When The Buddha's not just about laughing

Om Tara, a contemporary dance do, is all set to bring to light a little known side of Buddhism that of Tara Devi, the revered female Bodhisattva

Om Tara, a contemporary dance do, is all set to bring to light a little known side of Buddhism that of Tara Devi, the revered female Bodhisattva

Sitting in a simple cotton suit, Chokyi Palmo was playing the rehearsal tape as we made our way into the tiny attic above the legendary Regal theatre. After the initial exchange of pleasantries, the thirty-something politely shied away from our requests for a photograph. "Don't focus on me," she pleaded, with more important things on mind.

A practice session in progress at The Attic, Connaught Place PIC/Rajeev Tyagi

Dancing to devotion
Om Tara, her second contemporary dance creation, is well underway in the city. A group of Indian and International dancers, who're part of Chokyi's team, are helping her with the ode to Tara the only female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism. Moreover, Tara, who is seen as a guard against the eight great terrors that are symbolic of spiritual dangers, is perhaps the most beautiful embodiment of the faith.
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"The one hour long recital aims to unite diverse spiritual paths in an art form that is designed to use the power of the Mother Goddess and pray for her help to make one free from sufferings," explains Chokyi, who's been practising her art since about five years in the country. She came to the capital two years ago on a similar sojourn, and figured it was time for a second inning.

The performance, co-organised by The Attic and to be held as part of the Dastkar Nature festival at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), will see separate acts. Called 'Warriors of Samsara', the first part ofu00a0u00a0
the composition highlights the delusion of the cycle of life, suffering and death. It will be followed by a sub-act, 'Actualising the true path...,' which will reveal how the Goddess can help prevent hindrances and attain the path of enlightenment. The second part of the symphony is an invocation to the 'Maa The Liberator' through the recitation of her mantra Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha. "Tara Devi's mantra is to benefit all sentient beings by giving them happiness," says Chokyi, who refuses to give out much about herself, for she believes her only purpose is to spread the message of Tara. Talk of selfless messiahs in the 21st century!

World team 11
The eleven-member group comprises seven girls and four boys, who've come together from different parts of the world. If Madina Andassova is from Kazakhstan,u00a0 Carolina Prada is from Colombia. Among others, Rajesh Saibabu, Rakesh Saibabu, Ram Hari and Deviyani Sharma are from India and Rahele Obritcke is from Latvia.

Nevertheless, they're one in their devotion.

What Tara Devi's mantra means
In Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha,
>>OM is the body, speech and mind of the Buddha
>>TARE is Dharma that liberates beings from sufferings
>>TUTTARE frees beings from danger
>>TURE is what releases beings from sickness
>>SOHA is laying the foundation

Widely known forms of Tara
>>Green Tara, known as the Buddha of enlightened activity
>>White Tara, also known for compassion, long life, healing and serenity; also known as The Wish-fulfilling Wheel, or Cintachakra
>>Red Tara, of fierce aspect associated with magnetising all good things
>>Black Tara, associated with power
>>Yellow Tara, associated with wealth and prosperity
>>Blue Tara, associated with transmutation of anger
>>Cittamani Tara, a form widely practiced at the level of Highest Yoga Tantra in the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, portrayed as green and often conflated with Green Tara
>>Khadiravani Tara (Tara of the teak forest), who appeared to Nagarjuna in the Khadiravani forest of South India and who is sometimes referred to as the "22nd Tara."

Believe it or not!
Buddhists in Russia recognise Russian president Dmitry Medvedev as the White Tara

OM TARA
When: Tomorrow, November 11
Time: 6.30 pm
Where: Amphitheater, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), opposite National Archives of India, Janpath
Ring: 23746050