The Green Tara is the most popular of all Taras, treasured for her beauty and dynamic form. In this sculpture she is seated in half-lotus position on a lotus throne. Her left hand is in the mudra of teaching and her right hand of gift-giving. Technical analysis has shown that this Tara was cast in separate pieces using the lost-wax technique; although this is common, close examination of the lotus base and the figure shows that they are in fact a composite of two different versions of the Green Tara that were joined together. XRF analysis shows that the hands and feet have a high amount of zinc, contrasting with the rest of the figure’s copper alloy composition.
1 statuette ; figure: H. 20 x W. 12 3/4 x D. 10 3/4 in. (50.8 x 32.3 x 27.3 cm), lotus attachment: L. 7 x W. 4 x D. 1 in. (17.7 x 10.2 x 2.5 cm)
Note (Medium/support)
Copper alloy, embossed and set with turquoise and other gems, traces of gilding, with zinc appendages
Note (Ownership)
Gift of J. G. Phelps Stokes
Note
In Vajrayana Buddhism, Taras are female counterparts to Bodhisattvas and considered saviors of humankind in their own right. According to legend, Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, weeped upon witnessing the suffering of the world and fro m his tears were born the Taras, who worked with him to guide people toward enlightenment.