This is a rare Late-18^th Century Mongolian thangka which manifests a very high level of devotional energy in praise of the goddess Tara. A luminous form of Green Tara is at the heart of the thangka surrounded by a devotional field of smaller Taras – each with their individual charm and each generating blessings for the devotee. This particular format of thangka is not often seen in the open market.

Tara, a female Buddha and meditation deity is the most popular goddess across the Himalayas and Mongolia . She is considered to be the goddess of universal compassion and the manifestation of all the actions of all the Buddhas. Her name derives from the Sanskrit root tar, to cross over – meaning one who assists all beings to traverse this ocean of samsara and into the realm of enlightenment. There are twenty-one forms of Tara - the two most popular are Green Tara and White Tara. The white and green Taras , with their contrasting symbols of the full-blown and closed lotus, are said to symbolize between them the unending compassion of the deity who labors both day and night to relieve suffering.

Green Tara is the special goddess to help practitioners overcome obstacles. She also has the power to grant wishes and to protect from danger and distress. Of all Buddhist deities Tara is the most accessible – she will answer when called and Buddhist literature is full of stories where her iconography "comes to life" and "speak directly to practitioners". Zanabazar , Mongolia 's first bogd gegen was devoted to Tara as have been many other famous Buddhist teachers and saints.

The thangka was probably created in a provincial Mongolian monastery and given its age is in remarkable condition. The devotional field of Taras is framed in a splendid silver-silk brocade surmounted by a protective silk veil. Altogether a splendid devotional thangka of considerable potency.

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