I was always fascinated by the second Mahavidya, Tara as she is such an important manifestation of Parashakti as adya spanda or the primordial vibration and she imparts to us untold wisdom. A text called The Origin and Cult of Tara, written by Historian Hirananda Shashtri was an invaluable resource for me when I was researching her. Tara is worshipped with great fervor in both Sanatan and Buddhist communities. According to this book, there are primarily three versions of Tara, Ekjata, Neel Saraswati and Uratara. Now please understand, these are not different Taras. Tara is one and undivided…AKHAND!
Ekaiva hi mahadevi naam matrang tridha bhavet…
In Buddhism, Tara is the shakti of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshwar. The Buddhists were inspired to give her a prominent place in their divine pantheon as they realized her power and grace. She is shaktishali(powerhouse) and she is compassionate! She is Prajnaparamhita!
This quote of Mahayan reveals her archetype…
She is the Perfect Wisdom that never comes into being, and therefore never goes out of being.
She is known as the Great Mother….She is the Perfect Wisdom who gives birthless birth to all Buddhas.
And through these sublimely Awakened Ones, it is Mother Prajñāpāramitā alone who turns the wheel of true teaching….
TARA IMPARTS TRUE WISDOM! Let’s get that point nailed into our brains.
I have discussed a thousand times about how Vashishta cursed her ekakshari mantra TREEM and then once he got her grace, he sanctified the beej with an S sound. It became STREEM, so I’ll not waste our valuable time.
Let us discuss her main beej STREEM~
First we take Chandra beej “S”, then add “t” and then “ee” and then bindu “ng” and this forms STREENG or streem. This is ekakshari Tara mantra and is her most powerful sound emanation!
Her next most important EKAKSHARI beej is HOOM, which is known as hoomkar.
If you’re thinking of jumping into Tara/NS sadhna, it is important to practice the above mentioned beej mantras for a few months in the correct vidhi.
Many people chant OM HREEM STREEM HUM PHATT without realizing that when you add pranav or OM, the mantra becomes UGRATARA mantra and this form is not to be worshipped by grihastis. It can bring misery and suffering.
Hreem Streem Hoom is the sound form of Nila Saraswati and gives mahamukti.
In the text Neeltantram, Bhairav tells devi that Tara vidya is SARVAVIDYA PRADHANA, deeply mysterious, not revealed to anyone who is unworthy, brings deep wisdom and this vidya is SANATAN! He reveals that MOOLPRAKRITI manifests in infinite forms, but her blue emanations are always remarkable and unique.
The blue forms of Devi connect us to the akash element and the Vishuddhachakra. What do you think of when you visualize blue? Why, the sky and the seas of course! Right? FYI, both of them are colorless, it is sunlight reflecting through them. Deep azure blue reminds us of deep, dark space which is ever expanding and in which the universe or the multiverse is embedded.
The blue/dark forms of Vishnu, Krishna, Tara all refer to an omniscient consciousness, all-pervading and ever expansive! If you scoop up a handful of water from a blue stream, you’ll see it has lost the blueness, so you see, you cannot truly hold onto BLUE! It is an enigma, a mysterious hue and it connects to the primordial divinity!
The connection between the Absolute known as BRAHMAN and expansive space is enunciated in the Chandogya Upanishad.
3:12:7-9: That which is (designated as) Brahman, even that is this ākāśa (space) outside the body. That which is the ākāśa outside the body, even that is the ākāśa inside the body. That which is the ākāśa inside the body, even that is this ākāśa within the (lotus of the) heart. This Brahman is all-filling and unchanging.
Tara is the primordial ocean of sound from which the vibrations of creation begin! Blue is associated with speech, VISHUDDHA chakra and it is the color of Mahadev’s throat which turned this hue after ingesting halahal. This subject matter deserves its own text, because the connection here is that the vast multitudes of space reside in Shiva’s throat. We, that is the physical world is spoken out byy Mahadev into existence!
Ucchishtha Ganapati is blue and his consort is Neel Saraswati or Tara!
In Neeltantram, Bhairav has explained how the blue form of Devi will ferry us through the oceans of samsara and will bless us with wealth, health, fame and wisdom! As she gives us bhog, she takes us towards moksha. Moksha is Shiv and it is her, the cosmic mother who reveals to us SHIVOHAM tattva.
In the same text, Bhairav reveals how Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh have all worshipped her to gain their positions in the cosmic lila. It’s not just the trimurti, Chandra, Surya, Varun and Kuber have also practiced her mahavidya to gain siddhis. Rishis like Durvasa, Vashishth, Dattatreya and Brihaspati have been her upasak for eons. Bhairav says that all Devis, Devatas, Upadevatas, Gandharv, Kinnar, Yakshas, all celestial folk worship her in some form or another.
I will give you some revelations of Bhairav from the text Neeltantram. It is one of my absolute favorites and I devise my Tara/NS syllabus partly from there. I study it repeatedly over the years and each time it reveals something new and unexpected.
Bhairav says…
Wake up at Bramhamuhurta and before stepping out of your bed, visualize her as kundlini shakti who is spread all through your Mooldhar to your sahasraar! Visualize your whole body turn deep midnight blue from the root of the spine to the bramharandhra. Sahasraar is two fingers above our physical body and it is this nadi that connects us to the final chakra, the crown chakra.
The text does posit some paradoxical concepts, like visualize her as bright and luminescent as a thousand Suns and at the same time, think of her as being cool and pale like a thousand moons. She vibrates with the energy of a million lightning rays that drop from the skies holding in them the energy of a billion Suns! It is this paradoxical nature of tantric texts that have added to the mystique and disreputation of tantra. Contradictory language and ideas are enumerated for the sake of consciousness expansion. Just like the Vedantin NETI NETI!
Sveta raktanta patalah, translates to her complexion being pink. Imagine a drop of blood mixed with white paint. Think of that pale pink color, the lotus comes to mind. That is the best offering for her as well. She loves padmas. Now after you have held her form in dharana for a decent amount of time, visualize your own body turning pink hued, like a lotus freshly bloomed.
I have enjoyed this part tremendously and during deep meditation I can actually feel my whole body turning pastel pink like a luminescent lotus. Since I love associating colors to concepts, I’ve always toyed with ways to explicate the nuances of a shade of color. For me PINK represents…especially the pale pastel pink of Neel Saraswati…
- Femininity and feminine sexuality.
- Healing and restoration.
- Innocence and nostalgia.
- Peace and relaxation.
- Playfulness and sexual allure.
- Romance and sensual vibes.
- Sweetness and release of guilt.
- Tranquility and repose.
- Warmth and creativity.
I mean I could go on and on…but you get the drift. Each color arouses within me deep contemplation with regards to Mahavidya archetypes. Every shape, every color, every nuance becomes fodder for thought. This is how I connect to Shakti. She vivifies me with ideas and realizations!
Back to Neeltantram…
After your body turns pale pink then bring awareness to the Sahasraar and visualize Tara maa residing there; she is Sushitala, cool and mystical and she is varabhaya, showing us both mudras of varada and abhaya and the best part is that she is always prasannavadana, one who is of pleasant disposition. You can learn her dhyana mantra for clarity and try to bring her image to light in the dark of your mind or else you can just attract her with your love. This part is so important as dhyana is the stage of truly connecting to adishakti Mahamaya!
Then Parasmshiv is worshipped in the sahasraar as Guru and his dhyan must be held here. After this starts the process of manaspuja for a certain sect of Kaulas and for the rest, you have to gather puja samagri and begin to offer tika, pushp, dhoop, deep and naivedya. Proper vidhi of Tara sadhna can only be taught by a living Guru and it is at this stage that Guru will reveal Mahadev’s dhyan and mudras. His archana must be done with total surrender in the sahasraar.
My Guru Dr. Brumnath showed me different mudras for panchopachar here. Usually we do tilak with the ring finger, but in dasamahavidya sadhna, we use a different finger, which I cannot reveal. Similarly, pushp is not offered in the narach mudra, but with one finger and this way is secret. This works the best for samayacharis who perfrom mental worship. Dhup will be offered with the finger denoting vayu tattva, so on and so forth…
After this NS stava is recited. I’m giving you
Ghora Roope Maharave, Sarva Shathru Bhayangari,
Bhakthebhyo Varade Devi Thrahi Maam SaranagathamSurasurarchithe Devi, Sidha Gandharva Sevithe,
Jadya Papa Hare Devi, Thrahi Maam SaranagathamJatajuta Samayukthe Lola Jihwantha Karini,
Drutha Budhikare Devi, Thrahi Maam SaranagathamSoumya Krodha Dhare Roope, Chanda Munda Namosthuthe,
Srushti Roope Namasthubhyam, Thrahi Maam SaranagathamJadaanaam Jadathaam Hanthi , Bhakthaanaam Bhaktha Vathsala,
Moodathaam Hara May Devi, Thrahi Maam SaranagathamVam Hroom Hroom Kamaye Devi, Bali Homa Priye Nama,
Ugra Thare Namo Nithyam, Thrahi Maam SaranagathamBudhim Dehi, Yaso Dehi, Kavithwam Dehi Dehi May,
Moodathwam Cha Harer Devi, Thrahi Maam SaranagathamIndradhi Vilasad Dwanda Vandhithe Karunamayi,
Thare Tharathi Nadhasye, Thrahi Maam Saranagatham.Idham Stotram Padesdhyasthu Sathatham Sradhayonvitha,
Thasya Shathru Kshayam Yathi Maha Pragnaa PrajayatheTRANSLATION
O Devi, who assumes a fearsome form, terrifying to all enemies, Bestow your blessings upon your devotees and protect me, who has sought refuge in you.
O Devi, worshipped by both gods and demons, served by siddhas and gandharvas, O Devi, dispeller of inertia and sins, protect me, who has sought refuge in you.
O Devi, adorned with matted hair, having a protruding tongue, Quickener of intellect, protect me, who has sought refuge in you.
O Devi, who possesses a gentle and wrathful form, I bow to you. I bow to you, who is the embodiment of creation. Protect me, who has sought refuge in you.
You destroy the ignorance of the ignorant and have affection for your devotees. O Devi, please remove my ignorance and protect me, who has sought refuge in you.
I invoke the syllables ‘Vaṁ hrūṁ hrūṁ’ with desire, O Devi. I bow to you, who is pleased by sacrificial offerings. I bow to you, the fierce one. Protect me, who has sought refuge in you.
Grant me intellect, grant me fame, grant me poetic skill, grant me, O Devi. Please remove my ignorance, O Devi, and protect me, who has sought refuge in you.
O Devi, who is worshiped by Indra and others, compassionate one, You are the protector of those seeking refuge. Protect me, who has sought refuge in you.
Whoever recites this hymn on the eighth, fourteenth, or ninth day, Will attain success within six months, there is no doubt about it.
The seeker of liberation attains liberation, the seeker of wealth attains wealth, The seeker of knowledge attains knowledge, including logic and grammar.
Whoever recites this hymn with devotion regularly, Their enemies will be destroyed, and great wisdom will arise within them.
In times of affliction, battles, inertia, charity, or fear, There is no doubt that one who recites this hymn will receive auspiciousness.
Having thus offered salutations and praised, one should display the yoni mudra (hand gesture symbolizing the female reproductive organ).
After the completion of this stava, you have to chant VAGBHAVA BEEJ “EING” 108 times. After chanting this VAG beej you have to offer your jaap and then dandavata namaskaram.
Then recite AKHANDA MANDALAKARAM, which is Guru Stotram.
Guru-stotram
akhanda-mandalakaram vyaptam yena characharam
tatpadam darshitam yena tasmai shri gurave namah 1
agyana timirandhasya gyananjana shalakaya
chakshur-oonmeelitam yena tasmai shri gurave namah 2
gurur-brahma gurur-vishnu gurur-devo maheshwarah
guru-sakshat para-brahma tasmai shri gurave namah 3
sthavaram jangamam vyaptam yat kinchit sacharacharam
tatpadam darshitam yena tasmai shri gurave namah 4
chinmayam vyapi yat-sarvam trailokyam sacharacharam
tatpadam darshitam yena tasmai shri gurave namah 5
sarva-shruti shiro-ratna virajita-padambujah
vedantambuja suryo yah tasmai shri gurave namah 6
chaitanya shashwatah shanto vyomatito niranjanah
bindunaada kalatitah tasmai shri gurave namah 7
gyanshakti-samaroodhah tattwamala vibhooshitah
bhukti-mukti -pradata cha tasmai shri gurave namah 8
aneka-janma-sampraptah karma-bandha-vidahine
atma-gyana-pradanena tasmai shri gurave namah 9
shoshanam bhavsindhoshcha gyapanam saarsampadah
guroh-padodakam samyak tasmai shri gurave namah 10
na guror-adhikam tattvam na guror-adhikam tapah
tattva-gyanaat-param nasti tasmai shri gurave namah 11
mannaathah shri jagan-nathah mat-guru-shri jagad-guruhu
madatma sarva-bhutatma tasmai shri gurave namah 12
gururadi-ranadish-cha guruh-parama-daivatam
guroh-parataram nasti tasmai shri gurave namah 13
2
tvameva mata cha pita tvameva tvameva bandhushcha sakha tvameva
tvameva vidya dravinam tvameva tvameva sarvam mama-dev-devaThis ends the first patala of Neeltantram….
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