{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O64443"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O64443/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE5789/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE5789/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AE5789","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O64443/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O64443","accessionNumber":"05228(IS)","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Tara","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The goddess Tara (literally 'saviouress') was widely worshipped in later Buddhism as an independent deity. In particular, as a divine mother. Here she is represented holding a flowering lotus stem (<i>padma</i>) in one hand, whilst gesturing the granting of wishes with her open hand (<i>varada-mudra</i>). The Green Tara, Syama-tara, is closely identified with Avalokitesvara Padmapani, the Buddhist embodiment of compassion and she is often regarded as his female manifestation.\r\n\r\nTara is set against an elaborate backplate (<i>prabha</i>), which frames her figure and defines her status. She is standing against a throne back, with upright pillars, a cross-beam and a large nimbus framing her head. Behind the throne-back are two stupas that flank her. This degree of architectural elaboration underscores the way in which such icons functioned: as miniature or replica shrines and temples. This message is supported by the presence of two smaller attendant figures, both of whom appear to be guardians (<i>dharmapalas</i>); one leans on a axe, the other has the combative stance of a Mahakali.\r\n\r\nA dedicatory inscription reciting the <i>Ye Dharma</i> Buddhist creed appears upon the nimbus. It is expressed in Sanskrit and is written in the <i>siddhamatoka</i> script of medieval eastern India.","physicalDescription":"This figure of Tara carries a lotus stem and a flower (<i>padma</i>). Tara is regarded as the female manifestation of Avalokitesvara Padmapani, the Buddhist lord of compassion. There are inscriptions on the backplate and on the pedestal.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Black Basalt","id":"x30176"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Black basalt","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[{"text":"Pala","id":"AAT18917"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AE5789"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"18","id":"THES49858"},"free":"","case":"PL003","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Bihar","id":"x29823"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"12th Century","earliest":"1100-01-01","latest":"1200-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"57","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"13/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-13","latest":"2026-01-13"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"54.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"13/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-13","latest":"2026-01-13"},"part":"","note":"Height on modern stand; displayed at angle."},{"dimension":"Width","value":"32","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"13/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-13","latest":"2026-01-13"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"13","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"13/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-13","latest":"2026-01-13"},"part":"","note":"Maximum depth of object."},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"13/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-13","latest":"2026-01-13"},"part":"On stand","note":"Depth on modern stand; displayed at angle."}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"<i>Ye dharma hetu prabhava hetum tesham tathagatasya vada ttesham cha yonirodha evam va di mahashramana</i>","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Located on back plate. The Buddhist creed.\r\nRead by Dr Sayantani Pal, University of Calcutta."},{"content":"Sri Valachandrasya","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Belonging to Valachandra","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Located on pedestal.\r\nRead by Dr Sayantani Pal, University of Calcutta."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"The name Tara translates as 'saviouress'. It is in this role that such goddesses assumed an important place, as female counterparts to the Buddhist saviours or Bodhisattvas.","briefDescription":"This figure of Tara is carved out of black basalt. It was produced during the 12th century in Bihar, Eastern India.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació \"La Caixa\" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació \"la Caixa\", c2007 Number: 9788476649466","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p.147, Cat.109","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Orientations; vol. 40. no. 4; May 2009; The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum.\r\nCam Sharp Jones, Interpreting the Iconography of Tara in Sculptural form. p.64"},{"reference":{"text":"Arts of Bengal : the heritage of Bangladesh and eastern India : an exhibition organized by the Whitechapel Art Gallery in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum : 9 November-30 December 1979, Whitechapel Art Gallery ..., 12 January-17 February 1980, Manchester City Art Gallery ... . [London]: Whitechapel Art Gallery, [1979] Number: 085488047X (pbk.) :","id":"AUTH339757"},"details":"p.26","free":""}],"production":"Bihar, Eastern India","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhist","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Tara\r\n1100–1200\r\nBihar, North-East India\r\nBasalt\r\nThe name Tara means ‘saviouress’. She is a female\r\nbodhisattva widely worshipped for her protective\r\npowers and compassionate nature. Here she holds\r\na lotus in one hand and makes the gesture of granting\r\nwishes (varada mudra) with the other. The architectural\r\ncomposition, with Tara standing against an elaborate\r\nthrone back, suggests that the relief was a miniature\r\nshrine.\r\nMuseum no. 05228(IS)\r\n1100–1200","date":{"text":"1/4/2009","earliest":"2009-04-01","latest":"2009-04-01"}}],"partNumbers":["05228(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"05228","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Previous number","id":"THES51695"},"number":"IPN.86"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2017JR9830","2019LN0894","2019LN1781","2019LP7114","2019LX0652"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-15","recordCreationDate":"2002-03-21","availableToBook":false}}