Prayers to the 21 Taras

PRAISE AND REQUEST TO THE TWENTY-ONE TARAS

PURIFICATION

TAM-CHE DU-NI SA-ZHI-DAG
May the surface of the earth in every direction
SEG-MA LA-SOG ME-PA-DANG
Be stainless and pure without roughness or fault
LAG-TIL TAR-NYAM BE-DUR-YA
As smooth as the palm of a child's soft hand
RANG-ZHIN JAM-POR NE-GYUR-CHIG
And as naturally polished as lapis lazuli.

LHA-DANG MI-YI CHÖ-PAY-DZE
May the material offerings of gods and men
NGO-SU SHAM-DANG YI-KYI-TRUL
Both those set before me and those visualised
KUN-ZANG CHÖ-TRIN LA-NA-ME
Like a cloud of offerings of Samantabhadra1
NAM-KAY KAM-KUN KYAB-GYUR-CHIG
Pervade and encompass the vastness of space.

PURIFICATION MANTRA

OM NAMO BHAGA-WATE, BANZA SARA DRA-MARDA-NE
TATHA-GATA-YA, ARAHA-TE, SAMYAK-SAM BUDDHA-YA
TAYA-TA, OM BANZE BANZE MAHA BANZE
MAHA TENZA BANZE, MAHA BIDYA BANZE
MAHA BODHICITTA BANZE
MAHA BODHI MAN-DROPA, SAM-DRAMA-NA BANZE
SARWA KARMA AWARANA, BISHO DHANA, BANZE SOHA

(Recite the purification mantra three times)

KON-CHOG SUM-GYI DEN-PA-DANG
By the force of the truth from the three Jewels of Refuge
SANG-GYE-DANG JANG-CHUB SEM-PA
By the firm inspiration from all Bodhisattvas and Buddhas
TAM-CHE-KYI JIN-GYI-LAB-DANG
By the power of all the Buddhas who have fully completed
TSOG-NYI YONG-SU DZOG-PAY
Their collections of both good merit and insight

NGA-TANG CHEN-PO-DANG
By the might of the void
CHO-KYI YING NAM-PAR DAG-CHING
Inconceivable and pure
SAM-GYI MI-KYAB-PAY TOB-KYI
May all of these offerings be hereby transformed
DE-ZHIN NYI-DU GYUR-CHIG
Into their actual nature of voidness

INVOCATION

PO-TA LA-YI NÄ-CHOG-NÄ
From your sublime abode at the Potala,2
TAM-YIG JANG-KU LÄ-TRUNG-SHING
O Tara - born from the green letter TAM
TAM-YIG Ö-KYI DRO-WA-DRÖL
Whose light rescues all beings -
DRÖL-MA KOR-CHÄ SHEG-SU-SÖL
Come with your retinue, I beg you.

PROSTRATION

LHA-DANG LHA-MIN CHÖ-PÄN-GYI
The gods and the demi-gods bow their crowns
ZHAB-KYI PÄ-MO LA-DÜ-NÄ
To your lotus feet, O Tara,
PONG-PA KÜN-LÄ DRÖL-DZÄ-MA
You who rescue all who are destitute.
DRÖL-MA YUM-LA CHAG-TSEL-LO
To you, Mother Tara, I pay homage.

HOMAGE TO THE TWENTY-ONE TARAS

OM JE-TSÜN-MA PAG-MA DRÖL-MA-LA CHAG-TSEL-LO
OM Homage to the Venerable Arya Tara

1 CHAG-TSEL DRÖL-MA NYUR-MA PAA-MO
Homage to you, Tara, the swift heroine,
CHÄN-NI KÄ-CHIG LOG-DANG DRA-MA
Whose eyes are like an instant flash of lightning,
JIG-TEN SUM-GÖN CHU-KYE SHÄL-GYI
Whose water-born face arises from the blooming lotus
GEY-SAR JE-WA LÄ-NI JUNG-MA
Of Avalokiteshvara: protector of the three worlds.

2 CHAG-TSEL TÖN-KÄI DA-WA KÜN-TU
Homage to you, Tara, whose face is like
GANG-WA GYA-NI TSEG-PAI SHÄL-MA
One hundred full autumn moons gathered together,
KAR-MA TONG-TRAG TSOG-PA NAM-KYI
Blazing with the expanding light
RAB-TU CHE-WAI Ö-RAB BAR-MA
Of a thousand stars assembled.

3 CHAG-TSEL SER-NGO CHU-NÄ KYE-KYI
Homage to you, Tara, born from a golden-blue lotus,
PÄ-ME CHAG-NI NAM-PAR GYÄN-MA
Whose hands are beautifully adorned with lotus flowers,
JIN-PA TSON-DRÜ KAA-TUB ZHI-MA
You who are the embodiment of giving, joyous effort, asceticism,
ZÖ-PA SAM-TÄN CHÖ-YUL NYI-MA
Pacification, patience, concentration and all objects of practice.

4 CHAG-TSEL DE-ZHIN SHEG-PAI TSUG-TOR
Homage to you, Tara, the crown pinnacle of those thus gone,
TAA-YÄ NAM-PAR GYEL-WAR CHÖ-MA
Whose deeds overcome infinite evils,
MA-LÜ PA-RÖL CHIN-PA TOB-PAI
Who have attained transcendent perfections without exception,
GYEL-WAI SÄ-KYI SHIN-TU TEN-MA
And upon whom the sons of the Victorious Ones rely.

5 CHAG-TSEL TÜT-TAA-RA HUM YIG-GE
Homage to you, Tara, who with the letters TUTTARA HUM
DÖ-DANG CHOG-DANG NAM-KAA GANG-MA
Fill the (realms of) desire, direction and space,
JIG-TEN DÜN-PO ZHAB-KYI NÄN-TE
Whose feet trample on the seven worlds
LÜ-PA ME-PAR GUG-PAR NÜ-MA
And who are able to draw all the beings to you.

6 CHAG-TSEL GYA-JIN ME-LHA TSANG-PA
Homage to you, Tara, venerated by Indra, Agni,
LUNG-LHA NA-TSOG WONG-CHUG CHÖ-MA
Brahma, Vayu and Ishvara,
JUNG-PO RO-LANG DRI-ZA NAM-DANG
Praised by the assembly of spirits, raised corpses,
NÖ-JIN TSOG-KYI DÜN-NÄ TÖ-MA
Ghandarvas and all yakshas.

7 CHAG-TSEL TRÄ-CHE JA-DANG PE-KYI
Homage to you, Tara, whose TRAD and PHAT
PA-RÖL TRÜL-KOR RAB-TU JOM-MA
Destroy entirely the magical wheels of others.
YÄ-KUM YÖN-KYANG ZHAB-KYI NÄN-TE
With your right leg bent and left outstretched and pressing,
ME-BAR TRAG-PA SHIN-TU BAR-MA
You burn intensely within a whirl of fire.

8 CHAG-TSEL TU-RE JIG-PA CHEN-PO
Homage to you, Tara, the great fearful one,
DÜ-KYI PAA-WO NAM-PAR JOM-MA
Whose letter TURE destroys the mighty demons completely,
CHU-KYE SHEL-NI TRO-NYER DÄN-DZÄ
Who with a wrathful expression on your water-born face
DRA-WO TAM-CHÄ MA-LÜ SÖ-MA
Slay all enemies without an exception.

9 CHAG-TSEL KON-CHOG SUM-TSÖN CHAG-GYAI
Homage to you, Tara, whose fingers adorn your heart
SOR-MÖ TUG-KAR NAM-PAR GYÄN-MA
With a gesture of the Sublime Precious Three,
MA-LÜ CHOG-KYI KOR-LÖ GYÄN-PAI
Adorned with a wheel striking all directions without exception
RANG-GI Ö-KYI TSOG-NAM TRUG-MA
With the totality of your own rays of light.

10 CHAG-TSEL RAB-TU GAA-WA JI-PAI
Homage to you, Tara, whose radiant crown ornament,
U-GYÄN Ö-KYI TRENG-WA PEL-MA
Joyful and magnificent, extends a garland of light,
ZHÄ-PA RAB-ZHÄ TÜT-TAA-RA-YI
And who, by your laughter of TUTTARA,
DÜ-DANG JIG-TEN WONG-DU DZE-MA
Conquer the demons and all of the worlds.

11 CHAG-TSEL SA-ZHI KYONG-WAI TSOG-NAM
Homage to you, Tara, who are able to invoke
TAM-CHÄ GUK-PAR NÜ-MA NYI-MA
The entire assembly of local protectors,
TRO-NYER YÖ-WAI YI-GE HUM-GI
Whose wrathful expression fiercely shakes,
PONG-PA TAM-CHÄ NAM-PAR DRÖL-MA
Rescuing the impoverished through the letter HUM.

12 CHAG-TSEL DA-WAI DUM-BU U-GYÄN
Homage to you, Tara, whose crown is adorned
GYÄN-PA TAM-CHAY SHING-TU BAR-MA
With the crescent moon, wearing ornaments exceedingly bright;
RÄL-PAI TRÖ-NA Ö-PAG ME-LÄ
From your hair knot the Buddha Amitabha
DAK-PAR SHIN-TU Ö-RAB DZE-MA
Radiates eternally with great beams of light.

13 CHAG-TSEL KÄL-PAI TA-MAI ME-TAR
Homage to you, Tara, who dwell within a blazing garland
BAR-WAI TRENG-WAI Ü-NA NÄ-MA
That resembles the fire at the end of this world age;
YÄ-KYANG YÖN-KUM KÜN-NÄ KOR-GAI
Surrounded by joy, you sit with right leg extended
DRA-YI PUNG-NI NAM-PAR JOM-MA
And left withdrawn, completely destroying all the masses of enemies.

14 CHAG-TSEL SA-ZHI NGÖ-LA CHAG-GI
Homage to you, Tara, with hand on the ground by your side,
TIL-GYI NÜN-CHING ZHAB-KYI DUNG-MA
Pressing your heel and stamping your foot on the earth;
TRO-NYER CHÄN-DZÄ YI-GE HUM-GI
With a wrathful glance from your eyes you subdue
RIM-PA DUN-PO NAM-NI GEM-MA
All seven levels through the syllable HUM.

15 CHAG-TSEL DE-MA GE-MA SHI-MA
Homage to you, Tara, O happy, virtuous and peaceful one,
NYA-NGÄN DÄ-ZHI CHÖ-YÜL NYI-MA
The very object of practice, passed beyond sorrow.
SO-HA OM-DANG YANG-DAG DÄN-PÄ
You are the perfectly endowed with SOHA and OM,
DIG-PA CHEN-PO JOM-PA NYI-MA
Overcoming completely all the great evils.

16 CHAG-TSEL KÜN-NÄ KOR-RAB GAA-WAI
Homage to you, Tara, surrounded by the joyous ones,
DRA-YI LÜ-NI NAM-PAR GEM-MA
You completely subdue the bodies of all enemies;
YIG-GE CHU-PAI NGAG-NI KÖ-PAI
Your speech is adorned with the ten syllables
RIG-PA HUM-LÄ DRÖL-MA NYI-MA
And you rescue all through the knowledge-letter HUM.

17 CHAG-TSEL TU-RE ZHAB-NI DAB-PÄ
Homage to you, Tara, stamping your feet and proclaiming TURE,
HUM-GI NAM-PAI SA-BON NYI-MA
Your seed-syllable itself in the aspect of HUM
RI-RAB MAN-DA RA-DANG BIG-JE
Cause Meru, Mandhara and Vindhya mountains
JIG-TEN SUM-NAM YO-WA NYI-MA
And all the three worlds to tremble and shake.

18 CHAG-TSEL LHA-YI TSO-YI NAM-PAI
Homage to you, Tara, who hold in your hand
RI-DAG TAG-CHÄN CHAG-NA NAM-MA
The hare-marked moon like the celestial ocean;
TARA NYI-JÖ PÄ-KYI YI-GE
By uttering TARA twice and the letter PHAT
DUG-NAM MA-LU PA-NI SEL-MA
You dispel all poisons without exception.

19 CHAG-TSEL LHA-YI TSOG-NAM GYÄL-PO
Homage to you, Tara, upon whom the kings of the assembled gods,
LHA-DANG MI-AM CHI-YI TEN-MA
The gods themselves and all probable-humans rely;
KÜN-NÄ GO-CHA GAA-WA JI-GYI
Whose magnificent armour gives joy to all,
TSÖ-DANG MI-LAM NGÄN-PA SEL-MA
You who dispel all disputes and bad dreams.

20 CHAG-TSEL NYI-MA DA-WA GYÄ-PAI
Homage to you, Tara, whose two-eyes - the sun and the moon -
CHÄN-NYI PO-LA Ö-RAB SÄL-MA
Radiate an excellent, illuminating light;
HARA NYI-JÖ TÜT-TAA-RA-YI
By uttering HARA twice and TUTTARA
ZHIN-TU DRAG-POI RIM-NÄ SEL-MA
You dispel all violent epidemic diseases.

21 CHAG-TSEL DE-NYI SUM-NAM KÖ-PÄ
Homage to you, Tara, adorned by the three suchnesses,
ZHI-WAI TU-DANG YANG-DAG DÄN-MA
Perfectly endowed with the power of serenity,
DÖN-DANG RO-LANG NÖ-JIN TSOG-NAM
You who destroy the host of evil spirits, raised corpses and yakshas
JOM-PA TU-RE RAB-CHOG NYI-MA
O TURE, most excellent and sublime!

TSA-WAI NGAG-KYI TÖ-PA DI-DANG
Thus concludes this praise of the root mantra
CHAG-TSEL WA-NI NYI-SHU TSA-CHIG
And the offering of the twenty-one homages.

(recite the twenty-one homages three times from page 3)

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA
(recite the mantra as many times as possible)

BENEFITS OF RECITATION

1 LHA-MO LA-GÜ YANG-DAG DÄN-PAI
Those endowed with perfect and pure respect for the Goddesses -
LO-DÄN GANG-GI RAB-DÄ JÖ-DE
The intelligent who recite these praises with the most supreme faith
SÖ-DANG TO-RANG LANG-PAR JÄ-NÄ
Both in the evening and upon waking at dawn -
DRÄN-PÄ MI-JIG TAM-CHÄ RAB-TER
Will have fearlessness bestowed on them by this remembrance.

2 DIG-PA TAM-CHÄ RAB-TU ZHI-WA
After being purified of all evils completely
NGÄN-DRO TAM-CHÄ JOM-PA NYI-TO
They will attain the destruction of all lower realms,3
GYEL-WA JE-WA TRAK-DÜN NAM-KYI
And the seven million conquering Buddhas
NYUR-DU WONG-NI KUR-WAR GYUR-LA
Will quickly grant them every empowerment.

3 DI-LÄ CHE-WA NYI-NI TOB-CHING
Thus they will attain greatness and go forth
SANG-GYÄ GO-PANG TAR-TUK DER-DRO
To the ultimate state of supreme buddhahood.
DE-YI DUG-NI DRAG-PO CHEN-PO
As a result of all violent poisons -
TÄN-NÄ PA-AM ZHÄN-YANG DRO-WA
Whether abiding within or spreading to others -

4 ZÖ-PA DANG-NI TUNG-PA NYI-KANG
That they have eaten or drunk,
DRÄN-PÄ RAB-TU SEL-WA NYI-TOB
By this remembrance will be completely removed,
DÖN-DANG RIM-DANG DUG-GI ZIR-WAI
And they will eliminate completely affliction by spirits,
DUG-NGÄL TSOG-NI NAM-PAR PONG-TE
Epidemics, poisons and all various sufferings.

5 SEM-CHÄN ZHÄN-PA NAM-LA YANG-NGO
If for oneself or for the sake of all others,
NYI-SUM DÜN-DU NGÖN-PAR JÖ-NA
These praises are read two, three or seven times sincerely,
BU-DÖ PÄ-NI BU-TOB GYUR-CHING
Those wishing a son will attain a son
NOR-DÖ PÄ-NI NOR-NAM NYI-TOB
And those wishing wealth will attain this as well.

6 DÖ-PA TAM-CHÄ TOB-PAR GYUR-TE
Without obstruction all their wishes will be granted
GEG-NAM ME-CHING SO-SOR JOM-GYUR-CHIG
And every single hindrance will be destroyed as it arises.

SEVEN-LIMBED PRAYER

1 Prostration
JE-TSÜN PAG-MA DRÖL-MA-DANG
Reverently I prostrate to the venerable Arya Tara
CHOG-CHU DÜ-SUM ZHUG-PA-YI
And all the conquering Buddhas
GYÄL-WA SÄ-CHÄ TAM-CHÄ-LA
And their sons who reside in the ten directions4
KÜN-NÄ DANG-WÄ CHAG-GYI-O
Throughout the past, present and future.

2 Offering
ME-TOG DUG-PÖ MAR-ME-DRI
I offer flowers, incense and butter lamps,
SHÄL-ZÄ RÖL-MO LA-SOG-PA
Perfume, food, music and the like
NGÖ-JOR YI-KYI TRÜL-MÄ-BÜL
Both those actually arranged here and those mentally transformed;
PAG-MAI TSOG-KYI ZHE-SU-SÖL
Please accept them, assembly of Arya Taras.

3 Confessing
TOG-MA MÄ-NÄ DA-TAI-BAR
I declare all that I have done,
MI-GE CHU-DANG TSAM-ME-NGA
From beginningless time until now,
SEM-NI NYÖN-MONG WONG-GYUR-PAI
With my mind being under the sway of delusion:
DIG-PA TAM-CHÄ SHAG-PAR-GYI
The ten non-virtuous and the five heinous crimes5

4 Rejoicing
NYÄN-TÖ RANG-GYÄL JANG-CHUB-SEM
I rejoice in whatever virtuous merit
SO-SO KYI-WO LA-SOG-PAI
Has been accumulated throughout the three times
DÜ-SUM GE-WA CHI-SAG-PA
By hearers, solitary realisers,
SÖ-NAM LA-NI DAG-YI-RANG
Bodhisattvas and ordinary beings.

5 Requesting
SEM-CHÄN NAM-KYI SAM-PA-DANG
I request you to turn the wheel of Dharma -
LO-YI JE-DRAG JI-TAR-WAR
The great, small and common vehicles -6
CHE-CHUNG TÜN-MONG TEK-PAR-YI
In accordance with the intentions of all sentient beings,
CHO-KYI KOR-LO KOR-DU-SÖL
And suited to their individual minds.

6 Entreating
KOR-WA JI-SI MA-TONG-WAR
I beseech you to remain until samsara ends
NYA-NGÄN MI-DAA TUG-JE-YI
And not pass away to the state beyond sorrow
DUG-NGÄL GYA-TSOR JING-WA-YI
Please, with your boundless compassion, look
SEM-CHÄN NAM-LA ZIG-SU-SÖL
Upon all beings drowning in the ocean of suffering.

7 Dedication
DAG-GI SÖ-NAM CHI-SAG-PA
May whatever merit I have accumulated
TAM-CHÄ JANG-CHUB GYUR-GYUR-NÄ
Be totally transformed into the cause of enlightenment;
RING-POR MI-TOG DRO-WA-YI
And may I become, without a long passage of time,
DREN-PAI PÄL-DU DAG-GYUR-CHIG
The glorious deliverer benefiting all migrating beings.

LONG MANDALA OFFERING

OM BANZA BHU MI AH HUM
OM Vajraground AH HUM
WONG CHEN SER GYI SA ZHI
Here is the mighty and powerful base of gold
OM BANZA RE KE AH HUM
OM Vajraline AH HUM
CHI CHAG RI KOR YUG GI KOR WAI U-SU
The outer ring is encircled with this iron fence

First ring
1 RII GYÄL PO RI RAB
In the centre, the king of mountains, Mount Meru
2 SHAR LU PAG PO
In the east, the continent Purvavideha
3 LHO DZAM BU LING
In the south, Jambudvipa
4 NUB BA LANG CHÖ
In the west, Aparagodaniya
5 JANG DRA MI NYÄN
In the north, Uttarakuru
6, LU DANG LU PAG
7 Around the east, the sub-continents Deha and Videha
8, NGA YAB DANG NGA YAB ZHÄN
9 Around the south, Camara and Aparacamara
10, YO DÄN DANG LAM CHOG DRO
11 Around the west, Satha and Uttaramantrina
12, DRA MI NYÄN DANG DRA MI NYÄN GYI DA
13 Around the north, the sub-continents Kurava and Kaurava
14 RIN PO CHEI RI WO
In the east is the treasure mountain
15 PAG SAM GYI SHING
In the south is the wish-granting tree
16 DÖ JOI BA
In the west is the wish-granting cow
17 MA MO PAI LO TOG
In the north is the harvest that needs no cultivation

Second ring
18 KOR LO RIN PO CHE
Here is the precious wheel
19 NOR BU RIN PO CHE
Here is the precious jewel
20 TSUN MO RIN PO CHE
Here is the precious queen
21 LON PO RIN PO CHE
Here is the precious minister
22 LANG PO RIN PO CHE
Here is the precious elephant
23 TA CHOG RIN PO CHE
Here is the precious and best of horses
24 MAG PON RIN PO CHE
Here is the precious general
25 TER CHEN POI BUM PA
Here is the great treasure vase

Third ring
26 GEG MA
Here is the goddess of beauty
27 TRENG WA MA
Here is the goddess of garlands
28 LU MA
Here is the goddess of song
29 GAR MA
Here is the goddess of dance
30 ME TOG MA
Here is the goddess of flowers
31 DUG PÖ MA
Here is the goddess of incense
32 NANG SÄL MA
Here is the goddess of light
33 DRI CHAB MA
Here is the goddess of perfume

Top Ring
34 NYI MA
Here is the sun
35 DA WA
Here is the moon
36 RIN PO CHEI DUG
Here is the umbrella of all that is precious
37 CHOG LÄ NAM PAR GYÄL WAI GYÄL TSÄN
Here is the banner of victory in all directions
38 U SU LHA DANG MII PÄL JOR PUN SUM TSOG PA MA TSANG
WA ME PA
In the centre are all the possessions precious to gods and men
TSANG ZHING YI DU WONG WA DI DAG
This magnificent collection, lacking in nothing
DRIN CHÄN TSA WA DANG GYU PAR CHÄ PAI
I offer to you, my kind and holy root Lama
PÄL DÄN LA MA DAM PA NAM DANG KYE PAR DU YANG
Together with you, Venerable Lineage Lamas
JE TSUN MA PAG MA DROL MA
And the twenty-one Venerable Mother Arya Taras
LHA TSOG KOR DANG CHÄ PA
Together with the assembly of Gods
NAM LA ZHING KAM UL WAR GYIO
I offer this pure and beautiful collection to you
TUG JE DRO WAI DÖN DU ZHE SU SOL
In your compassion accept what I offer for the sake of all beings
ZHE NÄ DAG SOG SEM CHÄN TAM CHÄ LA
Having accepted these, to myself and to all beings
TUG TSE WA CHEN POI GO NÄ JIN GYI LAB TU SOL
Please grant your blessings through your great compassion.

SHORT MANDALA OFFERING

SA ZHI PÖ KYI JUG SHING ME TOG TRAM
By virtue of offering to you, assembly of Buddhas visualised before me
RI RAB LING ZHI NYI DÄ GYÄN PA DI
This Mandala built on a base, resplendent with flowers, saffron water and
incense
SANG GYÄ ZHING DU MIG TE UL WAR GYI
Adorned with Mount Meru and the four continents as well as the sun and
moon
DRO KUN NAM DAG ZHING LA CHÖ PAR SHOG
May all share in its good effects.

IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATA YAMI

REQUESTS

1 JE-TSÜN CHOM-DÄN DÄ-MA TUG-JE-CHÄN
O compassionate and venerable subduing Goddesses,
DAG-DANG TAA-YÄ SEM-CHÄN TAM-CHÄ-KYI
May the infinite beings, including myself,
DRIB-NYI JANG-ZHING TSOG-NYI NYUR-DZO-NÄ
Soon purify the two obscurations and complete both collections
DZOG-PAI SANG-GYÄ TOB-PAR DZÄ-DU-SÖL
So that we may attain full and perfect enlightenment.

2 DE-MA TOB-KYI TSE-RAB KÜN-TU-YANG
For all my lifetimes, until I reach this stage,
LHA-DANG MI-YI DE-WA CHOG-TOB-NÄ
May I know the sublime happiness of humans and gods
TAM-CHÄ KYÄN-PA DRUB-PAR JE-PA-LA
And so may I become fully omniscient,
BAR-CHÄ DÖN-GEG RIM-DANG NÄ-LA-SOG
Please pacify quickly all obstacles, spirits

3 DÜ-MIN CHI-WAR GYUR-PA NA-TSOG-DANG
Obstructions, epidemics, diseases and so forth,
MI-LAM NGÄN-DANG TSÄN-MA NYÄN-PA-DANG
The various causes of untimely death,
JIG-PA GYÄ-SOG NYE-WAR TSE-WA-NAM
Bad dreams and omens, the eight fears and other afflictions,
NYUR-DU ZHI-ZHING ME-PAR DZE-DU-SÖL
And make it so that they no longer exist.

4 JIG-TEN JIG-TEN LÄ-NI DÄ-PA-YI
May the mundane and supramundane collections7
TRA-SHI DE-LEG PÜN-SUM TSOG-PA-NAM
Of all excellent auspicious qualities and happiness
PEL-ZHING GYÄ-PÄ DÖN-NAM MA-LÜ-PA
Increase and develop, and may all wishes
PÄ-ME LHUN-GYI DRUB-PAR DZÄ-DU-SÖL
Be fulfilled naturally and effortlessly, without exception.

5 DRUB-LA TSÖN-ZHING-DAM-CHÖ PEL-WA-DANG
May I strive to realise and increase the sacred Dharma,
DAG-DU KYÖ-DRUB SHEL-CHOG TONG-WA-DANG
Accomplishing your stage and beholding your sublime face;
TONG-NYI DÖN-TOG JANG-SEM RIN-PO-CHE
May my understanding of emptiness and the precious
YAR-NGÖI DA-TAR PEL-ZHING GYÄ-PAR-DZÖ
Mind of enlightenment increase like the moon waxing full.

6 GYEL-WAI KYIL-KOR ZANG-ZHING GAA-WA-DER
May I be reborn from an extremely beautiful and holy lotus
PÄ-MO DAM-PA SHIN-TU DZE-LÄ-KYE
In the joyous and noble mandala of the Conqueror,
NANG-WA TAA-YÄ GYÄL-WÄ NGÖN-SUM-DU
And may I attain whatever prophesy I receive
LUNG-TÄN PA-YANG DAG-GI DER-TOB-SHOG
In the presence of Amitabha, Buddha of Infinite Light.

7 DAG-GI TSE-RAB NGÖN-NÄ DRUB-PAI-LHA
O Deity, whom I have accomplished from previous lifetimes -
DU-SUM SANG-GYÄ KÜN-GYI TRIN-LÄ-MA
The enlightened action of the three times Buddhas,
NGO-JANG SHÄL-CHIG CHAG-NYI NYUR-ZHI-MA
Blue-green, one face and two arms, the swift pacifier -
YUM-GYUR UT-PÄL NAM-PAI TRA-SHI-SHOG
O Mother holding an utpala flower, may you be auspicious !

8 GYÄL-YUM DRÖL-MA KYE-KU CHI-DA-DANG
Whatever your body, O Mother of Conquerors,
KOR-DANG KU-TSE TSÄ-DANG ZHING-KAM-DANG
Whatever your retinue, your life span and pure land,
KYÖ-KYI TSÄN-CHOG ZANG-PO CHI-DRA-WA
Whatever your name, most noble and holy -
TE-DA KO-NAR DAG-SOG GYUR-WA-SHOG
May I and all others attain only these.

9 KYE-LA TÖ-CHING SÖL-WA TAB-PAI-TÜ
By the force of these praises and requests made to you
DAG-SOG GANG-DU NÄ-PAI SA-CHOG-TER
May all diseases, poverty, fighting and quarrels be calmed,
NÄ-DÄN ÜL-PONG TAB-TSÖ ZHI-WA-DANG
And may the precious Dharma and everything auspicious increase,
CHO-DANG TRA-SHI PEL-WAR DZÄ-DU-SÖL
Throughout the worlds and directions where I and all others dwell.

DEDICATION AND AUSPICIOUS VERSES

1 CHOM-DEN DAY-MA CHÖ-CHE-PÄ
By whatever virtue I have collected
DAG-KI GE-WA CHI-SAG-PA
From venerating these subduing Goddesses,
TE-NI SEM-CHÄN MA-LÜ-PA
May all sentient beings without an exception
DE-WA CHÄN-TU KYE-WAR-SHOG
Be born in Sukhavati, the Joyful Pure Land.8

2 KU-YI GYÖN-PANG TSÄN-DANG PE-CHE-DEN
You, who have abandoned all bodily defects
and possess the major and minor marks of a Buddha,9
SUNG-KI GYÖN-PANG KA-LA PING-KAI-YANG
You, who have abandoned all defects of speech
and possess a beautiful, sparrow-like voice,
TUG-GI GYÖN-PANG SHE-JA TA-DAG-SIG
You, who have abandoned all defects of mind
and see all the infinite objects of knowledge -
TRA-SHI PEL-WAR MA-YI TRA-SHI-SHOG
O, brilliant Mother of Auspicious Glory,
please bring your auspicious presence to us!

3 GANG-RI RA-WÄ KOR-WAI ZHING-KAM-DIR
In the heavenly realm of Tibet (surrounded by a chain of snow mountains)
PÄN-DANG DE-WA MA-LU JUNG-WAI-NE
The source of all happiness and help for beings
CHÄN-RÄ-ZIG WONG TÄN-DZIN GYA-TSO-YI
Is Tenzin Gyatso - Chenrezi in person10 -
ZHAB-PÄ SI-TAI BAR-DU TÄN-GYUR-CHIG
May his life be secure for hundreds of kalpas!

* * * * * *

A Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

OM SVASTI

RAB JAM GYÄL WAI SANG SUM MA LU PA
O magical emanations of all three secrets of countless Conquerors,
GANG DUL CHIR YANG CHAR WAI GYU TRUL GAR
Appearing in whatever forms best serve disciples,
SI ZHII GE LEG KUN JUNG YI ZHIN NOR
Wish-fulfilling gems granting every goodness and virtue in samsara and
nirvana;
NGÖ GYU DRIN CHÄN LA MAI TSOG NAM LA
O assembly of kind direct and lineage lamas,

DAG CHAG DUNG SHUG DRAG PÖ SOL DEB NA
To you, with anxious hearts, we fervently pray:
GANG CHÄN GON PO TÄN DZIN GYA TSO YI
May all that Tenzin Gyatso wishes be spontaneously made manifest,
KU TSE MI SHIG KÄL GYAR RAB TÄN CHING
May the Guardian of the Land of Snows remain for hundreds of aeons
immutably amongst us,
ZHE DON LHUN GYI DRUB PAR JIN GYI LOB
It is our prayer that we may be so blessed.

CHÖ YING KUN SÄL KYON DANG NYAM JUG PAI
O immaculate wisdom and great bliss which abide equally in the realm of
reality
DUL DRÄL DE CHEN YE SHE GYU MAI TRIN
And the expanse of space, and there, as clouds of illusions,
DRANG ME TEN DANG TEN PAI KYIL KOR DU
From the myriad mandalas of lords and abodes;
SHAR WAI YI DAM LHA TSOG TAM CHÄ LA
O multitudes of Meditational Deities,

PANG TOG YON TÄN LHUN DZOG TRIN LE KYI
O resplendent moons of realisation and abandonment, spontaneously
radiating enlightened actions,
NANG WA DRO KAM GYA TSOR TAG TSEN PÄ
Perpetually raising salutary tides in the ocean of wanderers,
PÄN DZE TOB CHU NGAA WA LHA YI LHA
Peerless lords endowed with ten powers;
RAB JAM DU SUM GYÄL WA TAM CHÄ LA
O countless Conquerors of the three times,

JIG TEN SUM LÄ GANG GI NGE DRÖL ZHING
O glories of virtue, consummations of skill, immutable, immaculate Noble
True Paths,
CHOG TU ZHI WA NAM JANG NOR BUI TER
Precious treasures of sublime pure peace, Noble True Cessations,
ZAG ME MI YO KUN ZANG GE WAI PÄL
Certain to free all from the three fleeting worlds;
TEG SUM DAM PAI CHÖ KYI TSOG NAM LA
O holy Dharma of the three vehicles,

SI PAI TRUL KOR JOM LA CHE PAA WAI
O mighty warriors laying waste the illusory rounds of life,
DEN DON NGON SUM JÄL WAI YE SHE CHÄN
Forever abiding in the vajra-city of liberation,
NAM TAR DOR JEI DRONG LÄ MI CHE PA
Endowed with wisdom clearly seeing truth,
RIG DROL PAG PAI GEN DUN TAM CHE LA
Living in the knowledge and freedom; O Spiritual Community of the
Excellent,

KAA CHÖ ZHING DANG NÄ YUL DUR TRÖ DU
O divine guides of celestial lands, cemetery grounds and sanctified sites,
DE TONG NYAM GYAR ROL PAI TSE JO YI
Leading the yogin in his journey along sacred paths
NÄL JOR LAM ZANG DRUB LA DROG DZE PAI
By means of beguiling games played with hundreds of experiences of
emptiness and bliss;
NE SUM PAA WO KAAN DROI TSOG NAM LA
O hosts of Heroes and Travellers of the Heavens throughout the three
domains,

DOR JE CHANG GI KAA TAG CHAG GYAI DU
O guardians endowed with skill and power in protecting the doctrine and
its holders,
MI DRÄL RÄL PAI TÖ DU NYER KÖ NE
Whose matted locks are forever crowned with a knot -
TÄN DANG TÄN DZIN KYONG WAI TU TSÄL CHÄN
Symbolic seal of the commands of Vajradhara -
YE SHE CHÄN DÄN TÄN SUNG GYA TSO LA
Who are adorned with the eye of wisdom; O seas of Doctrine Protectors,

DE TAR LU ME KYAB KYI CHOG NAM LA
By the strength of supplicating from the depths of our hearts
SHUG DRAG NYING NÄ GU PÄ SOL TAB TU
Such unfailing, supreme refuges as you,
MI ZÄ NYIG MAI ZUG NGU RAB NAR WAI
May the noble Ngawang Lobsang Tenzin Gyatso -
DAG SOG GANG JONG DRO WAI GON CHIG PU
Sole guardian of ourselves and the inhabitants of the Land of Snows,

NGA WONG LO ZANG TÄN DZIN GYA TSO CHOG
Who deeply suffer the endless sorrows of a degenerate age -
SANG SUM MI SHIG MIN GYUR MI NUB PAR
Remain unalterably and invariably for oceans of eons
ZHOM ZHIG YONG DRÄL DOR JE NYING POI TRIR
Upon his utterly indestructible, invincible vajra-throne;
KÄL PA GYA TSOR YO ME TAG TÄN SHOG
His three secrets unperishing, undeclining, unchanging.

RAB JAM GYÄL WA KUN GYI DZÄ PAI KUR
Having courageously taken upon his own shoulders
NYING TOB TRAG PAR ZUNG WAI LAB CHEN GYI
The burden borne by all the countless Conquerors,
TRIN LE KUN PÄN NOR BUI NYING PO CHÄN
May his universally beneficent endeavours, possessing the jewel-like
essence of enriching all,
ZHE PA JI ZHIN LHUN GYI DRUB GYUR CHIG
Be spontaneously accomplished according to his wishes.

DE TU DZOG DÄN KÄL ZANG NAM KAI GO
And by that power, may the doors of the unbounded reaches of an age of
peace and prosperity be opened,
LU CHÄN NGÄL SOI CHI DU TAG DROL ZHING
Bringing an eternal spring of renewal to every living being.
TUB TÄN CHOG DU KUN TU RAB DAR WAI
May the spiritual banner of the Subduer's Doctrine spread throughout all
time and every direction,
GE TSÄN SI ZHII TSE MOR GYÄ GYUR CHIG
Until it reaches the summit of samsara and nirvana.

CHAG NA PE MOI JIN LAB DU TSII GYUN
May the nectar of the blessings of the Holder of the Lotus forever flow
DAG SOG NYING GI ZUNG SU TAG MIN CHING
Unfolding our minds and strengthening our hearts and those of others.
KAA ZHIN DRUB PAI CHÖ PE RAB NYEN NÄ
May we draw near to him through the offering of our practice which
reflects his words,
KUN ZANG CHÖ CHOG GYA TSO TAR SON SHOG
And may we sail the sea of supreme conduct of the One Who is
Consummate Goodness.

ME JUNG SÄ CHÄ GYÄL WAI JIN LAB DANG
By the blessings of the glorious Conquerors and those of their Children,
TEN DREL LU WA ME PAI DEN PA DANG
By the truth of the infallibility of dependent-arising
DAG GI LHAG SAM DAG PAI TU TOB KYI
And the profound strength of our own pure faith,
MON PAI DON KUN DE LAG NYUR DRUB SHOG
May all our prayers instantly be fulfilled with effortless ease.

GANG-RI RA-WÄ KOR-WAI ZHING-KAM-DIR
In the heavenly realm of Tibet (surrounded by a chain of snow mountains)
PÄN-DANG DE-WA MA-LU JUNG-WAI-NE
The source of all happiness and help for beings
CHÄN-RÄ-ZIG WONG TÄN-DZIN GYA-TSO-YI
Is Tenzin Gyatso - Chenrezi in person -
ZHAB-PÄ SI-TAI BAR-DU TÄN-GYUR-CHIG
May his life be secure for hundreds of kalpas!

* * * * * *

Mahakala - Praise of the Six-Armed Dharma-Protector

HUM! NYUR-DZÄ CHÄN-RÄ-ZIG-LA CHAG TSÄL-LO
Quick-acting Avalokita, homage to you!

ZHAB-DUB-DANG-CHÄ BI-NAA-YA-KA NÄN
Wearing anklets, you trample Ganesa.
NAK-PO CHEN-PO TAG-GI SHAM-TAB CHÄN
Mahakala, you wear a tiger-skin loincloth.
CHAG-DRUG DRÜL-GYI GYÄN-GYI NAM-PAR GYÄN
Fully adorned with snake-ornaments on your six arms,
YÄ-PA DRI-GUG BAR-WA TRENG-WA DZIN
The first right holds a triku, the middle a mala,

TA-MA DAA-MA-RU-NI DRAG-TU TRÖL
The last plays violently a damaru
YÖN-PA TÖ-PA DANG-NI DUNG TSE-SUM
The left holds a skull-cup, and a three-pronged lance,
DE-ZHIN ZHAG-PA ZUNG-NÄ CHING-WAR JE
And likewise a noose, which serves for tying up.
DRAG-PÖI ZHÄL-NI CHE-WA NAM-PAR TSIG
Your wrathful mouth completely bares its fangs

CHÄN-SUM DRAG-PO U-TRA GYEN-DU BAR
Your three eyes are fierce. The hair of your head blazes upward.
TRÄL-WAR SIN-DHU-RA-YI LEG-PAR JUG
Your forehead is properly anointed with red lead.
CHI-WOR MI-KYÖ GYÄL-POI GYÄ-TAB TÄN
On your crown, Aksobhya's royal presence is fixed.
TRAG-DZAG MI-GO NGA-CHUI DO-SHÄL CHÄN
You wear a great necklace of fifty men's heads, dripping blood.

RIN-CHEN TÖ-KAM NGA-YI U-LA GYÄN
On your crown, you're adorned with five dry, jewelled skulls.
SHING-LÄ JÖN-NÄ TOR-MA LEN-DZÄ-PAI
You come from your tree and accept our torma offering,
PÄL-DÄN CHAG-DRUK-PA-LA CHAG-TSÄL TÖ
Glorious Six-Armed - homage and praise to you!
SANG-GYÄ TÄN-PA NYÄN-PO SUNG-WA-DANG
Sternly protect the Doctrine of the Buddha!

KÖN-CHOG U-PANG NYÄN-PO TÖ-PA-DANG
Sternly praise the height of power of the jewels!
DAG-CHAG PÖN-LOB KOR-DANG CHÄ-NAM-KYI
For us - teachers, disciples and entourage -
KYEN-NGÄN BAR-CHÄ TAM-CHÄ ZHI-WA-DANG
Please quell all bad conditions and obstructions,
CHI-DÖ NGÖ-DRUB NYUR-DU TSÄL-DU SÖL!
And grant us quickly whatever siddhis we wish!

(recite three times)
* * * * * *

NOTES ON THE PUJA TEXT

1. Samantabhadra - a Bodhisattva who, in the Gandavyuha Sutra, among
other things made infinite offerings to the Buddhas pervading every atom
of the universe.
2. Potala - a mountain in South India and the home of Avalokiteshvara
(Chenrezig). According to a popular tradition Tara was born from one of
Avalokiteshvara's tears of compassion.
3. Lower realms - hells, hungry ghosts and animals.
4. Ten directions - four cardinal directions, four intermediate points, up
and down.
5. Ten no-virtuous actions - killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying,
slander, abuse, idle gossip, craving, ill-will and wrong views. Five
heinous crimes - killing father, mother, Arhat, shedding the blood of a
Buddha, causing a schism in the Sangha.
6. Great Vehicle - Mahayana: Small Vehicle - Hinayana; Common Vehicle
- Pratyekabuddhayana.
7. Mundane and supramundane collections - pertaining to the world and to
enlightenment. Mundane - paths of accumulation and preparation;
Supramundane - paths of insight, cultivation and no-more learning.
8. Sukhavati - the Blissful Pure Land Sukhavati in the West.
9. Major marks - 32, such as wheel marks on the soles of the feet and so
on. Minor marks - 80, such as copper-coloured, glossy and prominent
nails.
10. Chenrezi Tenzin Gyatso - H.H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, who is an
emanation of Chenrezi (Avalokiteshvara).

THE TWENTY-ONE VERSES OF PROSTRATION AND PRAISE

These fall into three main sections.

1. Praising by means of the legends associated with Tara.
2. Praising the symbolic aspects of her manifestations.
3. Praising her enlightened activity.

1. Praises in Reference to Legend - Tara the Heroine

The homage is made to Tara, who was born from the tears of
Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, embodiment of the
mercy of all Buddhas, a protector of all beings in the realms of desire,
form and formlessness who arise as an 'I' based upon samsaric aggregates.

It is said that once the Bodhisattva of Compassion became dismayed on
seeing that, even though he had striven with all his might to free the
sentient beings from samsara, the number of the beings suffering in samsara
was not significantly decreasing. He burst into tears and from the pool that
formed from the water issuing from the lotus eyes of the Compassionate
Bodhisattva there sprung forth a lotus. From the lotus appeared Arya Tara,
whose exquisite face embodies the delicacy of a million lotus blossoms.

Thus the compassion of all Buddhas emanated as a fountain of enlightened
energy, Arya Tara, divinity of mystical activity who turned to the
Bodhisattva of Compassion and said "O noble one, I offer myself in the
service of freeing countless sentient beings from the cyclic existence as
quickly as possible. Shed no more tears. We shall work together to turn the
battle against samsara". Then a net of lights shone forth from her two eyes
and scanned the three realms of the world.

2. Praises in Reference to the Symbolic Aspects - The Twenty-One
Taras

There are twenty-one different Sambhogakaya manifestations of Tara, a
feminine emanation of the primordial Dharmakaya Buddha Amitabha.

Each form of Tara embodies a particular aspect of compassion. Green
Tara represents the active energetic aspect of compassion, and she is the
national protectress of Tibet, while White Tara, for example, embodies the
fertile, motherly aspect of compassion.

Verses in praise of Tara's symbolic attributes

The verses in praise of the symbolic attributes of Tara's being has two
parts.

1. Praising the aspects of her Beatific Form (Sambhogakaya)
2. Praising her Wisdom or Truth Body aspect (Dharmakaya)
Tara has two main types of Beatific Forms: Peaceful and Wrathful.

There are six verses in praise of her Peaceful forms:

2. Tara of White Lustre
This verse describes the brilliance of the Beatific Form of enlightenment.

3. Tara of Golden Hue Her Hand Postures
Whose colour is blue tinged with a golden radiance. The finger of her left
hand holds the stem of a water born lotus, the flower of which has opened
into bloom beside her ear. This symbolises how Tara embodies the Ten
Perfections.

4. Victorious Ushnisha Tara How Tara is revered by Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas
Because Tara is the mother of all the Buddhas they carry her upon the
crowns of their heads as an ushnisha. She symbolises the very forces that
have the power to gain total victory over negative events of this life as
well as over the obscurations of delusions and obscurations to
omniscience.
The Bodhisattvas of the ten stages, who are completing the Ten Perfections
must also fully rely upon Tara for she embodies the utter fulfilment of the
Ten.

5. Tara who Resounds the sound HUM How she overcomes
Disharmonious Conditions
The syllables TUTTARA and HUM that she utters, together with the
syllable HUM at her heart, symbolise the wisdom of emptiness combined
with the great compassion. With her two feet she presses down upon the
seven realms of the world, thus invoking all forces and placing them in
joy.
The seven worlds refer to the three lower realms (hell creatures, ghosts
and animals) the realms of man and the desire gods and the realms of the
gods of form and formlessness.

6. Totally Victorious Tara How Worldly Gods Worship Her
Tara represents the beyond-samsara state to which even the great gods of
the universe still aspire.

7. Tara who destroys Negativity How Tara crushes External Threats
Sitting in a peaceful posture, her right leg symbolises the wisdom of
emptiness and left great compassion. She presses upon the three realms of
the world her body blazing amidst darting flames. Although this is a
peaceful emanation of Tara, externally she is slightly wrathful. To
symbolise this she sits in the centre of a raging fire.

There are seven verses in praise of Tara's wrathful Sambhogakaya
forms:

8. Tara who Heralds Supreme Power Tara's excellence in Removing
Mara and the two obscurations
The great fearful one are the ferocious army of Maras. Her lotus face is
marked with lines of wrath and her manner is that of a wrathful
Bodhisattva destroying the enemies within: the obscurations of delusion,
which obstruct the attainment of liberation from samsara: and the
obscurations to knowledge which obstruct the attainment of omniscience.
Tara practice destroys both of these obscurations together with their seeds.

9. Tara of the Rosewood Forest The symbols in Tara's two hands
Holding the stem of a lotus at her heart between the thumb and middle
finger of the left hand, her remaining three left fingers are stretched upward
into the mudra of the Three Jewels.
Her right hand, held in the mudra Supreme Generosity, is adorned by a
wheel of truth that radiates forth waves of light to outshine the lights of
samsara.

10. Tara who Dispels Sorrow Praising Tara's Crown and her Laugh
Her head-crown emanates a garland of lights to outshine all others.
Laughing with mantric laughter she utters TUTTARA, bringing all Maras
and the eight great gods of the world under her control.

11. Tara who Invokes How Tara practice activates the ten direction
Protectors
This practice invokes the protectors of the universe. These natural forces
of goodness spontaneously respond to the goodness generated by
meditation upon Tara.
The wrathful lines on her face flicker and lights shine forth from the
syllable HUM at her heart, giving total liberation from all forms of sorrow
such as poverty and pain.

12. Tara of Auspicious Brilliance Praising her head Ornaments
Tara's visible head ornament is a crescent moon, like that on the first day
of the month, radiant with the light that eliminates sorrow. On her hair-knot
sits Buddha Amitabha, who emanates a constant stream of light to fulfil the
needs of living beings.

13. Tara who Bestows Maturity Tara's Wrathful Posture
Just as the fire at the end of time blazes with the heat of seven suns and
easily consumes the earth and stones of the world, the wisdom fires in
which Tara sits consume easily the myriads of delusions, the foes of the
Trainees joyously following a spiritual path.

14. Tara with Vibrant Lines of Wrath The Syllable HUM which
emanates light
Twitching the lines of wrath on her face. Stamping upon the earth in a
ferocious manner with her right foot. She holds her right hand in the
threatening mudra and emanates lights from the Syllable HUM at her heart,
filling the seven dimensions of the world with light and bringing them
under her power.

15. Tara of Virtuous and Creative Serenity Praising Tara's Dharmakaya
Aspect
This verse is in praise of the mind and speech factors of Tara's
Dharmakaya aspect.

16. Tara Destroying of Grasping The Peaceful and Wrathful Mantras
The ten syllable mantra refers to the root mantra OM TARE TUTTARE
TURE SOHA. HUM indicates the wrathful mantra - OM NAMA TARE
NAME HARE HUM HARA SVAHA. By the power of these two mantras
one destroys the enemies of liberation - grasping at a self within and
clinging to substantial existence in the external world.

17. Tara who Produces Bliss How Tara shakes the three worlds
From the transformation of the primordial sound HUM appears TURE,
whose pounding feet cause everything in the external world to tremble and
shake.

18. Totally Victorious Tara How Tara eliminates the effects of Poison
The hare-marked moon like the celestial ocean symbolises the power to
eliminate the poisonous effects of delusions and mental distortions from
within the mind. Through the power of reciting TARA twice and also the
mantric syllable PHAT, even external poisons are overcome.

19. Tara who consumes sorrow How Tara eliminates disputes and
nightmares
Indra of the desire gods, Brahma of the realm of form, leaders of the spirit
worlds and all kings of the gods and celestial beings bow their heads to
Tara.

20. Tara Source of Siddhi How Tara cures disease
Her right eye fierce like the sun, her left gentle like the moon, she radiates
dazzling bright beams of light.
By reciting the wrathful mantra HARA twice and also the peaceful mantra
TUTTARA, the most powerful illness is overcome.

21. Tara who brings Complete Perfection How Tara overcomes ghosts
and evil spirits
Tara's three natures, of her body, speech and mind, appear respectively as
the letters OM at her crown, AH at her throat and HUM at her heart. These
possess the strength to pacify the delusions within as well as external
poisons. The most exalted TURE refers to TARA herself.

3. Praises in Reference to Enlightened Activity - Green Tara
Visualisation

Tara represents the entire range of virtuous and enlightened activity and is
therefore said to be the mother of the buddhas of the past, present and
future - an attribute symbolised by the utpala fruit, flower and bud she
holds in her left hand. The gesture of her left hand symbolises refuge while
her right hand is in the mudra of giving highest happiness. She sits in royal
posture on a white moon-disc resting on a lotus blossom. Her left leg is
drawn upwards while her right foot rests upon a small lotus pedestal,
showing that she abides both in samsara and nirvana. Tara wears the five
silk robes and six ornaments, and in her tiara she bears and image of
Amitabha. She is accompanied by the twenty-one forms of herself, 20 of
whom float in the sky above her on rainbows and lotuses, while her other
main form, White Tara, is found below.

Symbolic gesture of the Mandala offering with your hands

The practice of offering the Mandala consists of the ritual offering of the
world, and all its wealth, to the Object of Refuge as an act of veneration.

The configuration of your hands contains the same meaning as the Mandala
offering. The two fingers raised upwards in the centre represent Mount
Meru.

The four corners formed by interlocking the other fingers, represent the
four continents and you should imagine that all the wealth contained in the
entire world is present in your hands.

When the offering is completed, if you would like to visualise those to
whom you have offered the Mandala as happily accepting it, you should
proceed to unfold your hands away from you.

If, on the other hand, you feel it is more appropriate to receive the
blessings of the Object of Refuge to whom the offering is made, then you
should unfold your hands towards you.

A Prayer of Supplication for the Long Life of His Holiness Tenzin
Gyatso

This sincere prayer of supplication, invoking the oceans of compassion of
the Three Paragons, that the all-encompassing wishes of the Peerless
Guide of Wanderers including Gods, Sovereign Refuge Protector, Lord of
Conquerors, all-seeing, all-knowing, magnanimous, foremost and holy
Ngawang Lobsang Tenzin Gyatso, Pre-eminent Ruler of the Three Worlds,
glorious, supreme and good, may spontaneously be fulfilled and that he
may remain until the end of cyclic existence, has been written by
ourselves, the Senior Tutor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Eastern
Successor to the Throne of Ganden, Ling Tulku Thupten Lungtog Namgyal
Trinley and by the Junior Tutor to His Holiness, Trijang Lobsang Yeshey
Gyatso.

It was newly composed in a style free of poetic flourishes and imagery, the
need for such having been made known and requested with sincerity and
single-hearted faith, accompanied with offering scarves and precious gifts,
by the Three Great Seats of the Doctrine - Drepung, Sera and Ganden, the
Cabinet, general secretaries and the entire body of secular and non-secular
government officials along with the people and gods of the land of Tibet.

With single-hearted faith and reverence we take great joy in this prayer of
supplication, wishing that its aims may be fulfilled accordingly.

It was translated into English by Gelong Jampa Gendun and Getsul Tenzin
Chödrak at the Buddhist School of Dialectics, Dharamsala, during the
autumn of 1985, in accordance with the explanation of Ven. Lobsang
Nyima, Abbot of Namgyal Monastery.

Origin of Mahakala, the Dharma Protector Deity

At one time in the past, the Lord of Great Compassion, the Noble
Avalokiteshvara, raised the Idea of Enlightenment, the Bodhicitta, and then
for countless kalpas accumulated merit. After passing through the ten
Bodhisattva levels, he received the special Great Light empowerment.
Then, as he entered the ranks of the Noble Sons of the Buddha, he made
this vow:

"Throughout the samsaric world realms in the limitless space of the ten
directions, I will benefit beings. I must liberate all beings from samsara.
Not until all beings are established on the level of Buddhahood, not even
one left behind in samsara, will I myself enter Buddhahood. Only when all
beings without exception have been guided to Buddhahood, will it be well
for me to achieve it. Until then I will remain in samsara for the benefit of
all beings. And to ensure it, may my body be shattered into a thousand
pieces if I break this vow."

From then on, Avalokiteshvara resided at the Potala Mountain. Through his
limitless emanations, at every moment, he accomplished the ripening and
liberating of innumerable sentient beings - to an extent beyond our means
to express. And in this manner he passed uncountable years - many, many
kalpas.

Then, at one time, he thought it possible that now he had delivered all
beings from samsara. With his omniscient vision he looked, and saw that
the realms of sentient beings had neither increased nor diminished. Not
only had they not decreased in number, but now those sentient beings near
him were in the Age of Darkness, and were even more difficult to subdue.
Then saying, "Now, I cannot benefit even one sentient being,"
Avalokiteshvara broke the vow he had previously made, and his body
shattered into a thousand pieces. Then the Root Lama who by his vow
always holds us in his compassion, the Noble World Protector, who has
conquered and transcended, and because of his immeasurable light is
called the Buddha Amitabha, vividly appeared and said:

"Son of my family, it is not well that you have thus broken your vow. Now
you must replenish your broken vow, and make an even greater resolution
to benefit beings."

The shattered body of a thousand pieces, by Amitabha's blessing, was
united into one body with eleven heads and a thousand arms.
Avalokiteshvara then thought that his previous great vow could never be
exceeded. And yet by it he had been unable to benefit even a few beings.
So for seven days he was unable to decide what to do. Then he thought that
by means of a wrathful form he would be able to subdue the degenerate
beings of this Age of Darkness. And, seeing many beings who practised
Dharma and yet were unable to escape from the Bardo realms, he thought
that by a wrathful form he could also protect them from the Bardo. And
lastly, he thought that the beings in this Dark Age were poor and needy,
experiencing only suffering, and that by a wrathful form he could provide
them with an antidote to their suffering, so that their needs could be met by
their simply making the wish.

With this three-fold activity, his vow became even greater than before.
From the heart of Noble Avalokiteshvara emerged a dark blue HUNG
letter, which transformed into the Instantaneous Protector of Wisdom. In
all the Pure Lands, the ground shook with six kinds of earthquakes. The
Conquering and Transcending One of Immeasurable Light and all the other
Tathagatas of the ten directions proclaimed with one voice:

"Son of the family, it is well that you have made this resolution. You shall
have the empowerment of all the wisdom dakinis. You shall have the
strength of the wrathful Yama, Lord of Death. You shall have the mountain
spirits, the yakshas, the devils and the demonesses as your messengers.
You shall embody the great wrathful empowerments of the Body, Speech,
Mind, Qualities and Activity of all the Buddhas throughout the three
times."

Ever since then, Mahakala has remained as the Doctrine Protector of all
the Buddha fields.

Symbolism of Mahakala

The Protector's body colour is dark blue, symbolic of the changeless
Dharmakaya. His three eyes symbolise his clear comprehension of the
three times, and the vivid manifestation of the three bodies of Buddha. The
crown of five skulls symbolise the five poisons - anger, desire, ignorance,
jealousy and pride - transformed into five wisdoms. His six arms
symbolise the completion of the six perfections - generosity, patience,
morality, diligence, meditation and wisdom. the triku knife symbolises the
cutting of ego-attachment. The skull bowl filled with blood symbolises the
subjugation of the evil ones. The rosary symbolises his continuous activity
for the benefit of beings. The damaru hand-drum symbolises his power
over the dakinis. His trident symbolises his power over the three spheres -
desire, form and formless. The lasso symbolises his action of binding
those who break their vows. His two feet symbolise means and wisdom.
That his left leg is straight and his right leg bent symbolise his
accomplishment of benefit to self and others. He tramples on the Binayaka,
to symbolise his destruction and dispersal of great obstacles. The sun on
which he stands symbolises his illumination of the darkness of ignorance.
The lotus seat symbolises purity undefiled by samsara. The blazing fire
symbolises his action to consume neurotic states of mind. The tiger skin,
purification of desire; the elephant skin, purification of pride; the snake,
purification of anger. All his other ornaments symbolise that he has the
complete qualities of the Buddha.

Produced by
Dharma Therapy Trust
under the guidance of
Venerable Geshé Damchö Yönten

January 1994

Proceeds from sales of this publication are used to support the monks at
Drepung Loseling Monastic College, Mundgod, India

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