028
The Buddha Matri ("Mother of Buddhas"), Shyama ("Beautiful,
Dark") Tara Performing the Salvation from Elephants (from a Set of
the Eight Salvations)
Thangka, painting
Cotton support with opaque mineral pigments in waterbased (collagen) binder
Size?
Central Tibet
Ca. 18th or 19th century
Menri Serma "New School of Men style"
Green Tara is renowned in Tibet as the protectress from the eight great
perils. The eight perils are both literal and symbolic, representing both
actual physical dangers and hinderances to attainment. The gold star emerging
from her right palm effects salvation, in this case, from the danger of
elephants, or the fault of delusion. The mountain landscape suggests that
she is in Khadiravani, her paradise. Tara's powers of effecting salvation
is further enhanced by the medicinal trees that are said to grow in Khadiravani.
Wendy Kaiser
Museum #: 97.266
Huntington Archive Image Scan #: T1031