Dharmapala Thangka CentreSchool of Thangka Painting

The twenty-one forms of Tara according to the Nyingma tradition

1. Khadiravani Tara 2. Mahashanti Tara 3. Mangalaloka Tara 4. Sukha Sadana Tara 5. Pravir Tara 6. Duhkha Dahana Tara 7. Kanakavarna Tara 8. Samkusumita Tara 9. Varadana Tara 10 Varada Tara 11. Jikten Sumgyal Tara 12. Yangchenma Tara 13. Tashi Dönch&eacute Tara 14. Yangchenma Tara 15. Drapung Jomma Tara 16. Raga Nisudana Tara 17. Paripacaka Tara 18. Candra Kanti Gauri Tara 19. Apadavimocani Tara 20. Siddhi Sambhava Tara 21. Jikten Sumgyal Tara

This praise of the Tara has been translated into Tibetan from so many different Indian dialects that there are different names of the twenty-one Taras in the four different traditions [Sakya, Nyingma, Gelug or Kagyu].

Praises to the Twenty-One Taras is a traditional prayer in Tibetan Buddhism to the female Bodhisattva Tara also known as Ārya Tārā, or Jetsun Dolma. It appears in the Derge Kangyur as «Offering Praise to Tara through Twenty-One [verses] of Homage»

Each of the twenty-one emanations of Tara has her own name, and a specific mantra with which she is associated, offering protection from various types of fears, harm, and calamities.

The overview published here shows the names of the Nyingma tradition.

The twenty-one forms of Tara mentioned in the Tara tantra:

  1. Red Nyurma Pamo [myur ma dpa' mo] for development of bodhichitta
  2. White Yangchenma [dbyangs can ma; Skt. Sarasvati] for knowledge and wisdom
  3. Slightly bluish Sonam Chokter [bsod nams mchog gter] for the force of merit
  4. White Tsuktor Namgyal [gtsug gtor rnam rgyal; Skt. Ushnishavijaya for long life
  5. Red / yellow Rikchema [rig byed ma; Skt. Kurukulla] for magnetizing people and wealth
  6. White / red Jikché Chenmo ['jigs byed chen mo] for destroying the power of harmful influences
  7. Black Shyenkyi Mitupma [gzhan gyis mi thub ma] for protection from hailstorms and lightning
  8. red / black Shyen Migyalwa [gzhan mi rgyal ba] for repelling blame
  9. White Sengdeng Nakkyi Drolma [seng ldeng nags kyi sgrol ma;] Skt.Khadiravani Tara] for protection from the eight great fears. [She is the main Tara, green in colour]
  10. Red Jikten Sumgyal ['jig rten gsum rgyal] to have power over the world
  11. Red / yellow Nor Terma [nor ster ma] for dispelling poverty and granting good fortune
  12. Red / yellow Tashi Dönché [bkra shis don byed] for the auspiciousness of children, fame and rain
  13. Red Drapung Jomma [dgra spung 'joms ma] for victory in war
  14. Red / black Tronyer Chendze [khro gnyer can mdzad; Skt. Bhr.kuti] for protection from spirits
  15. White Rabtu Shyiwa [rab tu zhi ba] for purifying harmful actions
  16. Red Barwé Öchen ['bar ba'i 'od can] for dispelling spells and negative effects
  17. Red / yellow Pakmé Nönam [dpag med gnon ma] for protection from robbers, thieves, animals and hunters
  18. White White Mabja Chenmo [rma bya chen mo] to protect from and neutralize poison
  19. White Mipam Gyalmo [mi pham rgyal mo] for protection from quarrels and bad dreams
  20. Red / yellow Ritröma [ri khrod ma] for protection from epidemics
  21. White Özer Chenma ['od zer can ma] for restoring the spirits and energies of sick people