The Cult of Tara

WORSHIP
ing one of the thirty-seven offerings traditionally counted as included
in the presentation. This ritual has been described by a number of
Western scholars, 223
but the following brief visualization shows the
standard pattern of the offering: 224
OM VAJRA-BHUMI "Diamond foundation" AH HUM I The
foundation is pure, greatly strong, founded with gold.
OM VAJRA-REKHE "Diamond outline" AH HUM! In the
center is (1) Mount Meru, king of mountains, with HUM in its
middle, encircled by the ring of iron mountains.
In the east is (2) Purvavideha; in the south is (3) Jambudvipa;
in the west is (4) Aparagodanlya; in the north is (5) Uttarakuru.
Toward the east are (6) Deha and (7) Videha; toward the south
are (8) Camara and (9) Aparacamara; toward the west are (10)
Satha and (11) Uttaramantrina; toward the north are (12) Kurava
and (13) Kaurava.
There is (14) a jewel mountain, (15) a wish-granting tree, (16) a
wish-granting cow, and (17) the harvest that comes without
plpughing.
There are (18) the precious wheel, (19) the precious gem, (20) the
precious queen, (21) the precious minister, (22) the precious elephant,
(23) the precious horse, (24) the precious general; and
there is (25) the flask of treasure.
There are the eight goddesses: (26) Lady Sensuousness, (27) Lady
of Garlands, (28) Lady of Song, (29) Lady of Dance, (30) Lady of
Flowers, (31) Lady of Incense, (32) Lady of Lamps, and (33) Lady
of Perfumes.
There is (34) the sun and (35) the moon; there is (36) the precious
umbrella and (37) the banner of victory in all quarters.
And in the middle there is the entire host of the wealth and glory
of men and gods.
With this pure and pleasing field, these clouds of offerings drawn
from the ocean of worldly 2alms that belong to the virtuous hosts
of the three times, these enjoyments of my own and others'
bodies: with these I make devoted offering to the holy and glorious
gurus, my own gracious and personal guru and those of the
lineage
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