Twenty-One Tara’s Original Temple

Twenty-One Tara’s Original Temple

The Tara’s Original Temple, also known as Zhuoma’s Original Temple, where “Original Temple” (本康) means “Temple of One Hundred Thousand Buddhas,” and “Tara” (度母) refers to a group of goddesses who liberate and rescue suffering beings. They are also a collective of female deities revered by various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, totaling twenty-one. The Twenty-One Taras are widely worshipped by devotees and common people in Tibetan regions. Zhuoma has 21 forms, namely the Twenty-One Taras, each with her own function and secret mantra. Their names are also based on their individual characteristics. The Tibetan people believe that the Twenty-One Taras can save beings from eight types of disasters and fears caused by lions, elephants, venomous snakes, enemies, thieves, shackles, fire, and water. Some also believe they protect against sixteen kinds of calamities. In addition, during times of prosperity, they can increase favorable conditions and prolong life and fortune, greatly benefiting all sentient beings. They are revered as the Mothers of Liberation who save all beings from the cycle of life and death, as well as the bearers of all the Buddhas’ activities or the Buddhist Mothers.