The sacred Mahavidya responsible for our rescue and safety in all ways, physical, mental and emotional is known as Tara. Now the Sanskrit word is Traan, and it can loosely be translated as rescue, saving, protection etc etc. It is Tara or TARINI who rescues us from drowning in the seas of life and grants us absolution and salvation.
Many people have doubts! Is Kali the same as Tara, possibly because there are a lot of similarities in their iconography, but believe me when I say this, Kali and Tara have distinct differences. They are one, abhinya of course, but to the initiate, the contrast between their energies is perceptible!
I am going to repeat again….PARASHAKTI is one, but when she displays divergent attributes, we call her with different names. Get this loud and clear…Tara and Kali are ONE and the same.
My Didun would say, “Jini Kali, tini Tara…” It meant that the one you call Kali is verily the same as Tara, there is no difference. The ancient tantrics understood and realized the subtle and sometimes overt shades of shakti’s expression and they gave her many names and imagined many forms.
Tara’s Bhairav is Sadyojatat. In the text Devirahasya, it is stated that as Tripurasundari has Kameshwar as her consort and Chinnamasta has Kaalrudraa and Jagadhatri Durga has Neelkantha Shiv, Tara’s masculine counterpart is Sadyojatat.
Mahadev has five faces, he is called Panchanan Shiv and they are Sadyojatat, Vamadeva, Tatpurusha, Aghora and Ishaan and each face is endowed with an attribute…
Ishana: Associated with Srishti Shakti (Power of Creation)
Tatpurusha: Associated with Thoridhana Shakti (Power of Concealment)
Aghora: Associated with Samhara Shakti (Power of Dissolution)
Vamadeva: Associated with Stithi Shakti (Power of Sustenance)
Sadjyota: Associated with Anugraha Shakti (Power of Blessing)
Tara’s bhairav emanates pure compassion and so does Tara…
Quoting from Devirahasya…
SADYOJATAT MAHAKAALSTARAYAH BHAIRAVA SMRITAH.
KAMESHWARSTRIPURAYA DURGAYA NEELKANTHAKAH
BHAIRAVASCCHINNAMASTAYA KAVANDHA SHIV EERITAH.
Sadyojāta (सद्योजात) is a part of the five emanations of Nishkala Shiva and the five are known as PANCHABRAMHAS. According to the Rūpamaṇḍana, the colour of the body, garland, sandal-paste and the garments of Sadyojāta is white. His head is adorned with a jaṭamakuṭa, ornamented with the crescent moon.
He has a very pleasant disposition and is very attractive, his face radiating with joy. He is trinetra and dwibhuja, holding the abhaya and varada mudra in both hands.
The Śrītatvanidhi offers a different description. For Sadyojāta should have, according to this work, four faces; each of these faces should have three eyes; the colour of Sadyojāta is always white with his face towards the West. Two of the hands of Sadyojāta hold the varada and abhaya mudras and the two remaining ones keep the vedas and the akṣamālā.
Noteworthy fact is that Sadyojāta is distinctly given greater importance than the rest.
Tara rescues us from the overwhelming dread and fear we face as we pivot through the samsara. Samsaric life can indeed be frightening, terrifying, alarming and shocking and we find ourselves suffocating; there seems to be no answer to the perturbations of our extroverted minds. From this state of abject hopelessness and uncertainty, it is Tara who takes us to safety. Tara gives us stability in this unstable world.
OM SHARANGAT DINART PARITRAN PARAYANE, SARVASYARTI HARE DEVI NARAYANI NAMOSTUTE~
Take us to safety Oh divine Mother, save our souls!
In the text Shaktisangam, in SU KHANDA it is clearly stated, that Kali, Tara, Tripurasundari and Chinnamasta are one devata and there is no bhed or difference in them.
YATHA CHINNA TATHA KALI TATHAIVA SUNDARI PARA.
TATHAIVA TARA SAMDISHTA CHATURNANG NAIVA BHINNATA.
The mystery further deepens when the ancients tell us that Kali and Tara can interchange with Shiv tattva and when Tara becomes Shiva, Kali is her shakti and when the roles are reversed, Tara becomes Kali’s shakti. Now this nigur tattva is for advanced students only and I will not further enumerate. But serious students can study the Sundari Khanda of Shaktisangam Tantra. Although I warn you, a mere reading will never be able to unravel the deeper meanings, for that you need tantric sadhna which is Gurumukhi.
Tantrics who have been initiated in Kali and Tara vidya are especially venerated in the Shakta tantric eco-system. In the text Taratantra it is clearly mentioned that without siddhi of Kali and/or Tara mantra it is impossible to gain shree, that is wealth and abundance, in the correct way. These mantras impart luxuries untold, glamour, fame and celebrity status and ultimately guide you to moksha after total fulfilment of desires; and they’re really quick-acting.
Tara gives tremendous creativity and this is exemplified in her Bhairav Sadyojatat carrying Shiva’s creative powers. Each face of Shiva holds a power, a secret. Let us discuss the unique attributes of each face of Shiva.
Ishana faces southeast and carries Shiva’s Iswara aspect.
Tatpurusha is east and symbolizes Shiva’s human aspect and the ego of Shiva.
Aghora’s compass is south and symbolizes Shiva’s destructive and regenerative nature.
To the north stands Vamadeva, representing Shiva’s healing, protecting, and preserving nature.
Finally, to the west is Sadyojata, depicting the creative side of Shiva.
The Dasamahavidyas and their mysteries are inextricably interwoven in the human deha tattva or physical science/anatomy. Without revealing much I will tell you about the concept of the NAVADWAAR or the nine doors in the human body. Doors correspond to the orifices of the human body and seven of these nine “doors” are in the human head.
What are the seven doors? The two eyes, the two ears, the two nostrils and the mouth make up the seven doors. The other two “doors” are of course our private areas, the yoni/lingam and the anus. The tenth one is absolutely secretive. It is imperceptible and is the Bramha nadi in the Sahasrar chakra.
The above mentioned ten “doors” have ten adhishthatri devis and these devis are known as the Mahavidyas. The importance of these mysterious “doors” cannot be denied as they are receptors of Shakti. Shakti expresses her kriyas through these “doors” and Tara is associated to the left ear.
Tara’s akshamala japa vidhan is totally different from Dakshinakali, in fact it is the total opposite. When we do akshamala jaap we begin from khs to a and for Kali, we begin with a and end with ksha. This movement is from left to right, but Tara’s movement is from right to left. Tara’s beej is absorbed through the left ear. Now without a doubt you realize how Tara holds the “door” of your left ear, so next time be aware of what kriya happens within when you do Tara jaap.
The best part about devi Tara for me was her name. Tara is what we call stars in Bengali and stars have been the scaffolding upon which my imagination and creativity have grown like creepers reaching out to light. The stars speak to me, they sing to me and they teach me lessons that sometimes I jus refuse to learn. But they never give up….like Tara. They are forever guiding me, coaxing me, cajoling me to spiral upwards like the lotus from the muck.
Tri also means to “scatter” and although some think that this connects to the numerous scattered stars, I think more on the lines of Tara ordering the scattered thoughts and emotions. Tara brings order from chaos, so does Bagla and both of them are devis of speech. I digress….
Tara is known intimately by me, since I can remember…I have known her as the sparkling star of my existence…
Learn Tara vidya.
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