Vajra Tara with eight arms
  See it in the Museum
India and Nepal
Orientation 3
Display 4

ABS 307

 Code: ABS 307

  Country: India (north-east)

  Style: Late Pala Style

  Date: 1100 - 1200

  Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 6.6 x 9.1 x 5

  Materials: Brass

Vajra Tara with eight arms 

Vajra Tara sits in the diamond attitude (vajraparyankasana) on a double lotus throne. She has four faces and eight arms. Some of the attributes she is holding are those of a wrathful deity, others those of a peaceful deity.In her right hands she holds from bottom to topthe conch shell, (the second hand would hold an arrow if it were not broken off), the third hand holds a noose, and at the top the broken-off hand would hold a vajra. 
With her lower left hand she forms the threatening gesture (tarjani mudra), with the second hand she holds a goad, with the third a bow and in the uppermost the stem of a lily (utpala), the flower of the night. 

Vajra Tara is a form of the Yellow Tara. The Yellow Tara in turn is one of the 21 manifestations of boddhisattvi Tara, who, according to tradition, vowed to manifest herself in a female body until all beings will be liberated from samsara. Each of the 21 manifestations has a different appearance and function. Vajra Tara is mainly invoked for protection through active warding off of evil. 

Tara is one with her mantra: OM TA RE TU TARE TURE SOHA. Lay people can call upon her for help in times of need by simply uttering her name with devotion.