Green Tara is beloved for her readiness to help those in distress. This painting depicts her with one foot extended, symbolising her agility and willingness to step down from her lotus throne to aid sentient beings. Her right hand is in the Varada Mudra (gesture of granting boons), while her left holds a blue utpala flower, representing purity and power.

• About the Painting & Process: The process for a Green Tara Thangka is deeply meditative; the artist often recites her mantra, Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha, while painting. The most delicate stage is the “Opening of the Eyes,” where the artist uses a single-hair brush to paint her serene gaze, believed to bring the deity’s spirit onto the canvas.

• Colours & Materials: The dominant green is derived from crushed malachite, a mineral that provides a vibrant, permanent hue that does not fade. The turquoise accents and 24K gold detailing on her crown and jewellery signify her royal status as a queen of the enlightened mind.