Among the ten cosmic flames of the Dashamahavidyas, Tara shines like a midnight star — steady, radiant, and terrifying in her love. She is not the soft glow of morning, but the stark brilliance that appears in the darkest sky, lighting the way for those who have lost all bearings. To those caught in the swirling currents of fear, ego, and death, Tara is the one who ferries you across. Her name itself means “Star” or “She Who Saves.” And she does so not by avoiding destruction, but by guiding the seeker through it, wielding the sword of truth in one hand and the cup of transformation in the other.
Shri Tara Jai Tara
The Essence of Tara in Hindu Tantra
Tara holds the second seat among the Dashamahavidyas — the ten great Wisdom Goddesses of Shakta Tantra. As a fierce form of Adishakti, she manifests not to soothe, but to awaken. Her presence is the whisper that reaches us when everything else falls silent. She is the savior, the voice in the storm, the mother who yells to wake her child from a nightmare — not because she is angry, but because she loves without measure.
In Tantric lore, Tara is often associated with Kali, sharing many attributes: the garland of severed heads, the naked form, the intense gaze. But Tara is not a mirror of Kali. She is her own pulse in the cosmic rhythm — not dissolution, but guidance through dissolution. If Kali is the cremation ground itself, Tara is the burning star that hovers above it, unmoved by smoke or death.
Mythic Grace: When Tara Saved Shiva
A key story that reveals Tara’s essence unfolds during the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean. This is a Tantric version that is popular particularly around Bengal. When deadly poison rose from the depths, threatening to destroy all worlds, Shiva drank it to save creation. The poison scorched him from within, and he collapsed, unconscious and turning blue.
At that moment, the fierce goddess emerged — Tara, blue herself like the poison, cradling Shiva in her lap. She nursed him like a mother, not only restoring his life but transforming the poison into wisdom. This image — of the fierce goddess nursing the god of destruction — speaks volumes. Tara is not just a protector; she is the one who redeems what seems irredeemable.
Her Iconography: A Tantric Revelation
Tara’s form is not easy to digest. She is often depicted with:
- A dark blue or black complexion, echoing the infinite sky
- Four arms, holding a sword, a flaying knife, a lotus, and a skull cup
- A tiger-skin skirt and a garland of severed heads
- Her right foot forward, trampling a corpse (symbolizing ego or inert consciousness)
- Eyes wide and laughing in fierce, liberating joy
Her imagery may seem terrifying at first glance, but every element is symbolic of transformation. Her sword cuts through false identity. Her skull cup receives the surrender of the ego. Her lotus reminds us that even in death, beauty can bloom. She is fierce, yes — but fierce with purpose.
The Power of Sound and Word
Among all Mahavidyas, Tara is uniquely linked to speech, sound, and vibration. She is considered the Goddess of Vāk, the sacred voice, the source of mantra, and the primal sound from which the universe emerges. Not just speaking in the literal sense — Tara governs the resonance behind the word, the truth within the utterance.
To invoke Tara is to invite truth into your voice. Not the socially accepted kind, but the deep inner truth that shatters illusions — even if it costs you your comfort, even if it rewrites your life.
She lives not only in chants, but in the spaces between words, the breath before sound, the silence before speech. In this way, Tara is the very medium of transmission — from divine to human, from darkness to clarity.
Forms and Pathways
In Hindu Tantra, Tara is worshipped in several aspects:
- Ekajaṭā Tara: With a single braid, symbolizing focused discipline
- Ugratarā: The fierce protector against sudden catastrophe
- Nīlasarasvatī: The blue Saraswati, embodying wisdom beyond intellect
Each form reveals a different mood of the same Goddess — approachable through sincerity, not status. While Buddhism reveres 21 Taras, Hindu Tantra holds to these primary aspects — especially as embodied in cremation-ground deities and intense inner practices.
Tara in Buddhist Tantra
While this blog focuses on the Hindu Shakta tradition, it’s worth noting that Tara is equally revered in Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly in Tibetan lineages. Here, she manifests in 21 distinct forms, each with a unique color and attribute, such as Green Tara (compassionate action) and White Tara (longevity and peace). Though the theological frameworks differ, the essence of Tara as a compassionate savior and liberating guide remains a powerful link between traditions.
Tarapith: Her Living Shrine
Tara’s most powerful abode is Tarapith, a cremation ground temple in West Bengal. Here, the living and the dead coexist, and the Goddess is said to walk among the pyres. The great siddha Bamakhepa, a devotee of Tara, did his sadhana here, hearing her laughter in the winds and feeling her presence in the burning embers. To those who fear death, Tarapith is unnerving. But to those who seek truth, it is sacred.
Why Tara Matters Today
In a world drowning in noise, Tara is the silence that sings truth. When everything falls apart — relationships, careers, beliefs — she offers not repair, but rebirth. Her compassion is not about easing pain, but guiding us through it, so that we emerge not only whole, but awake.
She is the force that reminds us that we are never truly lost. Even in the abyss, her star shines. Even in chaos, her guidance is near. All we have to do is listen — deeply, humbly, and without fear.
To chant her name — Shri Tara Jai Tara — is to align with that ancient current of protection and truth. No elaborate ritual is needed. Just breath. Just sincerity. Just the willingness to follow the light she offers.
May her star illuminate your path, even through the darkest night.
May her fierce love carry you across the storm — home to your own boundless Self.