Amongst all Buddhist deities, the most dearly loved is the blissful, beautiful, and often mischievous goddess Tara. A bodhisattva, she defied tradition when she attained omniscience in female form. As mother goddess, she embodies the feminine archetype in us all and shares a close kinship with Demeter, Inanna, and the Virgin Mary. And as deity of tantric Buddhism, she acts with lightning speed to aid those in distress and fulfill her supplicants' wishes. For centuries, Tara has inspired some of the most marvelous Buddhist literature ever written. This collection includes a history of the origin of the Tara Tantra, canonical and practice texts, and lyrical praises.

Songs of praise to Tara (Tib. sgrol ma), the female bodhisattva of compassion. ( )