Skt. (Tib., Dolma), lit., “savior”; an emanation of the
bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, said to arise from his tears in
order to help him in his work. She embodies the feminine aspect
of compassion and is a very popular deity in Tibetan Buddhism.
The cult of Tārā was propagated in the 11th century, primarily
by Atīsha. Since that time, veneration of Tārā as a yidam has
been quite widespread. (thanka) roughly, “picture, painting.” In
Tibetan Buddhism, a scroll painting framed in silk, which
fulfills various religious functions. The themes of iconography
are fixed by tradition and are based on three principles:
expression, proportion, and detail. Commissioning the painting
of a thangka and the painting itself are considered highly
meritorious actions. Pali, lit., “teaching of the elders of the
order”; Hīnayāna school (also called the Pali school) belonging
to the Sthavira group, which developed from the Vibhajyavādin
school. It was founded by Moggaliputta Tissa and brought to
Ceylon in 250 BCE by Mahinda, where it