The Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara is a ritual offered by groups of dancers worldwide as a prayer of peace, protection, wisdom and capability. It is a practice of empowerment and blessing. Based on an ancient Tibetan practice of praising and embodying the Great Goddess Tara, the Mother of Compassion and Wisdom, the dance was created by Prema Dasara . Through the Tara Dhatu Student Teacher Program it is now taught in and shared by an array of student teachers.
His
Holiness the Dalai Lama and many Great Lamas of all the lineages of
Tibetan Buddhism have given their blessing and offered their prayers
that this dance be shared as widely as possible.
For
more information about the Mandala Tara Dance explore the
Tara Dhatu site . Below you will find products to inspire and
educate about the Mandala Dance. Enjoy!
Mandala
Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara
Prema Dasara and Anahata
Iradah,
CD and Text
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CD $18
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The Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara is taken from a series of traditional Tibetan Buddhist prayers.
The music is deeply meditative, evocative and rhythmic.
The text includes the words to all of the songs in the Mandala Dance ritual.
It includes commentaries on the 21 Praises.
The 21 Praises of Tara have profound meaning; the commentaries give suggestions of meditations and reflections.
The text includes other prayers and teachings that accompany the practice of the Mandala Dance of the Goddess Tara.
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Musician's Guide to the Mandala Dance of Tara
With Anahata
Iradah,
Honoring the work of Prema Dasara
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DVD $30
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In this DVD the viewer will be guided through every section of the Mandala Dance of Tara on Guitar, Swar Sangham, Harmonium and Drums. The DVD even begins before the start of the dance with instruction on how to set the atmosphere with the "Slow Mantra of Tara".
Great care was taken to show many close-up views of the frets of the guitar and strumming patterns. There is a detailed explanation about why I choose to play in Open Tuning instead of Standard Tuning and also there is a discussion about how to layer the music and which instruments to choose and in which order. Really this was a labor of love to help musicians from around the world to play music for Tara in a beautiful way.
Produced, Directed, Edited, and Performed by Anahata Iradah
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"Dancing
Tara: A Manual of Practice"
by Prema Dasara
In Dancing Tara Prema elaborates on the meaning behind the movements and texts of the dance.
She explains the philosophy that lays the groundwork of the practice.
She includes meditations and visualizations of preparation.
She explains the practices that will sustain the mind training after the dance is accomplished.
The Dance of Tara is an expression of the highest human ideals.
The goal of the practice is enlightened mind to integrate all dimensions of consciousness,
to see clearly the truth behind phenomena, to develop the mind so it may function in life, empowered and inspired.
Prema shares methods that take the challenges, the disappointments, the joys, and the accomplishments of day to day experience
and use them in manifesting our spiritual aspirations.
Paperback book $18
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Dance
the Goddess Rainbow Essence of Tara
DVD
Bonus: Homage to the Rare & Precious
DVD $25.00
Dance the Goddess" is coupled with "Homage to the Rare &
Precious" on one DVD.
Dance the Goddess guides the viewer through The Dance of Tara’s 21 Qualities, a complete dance practice of the Goddess Tara.
Taught as an introduction to the Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises,
the simple movements of the dance are based on the essence of the 21 Praises of Tara.
Skillfully produced by Anahata Iradah, it is a kaleidoscope of dancing women, men and children from all over the world,
led through the ritual of the dance. Inspiring! Liberating! Empowering!
Homage
to the Rare & Precious
This
DVD was recorded on Dakini Day as the culmination of a week retreat
led by Prema and Anahata in October 2004 with the Nuns of Kopan
at their nunnery in Kathmandu, Nepal. The nuns dance every praise
in the Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara.A handful of western
pilgrims
offer their support as Protectors. Lama Lhundrup, the abbot of
Kopan, attended the offering and honors the work.
This DVD shows the entire Tara dance offering from the beginning
of “Refuge”, through “Bodhicitta” the “Mandala Dance of Tara”
and “Dedication”.
The individual Praises were all choreographed by Andrea Abinanti
who has been teaching two groups of nuns in Kathmandu the Mandala
dance of Tara.
They have a particular flavor of the sacred dance styles she
has mastered.
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21
Taras
Our Journey Through Life
Produced, Directed,
Composed, & Edited by Anahata Iradah
Featuring the Work of Prema Dasara
This
magnificent documentary manifests three different points of interest:
· Interviews with Prema Dasara
about the 21 Taras and the Central Tara out of which they
all arise.
In these interviews Prema makes comparisons between each Tara
and their correlation to the Major Arcana of the Tarot.
· Extraordinary dance segments set to an original score
by Anahata depict women dancing the Praises of Tara from all over
the world.
Selected from 90 different source media the elegance and devotion
of the women is palpable.
· Interview segments of revered Lamas such as H.H. the
Dalai Lama, H. E. Tai Situ Rinpoche & the V. Lama Lhundrup
include their insights into the meaning and value of the Tara
Dance and other points of spiritual practice.
This DVD is a MUST for anyone who wishes to know more about Tara,
sacred dance or spiritual practice.
Prema has lived and breathed Tara for many years and her wisdom
radiates from the DVD.
Anahata’s music and editing add elements of magic.
This surely must be Tara Dhatu - Tara’s pure land!
DVD $30.00
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Tara's
Book of Songs, Vol. 1
"The Mandala Dance
of the 21 Praises of Tara"
The
Ritual of the Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara has been offered
throughout the world,
blessing dancers and audience with inspiration, joy and spiritual
awakening.
The music is an integral part of the power of the offering.
INCLUDING:
Invocation to Tara
Refuge & Bodhicitta
The Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara
The Dedication
Booklet $21
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Tara's
Book of Songs, Vol. 2
Based
in Tibetan Buddhist practice, the dances included in Tara’s Book
of Songs Volume 2
were developed by Anahata Iradah and Prema Dasara to support their
work,
traveling and sharing from the heart of Tara.
INCLUDING:
Beloved Tara
Tara's Refuge
Dance of the Qualities
Gold Tara
Invocation of the Healing White Tara
Tara Mother to All
Rowing To Enlightenment
One Hundred Syllable Vajra Sattva Mantra
Six Syllable Vajra Sattva Mantra
Short Vajra Sattva Mantra
8 Precious Offerings
16 Offering Goddess' Dance
Medicine Buddha
Tara Tames the 8 Fears
Guru Rinpoche
Wind Horses
In Praise of Manjushri
Buddha Dakini
Vajra Dakini
Ratna Dakini
Padma Dakini
Karma Dakini
May All Beings Every Where Without Exception
Booklet $30
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Meditations
and Prayers To the Goddess Tara
Anahata Iradah & Prema Dasara
CD $18
Cradled by Anahata Iradah’s exquisite musical accompaniment,
Prema Dasara’s resonant speaking voice
leads the listener through
guided meditations and prayers used in the practice of the Great Goddess,
Tara.
Opening with the beautiful song, Beloved Tara,
the Cd is arranged as a complete practice, including the visualization
of Tara,
a self visualization as Tara, the dissolution of the mandala
and a golden spiral meditation of compassion.
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Kathmandu
Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara
Anahata Iradah, Prema Dasara & the Nuns of Kopan
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CD $18 Recorded with 6 of the nuns of Kopan in Kathmandu immediately
following our 2004 pilgrimage.
The Praises are sung in Tibetan with the
nuns and the rest of the Sadhana is in English.
A delightful mixture of
sincere devotion to Tara and a landmark in the interweaving of Eastern
and Western expressions of the Dharma.
There are three tracks on this
CD:
1. Refuge & Bodhicitta 4:01
2. 21 Praises of Tara 34:42
3. Dance of the Qualities 12:27
The
Quiet Revolution
Empowering Tibetan Women Through Sacred Dance
Anahata
Iradah & Prema Dasara
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Bonus: Others Before Self
DVD - $25
A promise Fulfilled:
"Teach
the Tibetan women sacred dance," His Eminence Jamgon Kongrul Rinpoche
asked his student, Prema Dasara.
"Bring a group of western women to India to dance for the Tibetans.
Inspire them so that they will want to learn.”
In 1998, 50 dancers, musicians and videographers from eleven
countries of origin traveled to India and Nepal in fulfillment of that
request. Led by Prema Dasara and Anahata Iradah they danced for His
Holiness the Dalai Lama and the entire Tibetan Community in Dharmsala,
India. They danced at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies
in Sarnath and in Bodhgaya where Buddha attained his enlightenment.
They danced for HE Jamgon Kongtrul in Nepal. Tibetan women were inspired
and joined the dance...
"Others Before Self" is an incredible interview
with Mrs. Jetsun Pema, the younger sister of H. H. the Dalai Lama, who
is often referred to as the Mother of Tibet. She was the director of
the Tibetan Children's Villages, and we interviewed her in Dharamsala.
The interview is deep and poignant. It touches the heart and her spirit
shines as she tells the story of how the Tibetan Children's Villages
flourished amidst adversity in exile from Tibet. Woven into the interview
is exquisite footage of Prema, Anahata and the 1998 delegation of Tara's
sharing Dharma dances with the entire school. This documentary lifts
the spirits and is a great companion to the Quiet Revolution.
Tools
for Tara Practice
3 CD Set $25
Prema gives a series of unedited, dharma teachings.
Responding to new students visiting her, she talks about the way to shape a daily dharma practice and many other powerful dharmic observations. The third CD is a discussion of how to engage in a Tara Practice.
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21
Days, 21 Taras ~ The Story of our Pilgrimage
Anahata Iradah & Prema Dasara
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DVD $25
This epic, two hour DVD shows the pilgrimage of 1998 in all it’s glory.
Scene
after scene of sweetness, transformation and courage. You had to be there
. . . but the video is the next best thing!
Musician's
Guide
to
the Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara
Anahata
Iradah
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CD $21 A
Support for Teachers & Musicians of the "Mandala Dance of the
21 Praises of Tara"
In
this CD Anahata Iradah demonstrates how to weave the tapestry of the Tara
Dance
with Voices, Guitar, Harmonium, Swar Sangham, Tuned Cow Bells, Tingshaw,
Cymbal & Drums.
Lovingly
produced in service to all Tara Dance musicians around the globe.
"May
all Beings be Happy, Blessed by the One Who Blazes with Glory"
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