Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 1

Praises to the
Twenty-one Taras

Unknown artist
2 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 3

Contents

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4 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras
Praises to the Twenty-one Taras
Invocation
Po ta la yi n chhog n
TAM yig jang khu l thrung shing
pag me kyi u la gyn
D sum sang gy thrin l ma
Drl ma khor ch sheg su sl
Prostration
Lha dang lha min ch pn gyi
Zhab kyi p mo la t de
Phong pa kn l drl dz ma
Drl ma yum la chhag tshl lo
The Praises
OM je tsn ma phag ma drl ma la chhag tshl lo
Chhag tshl drl ma nyur ma pa mo
Chn ni k chig log dang dra ma
Jig ten sum gn chhu kye zhl gyi
Ge sar je wa l ni jung ma
Chhag tshl tn ki da wa kn tu
Gang wa gya ni tseg pi zhl ma
Kar ma tong thrag tshog pa nam kyi
Rab tu chhe wi rab bar ma
Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 5
Praises to the Twenty-one Taras
Recite these praises and offer prostrations (optional). As you recite, contemplate as follows:
with each praise and prostration, just as one spark of fire comes from another, a replica of (the
respective) Tara manifests and sinks into you.
Invocation
From your sublime abode at the Potala,
O Tara, born from the green letter TAM
Your crown adorned with Amitabha,
Action-mother of the buddhas of the three times,
Tara, please come with your attendants.
Prostration
The gods and demi-gods bow
To your lotus feet, O Tara;
You who rescue all who are destitute,
To you, Mother Tara, I pay homage.
The Praises
OM Homage to the Venerable Arya Tara.
Homage to you, Tara, the swift heroine,
Whose eyes are like an instant flash of lightning,
Whose water-born face arises from the blooming lotus
Of Avalokiteshvara, protector of the three worlds.
Homage to you, Tara, whose face is like
One hundred full autumn moons gathered together,
Blazing with the expanding light
Of a thousand stars assembled.
6 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 7

Chhag tshl ser ngo chhu n kye kyi Homage to you, Tara, born from a golden-blue lotus,
P m chhag ni nam par gyn ma Whose hands are beautifully adorned with lotus flowers,
Jin pa tsn dr ka thub zhi wa You who are the embodiment of giving, joyous effort, asceticism,
Z pa sam tn ch yl nyi ma Pacification, patience, concentration, and all objects of practice.

Chhag tshl de zhin sheg pi tsug tor Homage to you, Tara, the crown pinnacle of those thus gone,
Tha y nam par gyl war ch ma Whose deeds overcome infinite evils,
Ma l pha rl chhin pa thob pi Who have attained transcendent perfections without exception,
Gyl wi s kyi shin tu ten ma And upon whom the sons of the Victorious Ones rely.

Chhag tshl TUTTARA HUM yi ge Homage to you, Tara, who with the letters TUTTARA and HUM
D dang chhog dang nam kha gang ma Fill the (realms of) desire, direction, and space,
Jig ten dn po zhab kyi nn te Whose feet trample on the seven worlds,
L pa me par gug par n ma And who are able to draw all beings to you.

Chhag tshl gya jin me lha tshang pa Homage to you, Tara, venerated by Indra,
Lung lha na tshog wang chhug chh ma Agni, Brahma, Vayu, and Ishvara,
Jung po ro lang dri za nam dang And praised by the assembly of spirits, raised corpses,
N jin tshog kyi dn n t ma Gandharvas, and all yakshas.

Chhag tshl TRAD che ja dang PHAT kyi Homage to you, Tara, whose TRAT and PHAT
Pha rl thrl khor rab tu jom ma Destroy entirely the magical wheels of others.
Y kum yn kyang zhab kyi nn te With your right leg bent and left outstretched and pressing,
Me bar thrug pa shin tu bar ma You burn intensely within a whirl of fire.

Chhag tshl TURE jig pa chhen po Homage to you, Tara, the great fearful one,
D kyi pa wo nam par jom ma Whose letter TURE destroys the mighty demons completely,
Chhu kye zhl ni thro nyer dn dz Who with a wrathful expression on your water-born face
Dra wo tham ch ma l s ma Slay all enemies without an exception.

Chhag tshl kn chhog sum tshn chhag gyi Homage to you, Tara, whose fingers adorn your heart
Sor m thug kar nam par gyn ma With the gesture of the sublime precious three;
Ma l chhog kyi khor l gyn pi Adorned with a wheel striking all directions without exception
Rang gi kyi tshog nam thrug ma With the totality of your own rays of light.

Chhag tshl rab tu ga wa ji pi Homage to you, Tara, whose radiant crown ornament,
U gyn kyi threng wa pel ma Joyful and magnificent, extends a garland of light,
Zhe pa rab zh TUTTARA yi And who, by your laughter of TUTTARA,
D dang jig ten wang du dz ma Conquer the demons and all of the worlds.
8 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 9

Chhag tshl sa zhi kyong wi tshog nam Homage to you, Tara, who are able to invoke
Tham ch gug par n ma nyi ma The entire assembly of local protectors,
Thro nyer yo wi yi ge HUM gi Whose wrathful expression fiercely shakes,
Phong pa tham ch nam par drl ma Rescuing the impoverished through the letter HUM.

Chhag tshl da wi dum b u gyn Homage to you, Tara, whose crown is adorned
Gyn pa tham ch shin tu bar ma With the crescent moon, wearing ornaments exceedingly bright;
Rl pi khur na pag me l From your hair knot the buddha Amitabha
Tag par shin tu rab dz ma Radiates eternally with great beams of light.

Chhag tshl kl pi tha mi me tar Homage to you, Tara, who dwell within a blazing garland
Bar wi threng wi na n ma That resembles the fire at the end of this world age;
Y kyang yn kum kn n kor gi Surrounded by joy, you sit with your right leg extended
Dra yi pung ni nam par jom ma And left withdrawn, completely destroying all the masses of enemies.

Chhag tshl sa zhii ng la chhag gi Homage to you, Tara, with hand on the ground by your side,
Thil gyi nn ching zhab kyi dung ma Pressing your heel and stamping your foot on the earth;
Thro nyer chn dz yi ge HUM gi With a wrathful glance from your eyes you subdue
Rim pa dn po nam ni gem ma All seven levels through the syllable HUM.

Chhag tshl de ma ge ma zhi ma Homage to you, Tara, O happy, virtuous, and peaceful one,
Nya ngn d zhi ch yl nyi ma The very object of practice, passed beyond sorrow.
SVAHA OM dang yang dag dn p You are perfectly endowed with SOHA and OM,
Dig pa chhen po jom pa nyi ma Overcoming completely all the great evils.

Chhag tshl kn n kor rab ga wi Homage to you, Tara, surrounded by the joyous ones,
Dra yi l ni nam par gem ma You completely subdue the bodies of all enemies;
Yi ge chu pi ngag ni k pi Your speech is adorned with the ten syllables,
Rig pa HUM l drl ma nyi ma And you rescue all through the knowledge-letter HUM.

Chhag tshl TURE zhab ni deb p Homage to you, Tara, stamping your feet and proclaiming TURE.
HUM gi nam pi sa bn nyi ma Your seed-syllable itself in the aspect of HUM
Ri rab Mandhara dang big je Causes Meru, Mandhara, and the Vindhya mountains
Jig ten sum nam yo wa nyi ma And all the three worlds to tremble and shake.

Chhag tshl lha yi tsho yi nam pi Homage to you, Tara, who hold in your hand
Ri dag tag chn chhag na nam ma The hare-marked moon like the celestial ocean.
TARA nyi j PHAT kyi yi ge By uttering TARA twice and the letter PHAT
Dug nam ma l pa ni sel ma You dispel all poisons without an exception.
10 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 11

Chhag tshl lha yi tshog nam gyl po Homage to you, Tara, upon whom the kings of the assembled gods,
Lha dang mi am chi yi ten ma The gods themselves, and all kinnaras rely;
Kn n go chha ga wi ji gyi Whose magnificent armor gives joy to all,
Ts dang mi lam ngn pa sel ma You who dispel all disputes and bad dreams.

Chhag tshl nyi ma da wa gy pi Homage to you, Tara, whose two eyes the sun and the moon
Chn nyi po la rab sl ma Radiate an excellent, illuminating light;
HARA nyi j TUTTARA yi By uttering HARA twice and TUTTARA,
Shin tu drag pi rim n sel ma You dispel all violent epidemic disease.

Chhag tshl de nyi sum nam k p Homage to you, Tara, adorned by the three suchnesses,
Zhi wi th dang yang dag dn ma Perfectly endowed with the power of serenity,
Dn dang ro lang n jin tshog nam You who destroy the host of evil spirits, raised corpses, and yakshas,
Jom pa TURE rab chhog nyi ma O TURE, most excellent and sublime!

Tsa wi ngag kyi t pa di dang Thus concludes this praise of the root mantra

+%
Chhag tshl wa ni nyi shu tsa chig and the offering of the twenty-one homages.

Colophon
Translation by Lama Thubten Yeshe and originally edited by Sylvia Wetzel, January 1979.
Extracted from the Cittamani Tara sadhana published for retreat in August 1979 by Publica-
tions for Wisdom Culture at Conishead Priory, Ulverston, Cumbria, England.
12 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 13

Praise to the Twenty-one Taras Praises to the Twenty-one Taras

(abbreviated version) (abbreviated version)
This abbreviation in a single verse of the praises to the twenty-one Taras was received directly
from Arya Tara by the great teacher, Jowo Atisha, for the swift collection of meritorious
energy.

OM chom dn d ma lha mo drl ma la chhag tshl lo OM I prostrate to the goddess foe destroyer, liberating lady Tara,
Chhag tshl drl ma TARE pl mo Homage to TARE, saviouress, heroine,
TUTTARA yi jig kn sel ma With TUTTARE dispelling all fears,
TURE dn nam tham ch ter ma Granting all benefits with TURE,
SVAHA yi ger ch la rab d To her with sound SVAHA, I bow.

Taras Mantra
Drawing by Andy Weber

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA

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14 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 15

7. Homage! With Her TRAD and PHAT sounds

Destroying foes magic diagrams!
Praises to the Twenty-one Taras Her feet pressing, left out, right in,
Blazing in a raging fire-blaze!

(English version for chanting) 8. Homage! TURE, very dreadful!

Destroyer of Maras champion(s)!
She with frowning lotus visage
OM I prostrate to the noble transcendent liberator.
Who is slayer of all enemies!
OM je tsn ma phag ma drl ma la chhag tshl lo
9. Homage! At the heart her fingers,
1. Homage! Tara, swift, heroic!
Adorn her with Three Jewel mudra!
Eyes like lightning instantaneous!
Light-ray masses all excited!
Sprung from opning stamens of the
All directions wheels adorn her!
Lord of three worlds tear-born lotus!
10. Homage! She so joyous, radiant,
2. Homage! She whose face combines a
Crown emitting garlands of light!
Hundred autumn moons at fullest!
Mirthful, laughing with TUTTARE,
Blazing with light rays resplendent
Subjugating maras, devas!
As a thousand star collection!
11. Homage! She able to summon
3. Homage! Golden-blue one, lotus
All earth-guardians assembly!
Water born, in hand adorned!
Shaking, frowning, with her HUM sign
Giving, effort, calm, austerities,
Saving from every misfortune!
Patience, meditation her sphere!
12. Homage! Crown adorned with crescent
4. Homage! Crown of tathagatas,
Moon, all ornaments most shining!
Actions triumph without limit!
Amitabha in her hair-knot
Relied on by conquerors children,
Sending out much light eternal!
Having reached evry perfection!
13. Homage! She mid wreath ablaze like
5. Homage! Filling with TUTTARE,
Eon-ending fire abiding!
HUM, desire, direction, and space!
Right stretched, left bent, joy surrounds you
Trampling with her feet the seven worlds,
Troops of enemies destroying!
Able to draw forth all beings!
14. Homage! She who strikes the ground with
6. Homage! Worshipped by the all-lords,
Her palm, and with her foot beats it!
Shakra, Agni, Brahma, Marut!
Scowling, with the letter HUM the
Honored by the hosts of spirits,
Seven levels she does conquer!
Corpse-raisers, gandharvas, yakshas!
16 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 17

15. Homage! Happy, virtuous, peaceful!

She whose field is peace, nirvana!
She endowed with OM and SVAHA,
Destroyer of the great evil!

16. Homage! She with joy surrounded

Tearing foes bodies asunder,
Frees with HUM and knowledge mantra,
Arrangement of the ten letters!

17. Homage! TURE! With seed letter

Of the shape of syllable HUM!
By foot stamping shakes the three worlds,
Meru, Mandara, and Vindhya!

Drawing of Arya Tara by Andy Weber

18. Homage! Holding in her hand the
Deer-marked moon of deva-lake form!
With twicespoken TARA and PHAT,
Totally dispelling poison!

19. Homage! She whom gods and their kings,

And the kinnaras do honour!
Armoured in all joyful splendor,
She dispels bad dreams and conflicts!

20. Homage! She whose two eyes bright with

Radiance of sun and full moon!
With twice HARA and TUTTARE
She dispels severe contagion!

21. Homage! Full of liberating

Powr by the set of three natures!
Destroys hosts of spirits, yakshas,
And raised corpses! Supreme! TURE!

These praises with the root mantras Colophon:

And prostrations thus are twenty-one! Based on Martin Willsons chantable translation of the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras, this
version was additionally checked against the Tibetan and for euphony by the staff of the
FPMT Education Department with the assistance of Ven. George Churinoff, January 2001.
18 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras Praises to the Twenty-one Taras 19

Care of Dharma Books

Dharma books contain the teachings of the Buddha; they have the power
to protect against lower rebirth and to point the way to liberation. There-
fore, they should be treated with respect kept off the floor and places
where people sit or walk and not stepped over. They should be covered
or protected for transporting and kept in a high, clean place separate
from more mundane materials. Other objects should not be placed on
top of Dharma books and materials. Licking the fingers to turn pages is
considered bad form as well as negative karma. If it is necessary to dispose
of written Dharma materials, they should be burned rather than thrown
in the trash. When burning Dharma texts, it is taught to first recite a
prayer or mantra, such as OM, AH, HUM. Then, you can visualize the
letters of the texts (to be burned) absorbing into the AH and the AH
absorbing into you, transmitting their wisdom to your mindstream. After
that, as you continue to recite OM, AH, HUM, you can burn the texts.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended that photos or images of holy

beings, deities, or other holy objects not be burned. Instead, they should
be placed with respect in a stupa, tree, or other high, clean place. It has
been suggested to put them into a small structure like a bird house and
then seal the house. In this way, the holy images do not end up on the
ground.
20 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras

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