the Akanistha Pureland at time of death; destroyer of adversaries
Wrathful
Invincible Courage
Unconquerable Fierce Lady Who Dispels Wars and Natural Disasters
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE VAJRA TAKA HANA LITSA PHAT SVAHA
ZHENGYI MITUBMA is wrathful and black, like dense storm clouds. By the ripping sound of the wrathful seed syllable TRET and the splitting sound of PHAT, she completely destroys the spells of enemies, evil deeds, hail, lightning, natural disasters, invading troops, and weapons of mass destruction. Upon her utpala flower is a sword blazing with fire. She is ablaze with masses of wisdom fire. From her compassionate furrowed brow fly meteors and sparks.
The seventh Tara is known as Zhengyi Mithumba. Her name means “unconquerable, cannot be defeated by others.” She destroys all negativities.
Dark Blue
8
ZHEN MIGYALWA’I PAMO
Gives Supreme Spiritual Power
completion stage practices; destroyer of Maras (demons) and the two obstructions
Wrathful
Destroys Negativity
Invincible Heroine Who Destroys Criticism and Harm
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE DAHA PATSA HUNG PHAT SVAHA
ZHEN MIGYALWA’I PAMO is wrathful and dark red in color. Her compassion is as swift as lightning, and she completely destroys the four demons. Upon her utpala flower is a vajra blazing with fire. Sparks radiate outward, completely burning, scattering, and destroying demons, disturbing emotions, argument-makers, lawsuits, and other troubles.
Zhengyi Migyalma’s name, roughly translated means “invincible lady”. You can’t win against her. So, if you’re a mara, or demon, better leave her alone! Or better yet, be nice to her. This Tara can also protect against troublemakers, persons who criticize and harass others, and people who bring lawsuits.
Dark Red
9
SENGDENG NAG
Khadira Fragrant Forest (Principle Green Tara)
Peaceful
True Refuge
Noble Lady Tara of the Teak Forest Who Protects from All Fears
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE DANA TRAYA SVAHA
SENGDENG NAG is peaceful and blue green like an emerald. She protects beings from the eight great fears, each of which have an outer and inner aspect: water/attachment, thieves/false views, lions/pride, snakes/jealousy, fire/anger, spirits/doubt, imprisonment/greed, and elephants/ignorance. Upon her utpala flower is a universal wheel blazing with turbulent light that tames beings by means appropriate to their needs.
Green Tara, who protects from all external fears, is named Tara Sengdeng Nagchi or sometimes Sengdeng Nagchi Drolma. The Sengdeng is a very large tree, known as teak in English. Sengdeng is considered a wrathful tree. In Tibet damaru and chod drums are made from this strong, dense wood. In Tibetan medicine the bark and resin are used to make a tea considered very beneficial for the blood. As nag means “forest”, she is the Green Tara of the sengdeng forest.
Emerald Green
10
JIGTEN SUMLÉ GYALMA
Dispels All Suffering
Her rite is entering the mandala
Peaceful
Joy and Laughter
Victorious Over the Three Worlds, She Who Overpowers the Universe
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE LOKA PASHAM KURU SVAHA
JIGTEN SUMLÉ GYALMA is peaceful and red in color. Rainbow light emanates from her body and the victory banner upon her utpala flower, overpowering all the gods of the desire realm. She brings supreme joy to all beings. The mantra of her speech, endowed with the eight modes of laughter − HA HAA, HI HII, HE HAI, HO HAU − empowers all beings, setting them on the path of liberation.
The title Jigten Sumle Gyalma means “Tara who gains victory over all the three worlds”. Her special power is to protect us against distraction by worldly activities. She is associated with red colour.
Red
11
NORTERMA
Summons All Beings and Dispels Misfortune
Increasing enjoyments and accomplishing activities through the ten guardians
Wrathful
Distributor of Wealth
Bestowing Wealth and Removing Poverty
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA BASU PUSHTIM KURU SVAHA
NORTERMA is semi-wrathful and golden red in color. Her shower of blessings fills the entire world, completely liberating sentient beings from the suffering of poverty. Upon her utpala flower is a treasure vase that grants all wishes. The light of the syllable HUNG radiates from her body, speech, and mind, showering down all the wealth and glory of gods, nagas, and humans.
This eleventh Tara’s name Phagmo means “noble one” or “supreme one”. Roughly translated, Norter means “bestowing riches”, so Phagma Norter Drolma is the Noble Tara who bestows wealth, renowned as Tara the wealth giver, who removes the sufferings of poverty.
Orange
12
TASHI DÖNJÉ MA
Grants Prosperity and Brings about Auspicious Circumstances
Her rite is the fire offering
Peaceful
Auspicious Beauty
Accomplishing Auspiciousness, Bringing Timely Seasons, Prosperity, and Harmony to the Land
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MANGALAM SHRI MAHA PANI SVAHA
TASHI DÖNJÉ MA is peaceful and gold in color. A rain of nectar and auspicious symbols descends from her body, benefitting all beings, plants, and harvests, establishing the entire world in perfect balance and prosperity. Upon her utpala flower is an auspicious infinity knot. Atop her crown are Buddha Amitabha and a crescent moon. Light radiates from her body, the infinity knot, the crescent moon, and Buddha Amitabha.
Tara Tashi Donje means “Tara who actualizes auspiciousness”. Tashi means “auspicious circumstances” and Donje means “fulfilling” or “actualizing”. In particular, this Tara is renowned for bringing harmony and balance. Internally she brings health and physical balance and externally she brings timely seasons, good harvests, healthy children, and prosperity. With her help all becomes as it should be.
Golden Yellow
13
YULLAY GYALJÉ
Complete Ripener
Her rite is for subduing hindrances
Wrathful
Irresistible Truth
Victorious Over War and Other Obstacles With and Without Form
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE VAJRA DZAWALA PHAT PHAT RAKSHA RAKSHA SVAHA
YULLAY GYALJÉ is semi-wrathful, has three eyes, and is red in color. She brings infinite joy to all beings and protects them from war and obstacles. Upon her utpala flower stands a vajra with open prongs. Light and sparkling vajras radiate from the open vajra, annihilating the hosts of enemies and harm-doers, completely surrounding everything with an indestructible vajra tent.
This Tara’s name in Tibetan, Tara Yulle Gyalma, means “Tara who gains victory over war”. She is renowned for protecting against all the obstacles related with wars. She can reverse the march of armies or stop the war completely. Her protection also applies inwardly, too, as she stops hostile emotions born of conceptual thinking that disturb our awareness and wisdom and might lead us to warlike actions.
Dark Red
14
TRONYER CHENMA
Wrathful, Shaking and Frowning Tara
Her rite is the protective circle
Wrathful
Ferocious Compassion
Frowning Lady, Destroying Evil of the Nine Kinds of Harm-Doers, Eight Classes of Spirits, and Obstructing Forces
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE HUNG HUNG HAM SHAM TRIG NAN PHAT SVAHA
TRONYER CHENMA is wrathful, frowning, and black like dense rain clouds. With the roaring sound of HUNG she radiates light and flaming vajras that split the heads of negative forces and demons causing them to fall unconscious in the state of dharmata (suchness). Upon her utpala flower is a pestle. Her hands and feet strike the earth, stamping out ignorance and causing the ground to tremble.
This Tara is known as Thronyer Chen. Thronyer is “frowning, wrathful”, so she is the very wrathful, frowning one. She is a special emanation of Tara whose activity is removing subtle obstacles due to misleading influences, which are usually our most stubborn obstacles. She deals with our last “wrinkles” or , we might say, the last two per cent of our delusions, deep within the elemental nature of human beings.
Dark rain-cload
15
RABZHIMA
Great Peaceful One Who Provides Virtues and Goodness
cleansing, purification, praised in terms of her Dharmakaya aspect
Peaceful
Serene Peace
Perfectly Calm One, Pacifying Evil Deeds and Obscurations
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA PAPAM GATE GATE SVAHA
RABZHIMA is peaceful, white like the full moon, and smiling. Upon her utpala flower is an anointing vase filled with nectar. Countless purifying goddesses holding anointing vases emanate from her heart. The light that radiates from her, and the bath bestowed by the emanated goddesses, wash away all evil deeds and obscurations that cause rebirth in the lower realms.
Tara Rabzhima’s special activity is purifying our most serious errors and greatest obscurations, so she is called the Tara of purification. Rabzhima means “supremely peaceful”.
White with Blue Lotus
16
RIG NGAG TOBZHOM
Destroyer of All Attachment
cleansing, purification, praised in terms of her Dharmakaya aspect
Wrathful
Destroys Attachment
Destroyer of the Power of Evil Spells Cast by Enemies and Sorcerers
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE TRAM DU TRINA TRAM DU PHAT SVAHA
RIG NGAG TOBZHOM is peaceful and red in color. The light of her wisdom, compassion, and power completely destroys enemies, evil spells, and Mara, lord of negative forces. She grants the power of true speech to those who pray to her. Upon her utpala flower is a crossed vajra that completely destroys the power of curses, evil, and all negativity.
The sixteenth emanation of Tara has special powers to stop the negative intentions of others, such as spells and curses. Her name is Tara Rigngag Tobjom. Rigngag may have several meanings, but in this case it refers to misusing the mantra or other aspects of practice for evil purpose, to harm. Thus the meaning of her name is “Tara who destroys the power of bad intentions”.
Red
17
PAGMÉ NÖNMA
Accomplisher of Joy and Bliss
Binding thieves, praised for wrathful activity of shaking the three worlds.
Peaceful
Triumphant Joy
Boundless Subduer Who Binds Enemies, Robbers, Thieves, and Hunters
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE HUNG HUNG BAM HO SVAHA
PAGMÉ NÖNMA is peaceful and golden red in color like clouds at sunrise. With her magical power, she subjugates bandits, robbers, thieves, hunters, and all enemies, establishing sentient beings in bliss. Upon her utpala flower is a stupa. From the HUNG in her heart, rays of light in the form of countless HUNG syllables radiate out. Peaceful and quick to tame sentient beings, she stamps her two feet on the earth.
Tara Pagme Nonma protects against obstacle associated with robberies, gangsters, and hunters. She brings beings into a state of calm and tranquillity, so she is the Tara of non-violence. Her name Pagme means “immesurable, countless” and Nonma means “stopping”. So this is the Tara who stops countless violent activities.
Orange / Golden Red
18
MAJA CHENMO
Victorious Tara Who Increases Realizations
Curing leprosy and Naga diseases (as Tara cured Surya Gupta.) Praised for dispelling poisons of all kinds.
Peaceful
Transformer of Poison
Great Peacock, Protecting from and Pacifying All Kinds of Poison
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA VISHA TARA PHAT SVAHA
MAJA CHENMO is peaceful and white in color. She protects from poison. Upon her utpala flower is a full moon marked with a rabbit. From this, rays of nectar light radiate, spreading in all directions and completely removing all poisons from the environment and sentient beings. The moon symbolizes self-arisen wisdom that is free from increasing and decreasing, transition or change.
This Tara’s Tibetan name is Tara Maja Chenmo. Now mayura is the Sanskrit word for “peacock”, which is maja in Tibetan, so she is the “great one on the peacock”. Peacocks are especially associated with protection from poisons because it is said that the peackock eats poison and transforms it into the beauty of its plumage. Thus Tara Maja Chenmo’s special activity is counteracting or dispelling inner and outer poisons. These might be from food, water, environmental pollution, or any type of unhealthy situation. Maja Chenmo is also renowned for her compassion in protecting infants and young children. It is thought that she saved the life of Nagarjuna.
White
19
DUGKARMO
Extinguisher of All Suffering
Curing leprosy and Naga diseases (as Tara cured Surya Gupta.) Praised for dispelling poisons of all kinds.
Peaceful
Remover of Sorrow
Invincible Queen of the White Umbrella Who Dispels Conflicts and Bad Dreams
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE HUNG HUNG PHAT PHAT RAKSHA RAKSHA MAM SVAHA
DUGKARMO is peaceful and white in color. Meditating upon her and reciting her mantra brings joy and bliss, causing the practitioner’s body, speech, and mind to blaze with power and splendor. Upon her utpala flower is a white umbrella. Fire, weapons, and vajra sparks emanate from her body, completely uprooting hostility toward the dharma, worldly disputes, curses, misuse of mantric power, and negative signs in dreams.
Tara Dugkarmo is a famous emanation of Tara who protects from nightmares, bad omens in dreams, and black magic. She especially protects the Dharma and the lamas from arguments and violence. Dugkar means “white umbrella”, so she is often called Queen White Umbrella.
The white umbrella symbolizes that she is held in the highest respect.
White
20
RITRÖ LOMA GYÖNMA
Source of All Powerful Attainments
Dispelling fevers and epidemics.
Peaceful
Radiant Health
Noble Lady of Mountain Retreat, Clothed in Leaves, Who Removes Contagious Diseases
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE NAMA TARE MANO HARA HUNG HARA SVAHA
RITRÖ LOMA GYÖNMA is peaceful and yellow red like saffron. Devotedly reciting her mantra dispels all deadly epidemics. Upon her utpala flower is a round vessel filled with nectar. Her eyes are like the sun and the full moon. From the sun of her right eye shines radiant light, destroying all disease-bearing beings. From the moon of her left eye, a rich stream of nectar descends healing all forms of disease, including their causes and consequences.
Tara Rito Loma jonma is known for giving protection against contagious diseases, plagues, and fevers. Roughly translated, Rito means “mountain hermitage”, Loma means “leaves of a tree”, and Jonma means “wearing”. So this is the Tara wearing the leaves of a tree in her mountain retreat. In many of the traditional stories about Tara, she appears as a lady dressed in leaves to save a devotee from a fearful situation.
Golden Red Tara
21
LHAMO ÖZER CHENMA
Perfection of Wisdom and Compassion
Rite is for “sky going” to the Akanishtha Pureland in this very life; praised for subduing evil spirits and zombies.
Wrathful
Complete Enlightenment
Goddess Endowed With Light Who Replenishes the Longevity and Life Force of the Sick
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MARITSE YE TSE BHRUM NRI DZA SVAHA
LHAMO ÖZER CHENMA is peaceful and white in color. She radiates light, instantly summoning all evil spirits who steal the vitality and longevity of the sick. Upon her utpala flower is a golden fish. Light radiates from the three syllables OM AH HUNG of her body, speech, and mind, completely pacifying all obstacles: outer forces, inner imbalance of the elements, and secret obstacles of dualistic grasping at afflictive emotions.
Tara Ozer Chenma is the divine great Mother of “brilliant light rays”, Ozer. She is particularly beneficial to us because she can protect our longevity. She helps us when our energy, vitality, or life force is endangered. She is also renowned as protectress of animals.
White Tara with a blue lotus on a golden fish
