Green Tara

CHINA, Tibet

Green Tara is seated in a relaxed pose upon a lotus throne. Her body, green in color representing youthful energy and enlightened activity, is tilted slightly to one side, and her right foot rests upon a lotus pedestal. Tara wears a golden five-leaf crown, large earrings, necklaces, armlets, bracelets, and anklets. She gestures the refuge-granting mudra in the left hand, while the right hand gestures the varada (wish-granting) mudra. The blue lotuses held in hand symbolize purity and power. The back of Tara’s throne is decorated with gold scrolling patterns and animals such as elephants, goats, lions, makaras, and nagas. Within the base of the throne, there are images of the heads of strange smiling creatures. The niche surrounding the throne is extravagantly decorated with precious stones and topped with three stupas. Bodhi trees are painted around the top of the niche. This colorful, detailed artwork combines Nepalese and Indian styles, but a Tibetan verse written on the back suggests that it was painted in central Tibet.