Green Tara Traditional Altar
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Altar Items:
· A statue (The awakening and the transcendence of Samsara)
· Seven bowls (water, seeds instead of rice, flower, incense, shell, food offering)
· An oil lamp or candle holder (8th offering)
· Seven diyas/altar candles or tealights, to burn away and purify you of:
v Pride: lions v Delusions: wild elephants v Hatred: forest fires v Envy: snakes v Fanatical Views: robbers v Avarice: prisons v Lust: floods v Doubts: demons
· Bell (Traditionally use a bell and dorje /female+male, here the stem of the bell is the male the bowl of the bell the female)
· 2 Flowers to represent the two lotus she holds.
· Mala to count out the 108 mantras during the puja (optional)
· Prayer Wheel or Prayer flag/poster of Green Tara Mantra (optional)
Direction of the Altar:
The facing direction of the altar does not matter. By definition, it is always facing the East. This is not the east of geographers, but the East within. This is because: “Where faces the yogi, is East of the yogi”. If you would like, you may cover this support with a beautiful cloth that is dark red, yellow, or white. As a result, Green Tara will face her direction of West.
The Statue:
The statue (or photograph) represents the Awakening and the Transcendence of Samsara. In front of these symbols, we place offerings that are an expression of our devotion. Place three syllables OM, AH, HUM - one below the other behind the statue or on the back of the photo - respectively on the level of the head, the throat, and the heart. These are the symbols of the Body, the Speech and Awakened Mind. It is important that this statue or photo be the central and highest figure.