One of the most beloved deities in Himalayan and Inner Asian Buddhist traditions, Tara, known as the “saviouress,” is often appealed to through the recitation of her invocation (mantra), known to lay and religious persons alike. It is said that reciting this mantra with devotion many times strengthens one’s connection to this female deity, solicits her protection, and accumulates merit.This sculpture has a strong Indic aesthetic and a finely modeled face. The proportionally large head with a tall hair knot, large simple hoop earrings, dark metal patina, and subtle sense of motion suggest it is an early sculpture from central Tibet.

Artwork Details

Title
Green Tara
Dimensions
18 1/2 × 12 1/2 × 9 5/8 in. (estimated)
Medium
Brass with inlays of silver
Origin
Tibet
Classification(s)
sculpture
Date
13th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
Object number
C2005.16.30
HAR Number
65453
Published references
* Bazin, Nathalie. 2002. Rituels Tibétains: Visions Secrètes de Ve Dalaï Lama, [catalogue d'exposition, Musée national des Arts asiatiques-Guimet, 5 november 2002 - 24 février 2003]. Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux; p. 63, no. 9. * Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014. Pp. 58-59

Begin your search...

Tantrism

Concepts

A religious movement that originated in India around the fifth to seventh century with sacred writings and esoteric teachings and practices transmitted from teacher to student through initiation. These remain an important part of Hinduism and Buddhism today. 

See more

Fear

Concepts

One of the main sources of suffering in the endless cycle of death and rebirth known as samsara. Buddhists regard offering protection from fear as an act of compassion or form of giving.

See more

Gender

Concepts

In Buddhism gender is considered more fluid compared to some other religions. Certain traditions emphasize the importance of all genders in achieving enlightenment. The feminine is considered an embodiment of wisdom and the masculine is an embodiment of method.

See more

Female Deities

Figure Type

Female bodhisattvas and tantric deities embody specific enlightened qualities such as wisdom, power, and protection, and can be peaceful or wrathful in appearance.

See more

Tibetan Regions

Region

Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.

See more
Close

Sign up for our emails

Get the latest news and stories from the Rubin, plus occasional information on how to support our work. You can unsubscribe at any time at the bottom of our emails. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions

Discover artworks, articles, and more by typing a search term above, selecting a term below, or exploring common concepts in Himalayan art.