Vajra Tara

Description

Tara is a Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist goddess. Her name means "star", and she is associated with the North Star. In Buddhism she is the consort of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. She is also said to be his off spring or emanation, sprung from the tears that he shed out of sympathy for the sufferings of mankind. Tara plays an important role in Tantric worship, where she takes on a multitude of benign and fierce forms. Bust of Vajra Tara carved in the round with four heads and eight arms. All the left arms are missing, but portions to the right side are extant. The goddess wears an elaborate torque with a large jewel in the middle and a necklace of beads consisting of three strings. On the forehead of the front head is a square diamond-shaped mark. The hair is arranged in a conical knot visible between the four heads. The head-dresses are profusely adorned with strings of pearls. In the head-dress of the principal head are four figures of Dhyani-Buddhas seated in various attitudes. The deity has abnormally large breasts.