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THE VAJRA or DORJE

The Vajra is the quintessential symbol of Vajrayana Buddhism, which derives its name from the vajra itself. The Sanskrit term vajra means 'the hard or mighty one', and its Tibetan equivalent dorje means an indestructible hardness and brilliance like the diamond, which cannot be cut or broken. The vajra essentially symbolizes the impenetrable, immovable, immutable, indivisible, and indestructible state of enlightenment or Buddhahood.

In Buddhism the Vajra is the symbol of Vajrayan, one of the three major branches of Buddhism. In Tantric Traditions of both Buddhism and Hinduism, the Vajra is a symbol for the nature of reality, indicating endless creativity, potency and skillful activity. It may be represented with one to nine prongs. It is designed with a central shaft that is pointed at each end. The middle section consists of two lotuses from which may spring, at each end, for example, six prongs of the dorje. Together with the projecting and pointed central shaft, each end thus becomes seven pronged. The outside six prongs face inwards towards the central prong. Each of these outside prongs arise from the heads of makaras (mythical crocodiles), which face outwards. The mouths of the makaras are wide open and the prongs emanate from the mouth like tongues of flame.

In Hinduism Vajra is the weapon of Indra the king of Heaven. With Vajra he controlled the forces of thunder and lightning, breaking open the monsoon storm clouds, bringing the welcome rains to the parched plains of an Indian summer. It was created out of the hard bones of the sage Dadhichi, who gave up his life willingly so that his spine could be used to build the weapon which was to be used for a noble cause. This was the weapon Lord Indra used to kill Vitrasur who had conqured heaven and terrorized the gods. Due to this supreme sacrifice Dadhichi became a legend. In mythological descriptions, Indra's thunderbolt, or vajra, is shaped either like a circular discus with a hole at its center, or in the form of a cross with transverse bladed bars. The Rigveda, the most ancient text in the world, identifies the vajra as a notched metal club with a thousand prongs. What is significant is that all these descriptions identify the vajra as having open prongs, unlike the Buddhist one, which has closed prongs.

The vajra is indeed the most important ritual implement and symbol of Vajrayana Buddhism. It is so important that many of the Vajrayana deities have the word vajra prefixed to their names, two of them being Vajradhara, Vajrasattva, Vajrapani, Vajrayogini etc.

WHITE TARA (Sveta Tara)

White Tara is also known as Jetsun Dolma in Tibetan, is a female Buddha typically associated with Buddhist tantra practice as preserved in Tibetan Buddhism. She is the "mother of liberation", and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. Tara is a tantric deity whose practice is used by practitioners of Vajrayana to develop certain inner qualities and understand outer, inner and secret teachings about compassion, mercy and emptiness. White Tara is regarded as Shakti of Avalokiteshvara. The system of worshipping her came to Nepal from Tibet where she holds a high position in Lamism.

White Tara is generally portrayed as seated, dressed and crowned like Bodhisattva with and extra eye on the forehead. Her right hand is in varada mudra i.e. boon-giving pose, sometimes in abhaya mudra (fear-not pose) and full-blown lotus is at one or both the shoulders. Her left hand is in jnan mudra or preaching pose or holding the stem of a lotus. Her right leg is sometimes hanging down and is supported by a lotus. Frequently, she is represented in a standing or half-dancing pose. White Tara has seven eyes. An eye of knowledge on the forehead while the remaining ones are the usual eyes on the face and one each on the palm and one each on soles. (Sometimes White Tara is found with just three eyes too.)

The myth of the White Tara began when she showed up as the tear of Avalokiteshvara, also known as Chenzering, who the Dali Lama is a reincarnation of. She appeared when Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of all Buddhas, moved into a state of compassion... when his mind and his heart met in wisdom... and the suffering he saw because the the lack of this balance, made him cry. Then he could see Her or it is said she appeared. For that is who she is, the compassion expressed in that tear. It could be said the tear cleared the eye to see her. She is the expression of compassion.

GREEN TARA

Green Tara is Tara's most dynamic manifestation. Her color symbolizes youthful vigor and activity. The Buddhist Lord of karma (action), Amoghasiddhi, is also associated with the green color, thus signifying that they belong to the same family. This is a further affirmation of the perception that Green Tara is a goddess of action. Green Tara or Harit Tara is considered as the consort of Amodhasiddhi. In sculpture she is portrayed in the same form as White Tara but she has a water lily (utpala) with petal closed.
She is often depicted in a posture of ease with right leg extended, signifying her readiness to spring into action. The left leg is folded in the contemplative position on the lotus pedestal, the two together thus symbolizing the integration of wisdom and art.
Her left hand, in the gesture of granting refuge holds the stem of a blue lotus that floats over her left shoulder as a symbol of purity and power. With her right hand she makes the varada mudra and left hand shows the gesture of refuge vows.

The followers of Green Tara believe that her special powers will help overcome dangers, fears, and anxieties, and that she will grant wishes. She is also believed to help one cross over from danger to safety or from suffering to happiness. Her femininity imbues her with soft and compassionate feelings, and she acts very quickly and directly as a savioress. Representing active compassion, she is particularly worshipped for her ability to overcome the most difficult situations. As the first Dalai Lama puts it, just by being called to help, she instantaneously saves the faithful from attacks by the following eight calamities: