Who is Green Tara?
The Embodiment of the Female Buddha
Green Tara is known as the Buddha who moves the fastest. A world that constantly pulls your attention in every direction, finding a practice that creates a shift and a sense of clarity matters more than ever.
Her compassion does not hesitate. Her help does not delay. She represents a form of awakened feminine energy that feels immediate and intimate. For many practitioners today, she is the presence that brings courage during moments of fear, clarity during confusion, and a feeling of emotional safety when life becomes overwhelming.
Green Tara’s Story
A Vow That Never Wavered
The core of Green Tara’s story begins long before she appeared in her familiar green form. According to the tradition, she was once a deeply devoted practitioner who reached profound realization while in a female body. When told she should pray to be reborn as a man — “because enlightenment is easier that way” — she refused.
Her response was simple: awakening has no gender.
She vowed that in every lifetime, she would appear in female form to help beings cross their fears, confusion, and inner obstacles. This is why she is often described as a Tibetan Buddhist goddess Tara, though she is not a goddess in the Western sense — she is enlightened compassion taking form.
The Meaning Hidden Inside Her Symbols
Understanding Tara’s Iconic Imagery
Every element of a Green Tara image communicates something:
• Her green colour reflects active compassion
• Her right hand extends downward in a gesture of protection, a reassurance that you are safe.
• Her left hand, raised near her heart, expresses compassion and wisdom working together.
• The lotus she holds represents purity rising from difficulty.
• And her most distinctive feature — one foot stepping forward — shows her readiness to help the moment you need her.
Her visual form and symbolism have been preserved for centuries through Tibetan thangka art.
The Green Tara Mantra
Soothing Fear, Clearing Obstacles
Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha (or Soha)
It is recited to dissolve fear, protect from obstacles, and create clarity where there is confusion.
• Tare — liberation from all fears
• Tuttare — protection from outer dangers
• Ture — removal of confusion and inner distortion
• Svaha — grounding the blessing into your life
You can use this mantra as a form of Green Tara meditation, repeating it softly while breathing deeply. It is a huge support for those who turn to Green Tara for anxiety, fear, and emotional turbulence.
Green Tara and White Tara
Two Expressions of Care
Green Tara and White Tara are often described as reflections of the same compassionate essence, expressed in different ways.
Green Tara represents action, courage, and the ability to move through fear.
White Tara represents healing, long life, serenity, and emotional nourishment.
For anyone seeking recovery, calm, or physical support, the White Tara mantra for good health is often recited:
Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Ayuh Punya Jñana Pustim Kuru Svaha
In her peaceful white form, her energy feels soft and luminous. The mantra asks for well-being, longevity, and the inner clarity that supports healing.
Learn more here:
www.himalayanart.org
www.learnreligions.com
Bringing Her Into Your Daily Life
Simple Ways to Begin Your Green Tara Practice
While Tibetan monks follow a complex puja procedure, which is fascinating, Green Tara does not necessarily require a shrine or a complex ritual. She meets you where you are, and from there, your devotion to her may grow naturally as you follow your intuition in altar-building practices.
Ask Green Tara to guide you in creating an altar and listen carefully to your intuition.
It can start as simple as a single candle, a small image on your desk, or whispering her mantra.
Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha can shift your emotional landscape instantly and bring you insights.
This is how you can begin your Green Tara devotion.
For a deeper look, see this guide: Green Tara Traditional Altar.
You can begin simply.
Your Personal Connection
Her story is ultimately an invitation. It encourages us to recognize and connect with our own limitless capacity for compassion and courageous action. She reminds us that we, too, can be a source of swift, loving support in our world.
The Green Tara Oracle Deck is a 46-card deck designed to deepen your connection with the female Budhisatva. It’s the perfect tool for anyone who wants to explore different aspects of her 21 emanations in a grounded, beautiful way.