Toh 724aThe Subsequent Tantra of Tārā of the Upswept Tresses
Pāli / Sanskrit:*ūrdhvajaṭottaratantra
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An Explanation of the Subsequent Tantra of Tārā of the Upswept Tresses
Context
The Ūrdhvajaṭottaratantra (The Subsequent Tantra of Tārā of the Upswept Tresses) is a major esoteric scripture of the Vajrayāna tradition, belonging to the Higher Tantra division of the Kangyur. Tārā, or Tölma in Tibetan, is the female bodhisattva and liberating female buddha endowed with great salvific power, the embodiment of the wisdom and compassion of all buddhas.
The title points to a distinctive meditative form of Tārā: the figure with her hair swept upward (ūrdhvajaṭā), symbolizing inspiration, dynamism, and the capacity to act immediately to liberate sentient beings from suffering. This is a more dynamic manifestation than Tārā seated in repose, expressing the urgency of compassion in action.
The word “Subsequent” (uttara-tantra) indicates that this is the second or supplementary part of a larger scripture, proceeding more deeply into the details of practice, the correspondences between the outer world and the practitioner’s inner being, and the advanced stages of the tantric path.
Main Content
This scripture focuses on the method of practicing Tārā through two principal stages, or krama: the generation stage (utpatti-krama) and the completion stage (sampanna-krama).
During the generation stage, practitioners visualize the universe dissolving into the open expanse of emptiness (śūnyatā). From this arises Tārā in the form with upswept tresses, radiating golden light throughout all directions and liberating sentient beings. This female buddha’s hand is in the boon-granting gesture (varada-mudrā), or she is seated in a posture that nevertheless remains ready to rise, signifying the immediacy and efficacy of compassion.
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