Saptalochan Tara, also known as White Tara, is revered as the Bodhisattva of compassion, and longevity in the Buddhist tradition. Her name, Saptalochan, refers to her seven eyes, symbolizing her all-seeing awareness. These eyes—three on her face, two on her palms, and two on the soles of her feet—reflect her ability to perceive the suffering of beings across the six realms of existence and to guide them toward liberation. The seven eyes also represent her profound insight into the ultimate truth of emptiness. Seated in Vajraparyankasana (the diamond posture) on a lotus seat, her right hand forms the Varada mudra, the gesture of supreme giving, symbolizing her boundless generosity that ensures spiritual attainments and ultimate Enlightenment, while her left hand is raised at her heart in the Abhaya mudra, the gesture of reassurance and safety while holding the stems of lotuses blooming in three stages. The fully bloomed lotus represents the historical Buddha Shakyamuni; the partially opened lotus represents Kashyapa, the Buddha of the past; whereas the bud represents the future Buddha Maitriya. Together, these lotuses represent the three times: past, present and future. In traditional iconography, Saptalochan Tara is typically depicted holding the stems of three lotuses in her left hand while making the Abhaya mudra, with her right hand often left empty in Varada mudra. However, in this particular representation by the artist Shankar, the depiction deviates from the conventional portrayal. Here, Saptalochan Tara holds the stems of three white lotuses—each in different stages of bloom—in her right hand, symbolizing the passage of time: the past, present, and future. Meanwhile, her left hand holds the stems of a bud and a half-bloomed Utpala (a blue lotus), symbolizing purity and protection. She is adorned with divine silk garments and golden ornaments, including a crown, earrings, necklaces, armlets and anklets. Half of her long hair is tied into a topknot, representing achievement of enlightenment, while the other half cascades down her shoulders, representing her emanation and activity in Samsara (the cycle of birth and rebirth). Though the painting draws from the traditional Paubha Style of Nepalese art, it offers a contemporary interpretation of the goddess. The radiant golden aura surrounding her emphasizes her power to illuminate the path towards awakening, while her gaze, directed toward the glowing lamp, symbolizes her role in dispelling ignorance and darkness. At the upper left corner of the painting, Amitayus—the Buddha of Infinite Life—is depicted seated upon the lotus throne. Saptalochan is also often regarded as an emanation of Amitayus, embodying his qualities of infinite life and longevity.
