Toh 3485A Vaśada Tārā Sādhana

Commentary on the Vaśyādhikāratārāsādhana

Context

The Vaśyādhikāratārāsādhana (Method of Practice for Tara’s Governance) is a sādhana belonging to the Northern Transmission Tibetan tradition, recorded in the Tengyur, the treasury of Buddhist Dharma commentaries of Tibet. This scripture is directed toward the practice of the female bodhisattva Tara (Tāra, the Liberating Woman) according to the Tibetan method connected with the capacity to manage, influence, and harmonize conditions in both Dharma practice and worldly life.

Tara is one of the most important female bodhisattva deities in Northern Tibetan Buddhism, symbolizing swift-acting wisdom (prajna) and compassion toward all sentient beings. In this tradition, Tara has many forms, each with its own nature and function. Vaśyādhikāra Tara (Tara who governs subjugation) particularly focuses on the capacity of “vaśya,” governance, wholesome influence, and making all circumstances favorable for the practice of the Buddhadharma.

Main Content

This sādhana is a guide to yoginī practice, including the standard stages of meditation of the Northern Tibetan Buddhist school. First, the practitioner must be clear about intention (bodhicitta), generating the resolve to practice for the sake of all sentient beings. Then the practitioner imagines space as a pure altar, removing conceptual and physical obstacles (ākāśa, space).

Next comes the “generation” stage (utpattikrama), in which the practitioner is reborn in the form of Tara, with the attributes of governing wisdom. In particular, Vaśyādhikāra Tara is often visualized with one or more hands performing mudras (seals) of governance, summoning favorable conditions. The practitioner repeats the chanting of Tara’s core mantra, often “om tare tuttare ture svaha,” or longer mantra versions with sections specific to the Vaśyādhikāra form.

After that comes the “completion” stage (sampannakrama), in which the images dissolve into the space of dharmatā (sunyatā).