The Buddha of compassion, Chenrezig, took a vow to relieve the suffering of all sentient beings, but things were not going so well. He was alone, overworked, overwhelmed, and frustrated. It’s no wonder that he just broke down in a fit of hopeless tears. I would have too. But, one of his tears hit the ground, and from that spot, the beautiful Tara manifested announcing that she was there to help Chenrezig accomplish his aspiration. She sure knows how to make an entrance, doesn’t she?

Arya Tara or Jetsuma Drolma, as the Tibetans call her, is not exclusive to Buddhism. Hinduism considers her one of the mother goddesses. Way back when she vowed always to be reborn as a female until she vanquished every last bit of suffering in the world. (and you thought Oprah was an overachiever.)

Like every good mother, she has an array of colorful manifestations – 21 to be exact – ranging from nurturing to wrathful. of course, what mom doesn’t go a little wrathful from time to time when protecting their child?