Green Tara Amulet

Artist

Mongolian (Mongolian)

Date

19th-20th century

Medium

Silver and clay

Dimensions

Work : 2 1/8 x 1 3/4 x 5/8 in. (5.4 x 4.45 x 1.59 cm)

Credit Line

Hope College Collection

Object Number

2019.29.3

Label

Tara is a female form of Avalokiteshvara, a compassionate Buddhist saint who saves people from trouble and despair. In Himalayan Vajrayana Buddhism, images of Tara were traditionally used in monastic culture as focal points for meditation practices and in popular culture as symbols of good fortune. Tara is sometimes depicted in different colors to represent different virtues and qualities of being. Green Tara is regarded as an especially auspicious manifestation of the deity who will bring success to those who invoke her name with true faith.