Tārā
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Sometimes transliterated as: Tara, TArA, Taaraa
Tārā, Wife of Vālī
Tārā was the wife and queen of Vālī, the vānara king of Kiṣkindhā.
Tārā, Wife of Bṛhaspati
The wife of Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of the gods, was also Tārā. She bore him six sons and one daughter named Svāhā. Once she was abducted by Candra.[1] Budha[2] was born as their son. She was restored to Bṛhaspati by Brahmā, the creator.
Tārā, as per Tantras
In the tantras, Tārā is mentioned as an aspect of the Divine Mother or Śakti. Eight forms like Tārā, Ugratārā, Vajrā and Kāmeśvarī are also described. Her image has a face with three eyes and two hands. She is dark-green in color. She holds lotus flowers in her hands. Her mantra has ten akṣaras.[3]
References
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore