PAINTING OF SITATARA:THE WHITE TARA

DISTEMPER ON CLOTH

SOUTHERN TIBET ?

CIRCA 19TH CENTURY

IMAGE 11.25” x 14.5”: SILK BROCADE 18.75’ x 28.0”

EXHIBITED: Ithaca College Museum of Art, Ithaca, New York, Spring 1971 Lycoming College Gallery, Williamsport, Pennsylvania , Fall 1981

DESCRIPTION: : A Thanka of Sitatara; the white Tara, or white savioress. Around the sixth century the goddess Tara was considered as a saki (wife) of Avalokitesvara. In the seventh century Tara reincarnated as two distinct and are distinguished by the Tibetans as white for Chinese and green for Nepalese. Each are believe to have emanated for the tears of Avalokitesvara. Tara is considered to be the archangelic and archetype bodhisattva representing the miraculous activities of all Buddhas.

The figure is shown vitarka (palm up, index finger touches thumb) and varada (open hand down); mudras padma (padama is a lotus) at her left shoulder. Tibetan name is sGrol-,a dKar-po (Dol-ma Kar-po); short form sGrol-dkar (Dol-kar).