The twenty-one Taras can be distinguished by the
colour of their bodies, adornments and postures. They protect people from eight
and sixteen kinds of fears. The eight fears are 1) danger of pride and from
lions, 2) danger of torpor and from elephants, 3) danger of anger and blazing
fire, 4) danger of jealousy and poisons of snakes, 5) violence of false view
and of thieves, 6) danger of insatiable greed and imprisonment, 7) danger of
desire and waters, 8) danger of doubts and demons. The sixteen fears are the fear of the five
elements (earth quakes, floods, wind, fire and fear of space), fear of weapons,
tyrannous authority, criminals, spirits, elephants, wild animals, poisonous
animals, sickness, accidents and untimely death, poverty and frustrations of
hopes and plans.
Green Tara (the main deity) and each of her 21
aspects are mentioned in the praise verse by verse.