White Tara Mantra (Cintachakra) – Lyrics, Meaning, Benefits

Lyrics:

”OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA AYUR
PUNYE JNANA PUSHTIM KURU YE SVAHA.”

Translation in English:

The liberator of suffering shines light upon me to create an abundance of merit and wisdom for long life and happiness.

White Tara (the Mother of all Buddhas) and Green Tara are the two main aspects of Tara, known by the name Wish-fulfilling Wheel or Cintachakra.

Another name for White Tara is Sita Tara (in Sanskrit, Sita means pure or white).

White Tara contains the essence of Mother Tara – compassion. Also, in all images, White Tara is represented with seven eyes (hence the name of “Goddess of Seven Eyes”) – meaning her compassionate nature, which sees the suffering in samsara.

Iconography

White Tara is characterized by her 7 eyes, three on the face, one on each hand, and one on each foot. The eyes on her face signify the purity of the body, speech, and mind. The ones on the hands and feet are the four unlimited qualities of a bodhisattva: compassion, loving-kindness, joy, and equality.

We usually can see Amitabha above White Tara in graphical representations. In Chinese Buddhism, White Tara is considered to be an emanation of Kuan Yin. Just like all Bodhisattvas, White Tara has taken the vow to serve all living beings until all are free from suffering.

The oldest recording of Tara is found in Finland, a five thousand years old story about a Woman of Wisdom by the name of Tar. The seed Syllable of the Tārā’s is tāṃ.

“Goddess Tara is probably the oldest goddess who is still worshiped extensively in modern times. Tara originated as a Hindu Goddess, a Great Goddess — the Mother Creator, representing the eternal life force that fuels all life.”

White Tara Mantra meaning on syllables:

OM – while some say that Om has no actual conceptual meaning, it can also be reflective of an awareness of the surrounding universe. It is used at the start of many mantras.
TARE – this is representative of salvation from suffering and other forms of mundane dangers. Tara is very often depicted as being one who can alleviate suffering from accidents, crime, and natural disasters.
TUTTARE – is representative of the delivered down the right spiritual path and the need for protection from dangers to the spirit. Delusion, hatred, and greed are the three primary spiritual dangers that are responsible for suffering in us all.
TURE – this is representative of the deliverance to the true spiritual path of a Bodhisattva. With this syllable, Tara is said to liberate us from the suffering we are inflicted with while helping us to progress along the path that will allow us to have compassion for others.
MAMA – means “mine” and is indicative of the desire to possess the qualities of wisdom, happiness, long life, and more. These beneficial qualities can be asked for someone else or for the person reciting the mantra.
AYUR – is representative of long life.
PUNYE – is representative of the merit that is earned from living an ethical life and is said to guide one to a life that is happy and long.
JNANA – is representative of wisdom, which is something we all seek.
PUNTIM – is representative of abundance, prosperity, or an increase in wealth.
KURU – is said to be a mythical land located in the northern regions of the Himalayas but can also be taken to mean “make it so.”
SVAHA – is said to be representative of “allow the meaning of this mantra to take root in my mind.”

“There are many who desire Enlightenment in a man’s body, but none who work for the benefit of sentient beings in the body of a woman. Therefore, until samsara is empty, I shall work for the benefit of sentient beings in a woman’s body” – The vow of Tara Bodhisattva.

READ MORE: Green tara Mantra

Benefits of Chanting White Tara Mantra:

White Tara is popular because it is known for giving a blessing for long life. For this reason, many practitioners receive an initiation into the White Tara and perform the appropriate practice when they become sick. She will come to their aid and save them from illness and death.

More benefits: serenity, wisdom, and helps overcome spiritual obstacles. We can dedicate the benefits of chanting White Tara Mantra to someone by changing the word “MAMA” to the person’s name.

Practice:

It begins very similarly to that of the Green Tara form, with the adding of several words connected to a long and robust life. The White Tara offers teachings of patience and a healthy respect for life. With these things, along with wisdom and compassion, good health and longevity are sure to follow.

Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche said:

“Tara is the flawless expression of the inseparability of emptiness, awareness, and compassion. Just as you use a mirror to see your face, Tara meditation is a means of seeing the true face of your mind, devoid of any trace of delusion.”

One of the most important initiations within Tibetan people is Dolkar Tsewang, and according to Tritul Jampa Kalden Rinpoche:

“White Tara is extremely powerful. Tara is very close to sentient beings, like a mother to her children. She is very quick to fulfill our wishes and to grant us happiness and long life, as well as to help us develop wisdom. By taking refuge in Mother Tara and practicing meditation, visualizations and having faith, you have the power to remove obstacles to your life and to prolong your life.”

Listen on insightstate more healing mantras, like Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mantra, Vajra Guru Mantra, Medicine Buddha Mantra, or Ajai Alai.

Images credit – Getty Images

References

https://buddhaweekly.com/swift-healing-white-tara-rapid-path-long-life-merit-wisdom-health/
http://www.rinpoche.com/teachings/whitetara.htm