Tara Devi

Tara Devi is the second among the Dasha Mahavidyas. Though fierce in form, she is famed for her motherly affection. Tara fiercely subdues evil forces and lovingly protects her devotees like a mother. The name 'Tara' means 'the one who helps to cross over' – the one who ferries devotees across the ocean of samsara. Just like a star (tara) guides sailors through the night, the Goddess too guides her devotees along the right path.

During the churning of the ksheera sagara, when deadly poison emerged, Lord Shiva drank it to protect the universe. Though Parvati Devi stopped the poison at His throat, it had already spread within. At that moment, Devi manifested as Tara turned Shiva into an infant, took Him on her lap, and breastfed Him. Her milk neutralized the poison. The Vedas say – dashasyaam putraanaadhehi patimekaadasham kridhi – after years of marriage, a wife develops a maternal affection toward her husband.

The Dasha Mahavidyas emerged from the furious body of Sati Devi during the Daksha Yaga.

In her fierceness, Tara is equal to Kali. Just like in Kali’s depictions, Tara too is shown standing atop the lifeless body of Shiva – symbolizing that without her (Shakti), Shiva is lifeless.

While Kali’s hair is wild and disheveled, Tara’s hair is tied into a single braid or jata – hence she’s also called Eka Jata. Kali has a lean, emaciated body, while Tara has a rounded belly like a pregnant mother – symbolizing her deep maternal affection for all beings.

Kali is black in color; Tara is blue. That’s why she is also called Neela Saraswati. Just as Shiva became Neelakantha by wearing poison in his throat, Tara too absorbs all evil into herself to protect the cosmos. Her naked form without ornaments or fancy clothes symbolizes the transcendence over worldly desires. The garland of 51 skulls around her neck represents the 51 Sanskrit letters – symbolizing her dominion over mantras and wisdom. Her tongue dripping with blood shows her relentless destruction of aasua forces for the sake of protecting her devotees.

Tara Devi is an intense union of ferocity, maternal affection, and supreme knowledge.

Among her main temples are the Tara Peetha in Birbhum, West Bengal, the Tara-Tarini Temple in Raipur, Odisha, and the Ugra Tara Temple in Guwahati.

Tara is said to manifest especially during nighttime in cremation grounds. That’s why Aghoris worship her at night through Vamachara practices in such places.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi