Twenty-One Praises to Tara (Opening)

What this mantra is

The Twenty-One Praises to Tara is one of the most important and most-recited Vajrayana texts. The text praises Tara in twenty-one of her emanations — each verse describing a specific Tara form, her iconography, her specific function, and her particular blessing. The full recitation takes ~5-7 minutes and is part of daily practice in Tibetan Buddhist traditions across all four schools.

Green Tara is the central form (already documented in this library through the Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha mantra entry). The twenty-one emanations include White Tara (long life, healing), Red Tara (magnetism), Black Tara (wrathful protection), Yellow Tara (prosperity in dharma), and seventeen others — each addressing specific human circumstances and providing specific protection.

The text is recited at the opening of Buddhist services, in protective contexts, before significant undertakings, in healing practice (especially for serious illness — White Tara is invoked specifically for long life and healing), and as daily compassion-cultivation practice. The combination of the 21 Praises with the Green Tara mantra (Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha) is the standard Tara practice.

For non-Buddhist practitioners, the text is appropriate for engagement with respect. The Sanskrit verses are challenging but recordings are widely available; learning to chant along with traditional recordings is the most accessible entry.

Meaning

The opening verses of the Twenty-One Praises to Tara — one of the most beloved and most-recited Vajrayana texts, praising Tara in her twenty-one emanations through 21 verses. The text is recited daily by millions of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners and is considered one of the most powerful protective and compassion-cultivating practices in the tradition.

History

The Twenty-One Praises to Tara is found in the Tara Tantra and is among the oldest preserved Tara texts. The Sanskrit version dates to roughly the 6th-8th centuries CE; the text was transmitted to Tibet with the broader Vajrayana tradition. It has been continuously recited in Tibetan Buddhism for over 1,200 years.

Major commentaries include those by Atisha (11th century, who brought elaborated Tara teachings to Tibet), Tsongkhapa (14th-15th centuries), and various contemporary Tibetan Buddhist masters. The text is foundational across all four Tibetan Buddhist schools.

In modern global practice, the 21 Taras have spread through the Tibetan Buddhist diaspora. Various major recordings (by Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and other lineage masters) have made the practice accessible globally.

Associated deity / focus

The Twenty-One Taras — twenty-one specific emanations of the bodhisattva Tara, each with her own iconography, color, mudra, and specific function. Green Tara (the swift compassionate protector) is the central form; the twenty-one emanations address different needs and circumstances.

How to use it

Sit upright. Three slow breaths. The opening verses take ~30-45 seconds. The full 21 verses take ~5-7 minutes at moderate pace.

Daily practice: recite the full text once each morning, ideally before other practice. The combination with the Green Tara mantra (Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha) provides comprehensive Tara practice.

For specific need: extended practice during difficulty — illness, threat, major life-transition — with explicit dedication to the difficult situation. White Tara emphasis is appropriate for healing; the general 21 Praises addresses comprehensive support.

Learning the practice: recordings by Tibetan Buddhist masters are widely available. Listening daily and gradually learning to chant along is the most accessible path. For practitioners interested in deeper engagement, formal Tara teachings and initiations are offered by Tibetan Buddhist organizations globally.

Best time

Pre-dawn for daily practice. Lunar 8th and 25th days (Dakini days) are particularly auspicious. Saka Dawa (Buddha's enlightenment month, May-June) is a major Tibetan Buddhist practice season. Tara Day in some lineages is observed.

Benefits

Traditionally: comprehensive Tara protection across all 21 emanations; supports healing, longevity, and compassion-cultivation; provides daily contact with one of the most beloved Vajrayana practices.

Cultural context

Same as Green Tara practice — Tibetan Buddhism welcomes sincere practice across cultural lines. Practice with respect: support Tibetan refugee communities, learn the actual tradition, treat the Taras as real bodhisattvas in a real lineage.

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