TARA

(Irish: Place of Assembly), low hill (about 507 feet ) in County Meath, Ireland, occupying an important place in Irish legend and history. The earliest local remains consist of a small passage grave (c. 2100 BC) known as Dumha na nGiall (Mound of the Hostages). Numerous Bronze Age burials were found in the earth mound, which lies just inside the perimeter of a vast oval enclosure called Rth na Righ (Fortress of the Kings). Near the centre of this are two conjoined earthworks: Forradh (Royal Seat) and Teach Cormaic (Cormac's House). On the latter is a pillar stone, often thought to be the inauguration stone of the kings of Tara. The other principal sites are a large ring fort, two circular enclosures, and a great rectangular earthwork 750 feet (230 m) long, which is usually identified as the banqueting hall. The Rath of the Synods is a ritual site that underwent four enlargements between the 1st and the 4th centuries. The main earthworks on the hill probably date to the first five centuries of the Christian era, when Tara was the seat of a dynasty of Ui Nill kings, who appear to have abandoned it in the 6th century. Tibetan Sgrol-ma Buddhist saviour-goddess with numerous forms, widely popular in Nepal, Tibet, and Mongolia. She is the feminine counterpart of the bodhisattva (Buddha-to-be) Avalokitesvara. According to popular belief, she came into existence from a tear of Avalokitesvara, which fell to the ground and formed a lake. Out of its waters rose up a lotus, which, on opening, revealed the goddess. Like Avalokitesvara, she is a compassionate, succouring deity who helps men cross to the other shore. She is the protectress of navigation and earthly travel, as well as of spiritual travel along the path to Enlightenment. In Tibet she is believed to be incarnate in every pious woman, and the two wivesa Chinese princess and a Nepali princessof the first Buddhist king of Tibet, Srong-brtsan-sgam-po, were identified with the two major forms of Tara. The White Tara (Sanskrit: Sitatara; Tibetan: Sgrol-dkar) was incarnated as the Chinese princess. She symbolizes purity and is often represented standing at the right hand of her consort, Avalokitesvara, or seated with legs crossed, holding a full-blown lotus. She is generally shown with a third eye. Tara is also sometimes shown with eyes on the soles of her feet and the palms of her hands (then she is called Tara of the Seven Eyes, a form of the goddess popular in Mongolia). The Green Tara (Sanskrit: Syamatara; Tibetan: Sgrol-ljang) was believed to be incarnated as the Nepali princess. She is considered by some to be the original Tara and is the female consort or sexual partner of Avalokitesvara. She is generally shown seated on a lotus throne with right leg hanging down, wearing the ornaments of a bodhisattva and holding the closed blue lotus (utpala). The white and green Taras, with their contrasting symbols of the full-blown and closed lotus, are said to symbolize between them the unending compassion of the deity who labours both day and night to relieve suffering. Under the influence of Tibetan Lamaism the different forms of Tara multiplied to a traditional 108. Tibetan temple banners frequently show 21 different Taras, coloured white, red, and yellow, grouped around a central green Tara. The figure of the self-born Buddha, Amitabha, is often shown in her headdress, as she, like Avalokitesvara, is considered to be an emanation of Amitabha. In her ferocious, blue form, invoked to destroy enemies, she is known as Ugra-Tara, or Ekajata; as a red goddess of love, Kurukulla; and as a protectress against snake bite, Janguli. The yellow Bhrkuti is an angry Tara, with frowning brows.