Twenty-one Taras

The 21 Taras painted by Salga

Twenty-one Taras (Tib. སྒྲོལ་མ་ཉེར་གཅིག་, drolma nyerchik, Wyl. sgrol ma nyer gcig) — the twenty-one forms of Tara mentioned in the Tara tantra, together with their benefits, according to Rigdzin Jikmé Lingpa:

1. Nyurma Pamo (myur ma dpa' mo; Skt. Pravīrā) for development of bodhichitta
2. Yangchenma (dbyangs can ma; Skt. Sarasvati) for knowledge and wisdom
3. Sonam Chokter (bsod nams mchog gter) for the force of merit
4. Tsuktor Namgyal (gtsug gtor rnam rgyal; Skt. Ushnishavijaya) for long life
5. Rikchema (rig byed ma; Skt. Kurukulla) for magnetising people and wealth
6. Jikché Chenmo ('jigs byed chen mo; Skt. Mahābairavā) for destroying the power of harmful influences
7. Shyenkyi Mitupma (gzhan gyis mi thub ma) for protection from hailstorms and lightning
8. Shyen Migyalwa (gzhan mi rgyal ba) for repelling blame
9. Sengdeng Nakkyi Drolma (seng ldeng nags kyi sgrol ma; Skt. Khadiravaṇī Tārā) for protection from the eight great fears. (She is the main Tara, green in colour)
10. Jikten Sumgyal ('jig rten gsum rgyal; Skt. Trailokavijayā) to have power over the world
11. Nor Terma (nor ster ma) for dispelling poverty and granting good fortune
12. Tashi Dönché (bkra shis don byed) for the auspiciousness of children, fame, rain and so on
13. Drapung Jomma (dgra dpung 'joms ma) for victory in war
14. Tronyer Chendze (khro gnyer can mdzad; Skt. Bhṛkuṭī) for protection from spirits
15. Rabtu Shyiwa (rab tu zhi ma; Skt. Praśāntī) for purifying harmful actions
16. Barwé Öchen ('bar ba'i 'od can) for dispelling spells and negative effects
17. Pakmé Nönam (dpag med gnon ma) for protection from robbers, thieves, animals and hunters
18. Mabja Chenmo (rma bya chen mo; Skt. Mahāmāyūrī) to protect from and neutralize poison
19. Mipam Gyalmo (mi pham rgyal mo) for protection from quarrels and bad dreams
20. Ritröma (ri khrod ma; Skt. Śabarī) for protection from epidemics
21. Özer Chenma ('od zer can ma; Skt. Marichi) for restoring the spirits and energies of sick people

Alternative Lists

There are two alternative lists of the Twenty-one Taras from the Indian tradition: one from Suryagupta and one from Nagarjuna and Atisha, in which the names, form, colour or function of protection vary. In the Tibetan tradition there are also two lists, which derive from termas: one from Jikmé Lingpa and one from Chokgyur Lingpa.

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Jetsün Kushok Chimey Luding, Lerab Ling, 15 June 2016

Further Reading

• Khenchen Palden Sherab and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal, Tara's Enlightened Activity (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2007)

Internal Links

• Praises to the Twenty-One Taras

External Links

• Five systems of Twenty-one Taras from Himalayan Art
• Translation of the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras by Alexander Berzin
• FPMT Prayers to the 21 Taras booklet
• Commentary on the 21 Taras by Thupten Shedrub Gyatso