Potala Palace: Embroidery of White Tara

CHINA, Tibet, Lhasa

White Tara, also known in this form as Tara of the Seven Eyes, has three eyes on her face, and one eye on each of her palms and feet. Her hair is tied up in a topknot and surrounded by a flower garland. She has a round face, high forehead, thin eyebrows, wide eyes, long nose, and narrow mouth. The nimbus is in the form of a red circular flame pattern, and the circular mandorla consists of two rings, the inner of which has a radial pattern, while the outer is plain. Around the outside, there are udumbara flowers. Tara wears a stole over her shoulders and has necklaces, armlets, and bracelets. A sash is tied across the body, and the lower body is covered in a loose-fitting dhoti. Seated in full lotus position on a lotus throne, Tara’s right hand forms the varada (wish-granting) mudra, while her left hand holds a long-stemmed lotus. In the upper register, there is a triad of figures with the sun and the moon above. There are two Dharma protectors in the lower register, flanking a lotus emerging from the water and holding up offerings.