Perhaps the most distinguishing icon of Tara is Her female form, as most Buddhas are male. As a Buddhist deity, She has both peaceful and fierce (wrathful) forms and assumes many postures--standing, sitting, one leg down, both legs down, full lotus, half lotus and reclining. In the Asian collection at The Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, Kansas, I saw statues of Tara, Kali and Kwan Yin, all in identical poses! She can have two, four, eight, twelve or even a thousand arms. She holds one or both hands in a mudra indicating a specific spiritual function, such as the bestowal of generosity. Why all this variation? She willingly manifests in countless forms to be accessible to all who need Her.

"Buddha Tara, indeed all the Buddhas, are said to emanate in billions of forms, taking whatever form is necessary to suit the person." (Galland, p. 310)