Listen and chant along
Play the video and follow the stotra text below.
- Taarinyai
- Taralaayai
- Tanvyai
- Taaraayai
- Tarunavallaryai
- Taararoopaayai
- Taryai
- Shyaamaayai
- Tanuksheenapayodharaayai
- Tureeyaayai ||10||
- Tarunaayai
- Teevragamanaayai
- Neelavaahinyai
- Ugrataaraayai
- Jayaayai
- Chandyai
- Shreemadekajataashiraayai
- Tarunyai
- Shaambhavyai
- Chhinnaphaalaayai ||20||
- Bhadradaayinyai
- Ugraayai
- Ugraprabhaayai
- Neelaayai
- Krishnaayai
- Neelasarasvatyai
- Dviteeyaayai
- Shobhanaayai
- Nityaayai
- Naveenaayai ||30||
- Nityabheeshanaayai
- Chandikaayai
- Vijayaaraadhyaayai
- Devyai
- Gaganavaahinyai
- Attahaasaayai
- Karaalaasyaayai
- Charaasyaayai
- Eeshapoojitaayai
- Sagunaayai ||40||
- Asagunaayai
- Aaraadhyaayai
- Hareendraadiprapoojitaayai
- Raktapriyaayai
- Raktaakshyai
- Rudhiraasyavibhooshitaayai
- Balipriyaayai
- Balirataayai
- Durgaayai
- Balavatyai ||50||
- Balaayai
- Balapriyaayai
- Balaratyai
- Balaraamaprapoojitaayai
- Ardhakesheshvaryai
- Keshaayai
- Keshavaayai
- Sragvibhooshitaayai
- Padmamaalaayai
- Padmaakshyai ||60||
- Kaamaakhyaayai
- Girinandinyai
- Dakshinaayai
- Dakshaayai
- Dakshajaayai
- Dakshinerataayai
- Vajrapushpapriyaayai
- Raktapriyaayai
- Kusumabhooshitaayai
- Maaheshvaryai ||70||
- Mahaadevapriyaayai
- Pannagabhooshitaayai
- Idaayai
- Pingalaayai
- Sushumnaapraanaroopinyai
- Gaandhaaryai
- Panchamyai
- Panchaananaadiparipoojitaayai
- Tathyavidyaayai
- Tathyaroopaayai ||80||
- Tathyamaargaanusaarinyai
- Tattvaroopaayai
- Tattvapriyaayai
- Tattvajnyaanaatmikaayai
- Anaghaayai
- Taandavaachaarasantushtaayai
- Taandavapriyakaarinyai
- Taalanaadarataayai
- Kroorataapinyai
- Taraniprabhaayai ||90||
- Trapaayuktaayai
- Trapaamuktaayai
- Tarpitaayai
- Triptikaarinyai
- Taarunyabhaavasantushtaayai
- Shaktibhaktaanuraaginyai
- Shivaasaktaayai
- Shivaratyai
- Shivabhaktiparaayanaayai
- Taamradyutyai ||100||
- Taamraraagaayai
- Taamrapaatraprabhojinyai
- Balabhadrapremarataayai
- Balibhuje
- Balikalpanyai
- Raamapriyaayai
- Raamashaktyai
- Raamaroopaanukaarinee ||108||
|| Iti Shree Taara Ashtottara Shatanaamaavali Sampoornam ||
Meaning
The Sri Tara Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a list of 108 names of Tara, the second of the ten Mahavidyas. The first name, Om Tarinyai Namah, calls her the one who carries the devotee across the river of worldly life. It is followed at once by Tarala, Tanvi, Tara and Taruna Vallari, and this play on the syllable ta runs right through the list.
Three forms of Tara
All three forms that tradition gives to Tara are named early on. Ugratara is the fierce one, Shrimad Ekajata Shira the goddess with a single matted lock, and Nila Sarasvati the blue Sarasvati who grants speech. Shyama, Nila and Krishna describe her dark colour, while Attahasa and Karalasya speak of her loud laughter and fearsome face. Gentle names such as Shobhana, Navina and Bhadradayini stand in the same list.
Shiva, yoga and truth
Shambhavi, Maheshvari, Mahadeva Priya and Shivasakta tie her to Shiva. Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Prana Rupini refer to the three nadis of yoga, and Tathya Vidya and Tattva Jnanatmika to knowledge of what is real. The name Kamakhya recalls the Kamakhya shrine in Assam. The list closes with three Rama names: Rama Priya, Rama Shakti and Rama Rupanukarini.
When it is read
Worshippers of Tara offer kumkum with these names on Tuesdays, on Amavasya and during Navaratri. Those who pray for clear speech and learning remember her as Nila Sarasvati. Tarapith in West Bengal is the best-known place of Tara worship.
Frequently asked questions
Why do so many names in the Sri Tara Ashtottara Shatanamavali begin with the syllable ta?
Where do Ugra Tara, Ekajata and Nila Sarasvati appear in the Tara Ashtottara?
How does the Tara namavali reflect her place among the Dasha Mahavidyas?
Why does the Sri Tara Ashtottaram include Ida, Pingala and Sushumna?
Which names close the Sri Tara Ashtottara Shatanamavali?
Comments
Please login to leave a comment
Loading comments...