Toh 727The Hundred and Eight Names of Tārā

The Sūtra of the Hundred and Eight Names of Tārā

Background

The Tārābhaṭṭārikānāmāṣṭaśatakam—The Sūtra of the Hundred and Eight Names of Tārā—is a precious scripture in the Northern Buddhist Canon, belonging to the Sūtra section of the Tibetan Kangyur. This sūtra focuses on the practice of the bodhisattva Tārā—a revered female bodhisattva regarded as an embodiment of boundless compassion and wisdom in the Mahāyāna tradition, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism.

Tārā (Duoluo, or 多罗, in the Chinese canon) arose from the compassionate tears of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. According to tradition, Tārā vowed to liberate all sentient beings from suffering. This sūtra has been transmitted by the noble masters of Tibetan Buddhism to help practitioners understand more clearly the countless aspects of liberation manifested by Tārā.

The number of 108 names is not arbitrary. The number 108 is sacred in Buddhism, symbolizing completeness and infinity. Each of Tārā’s names reflects a particular aspect of the Buddha’s Dharma and her power to bring liberation.

Main Content

This sūtra contains a list of 108 names attributed to Tārā, each bearing profound significance concerning her virtues, powers, and means of accomplishment. These names range from cosmic aspects, such as “Queen of the Realm of Space,” to specific deeds, such as “She Who Liberates from Fear” and “She Who Protects in Darkness.”

Each name is a distinct gateway through which practitioners may enter into and realize the mind of Tārā. For example, the name “Blue Arrow Tārā” (Blue Saraswati Tārā) indicates swiftness and immediate liberation; “Blue Arrow Tārā, Swift as the Wind” symbolizes the speed and effectiveness of compassionate intervention. Other names include “Tārā of Effective Fire”