This Beautiful traveling Shrine of Buddha Tara is made of Brass and is filled inside of the Shrine with blessed mantras & prayers. These Shrines we're carried around so that devout travelers with nowhere to worship could carry their shrines with them. It also acts as protection when on the road. The front surface is embossed with Buddha Tara surrounded with Auspicious Symbols and other Buddhist symbols. The printed silk strap is attached so peoples could wear it as a cross strap or around their neck while traveling. These make for wonderful wall decor or just pieces to have displayed on a table with other artifacts and items you love.
The Story Behind Buddha Tara:
The word Tara itself is derived from the root 'tri' (to cross), hence the implied meaning:' the one who enables living beings to cross the Ocean of Existence and Suffering'. Her compassion for living beings, her desire to save them from suffering, is said to be even stronger than a mother's love for her children.
The story of Tara's origin, according to the Tara Tantra, recounts that aeons ago she was born as a king's daughter. A spiritual and compassionate princess, she regularly gave offerings and prayers to the ordained monks and nuns. She thus developed great merit, and the monks told her that, because of her spiritual attainments, they would pray that she be reborn as a man and spread Buddhist teachings. She responded that there was no male and no female, that nothing existed in reality, and that she wished to remain in female form to serve other beings until everyone reached enlightenment, hence implying the shortfall in the monk's knowledge in presuming only male preachers for the Buddhist religion. Thus Tara might be considered one of the earliest feminists.
This piece is crafted by a wonderful family that are artisans currently living in Nepal. Brass Art piece measures 5"H X 4"W X 2" Thick with Printed Red & Black Silk Strap length is 50"