Tara is a tantric meditation deity whose practice is used by practitioners of the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism to develop certain inner qualities and understand outer, inner and secret teachings about compassion and emptiness. Tara is actually the generic name for a set of Buddhas or bodhisattvas of similar aspect. Today, Green Tara and White Tara are probably the most popular representations of Tara. Green Tara is usually associated with protection from fear. White Tara counteracts illness and thereby helps to bring about a long life. She embodies the motivation that is compassion and is said to be as white and radiant as the moon.She is known as the Mother of Mercy and Compassion. She is the source, the female aspect of the universe, which gives birth to warmth, compassion and relief from bad karma as experienced by ordinary beings in cyclic existence. As White Tara she expresses maternal compassion and offers healing to beings who are hurt or wounded, either psychically. As Red Tara she teaches discriminating awareness about created phenomena, and how to turn raw desire into compassion and love.Tara as a focus for tantric deity yoga can be traced back to the time period of Padmasambhava. The statue is made of camphor tree with a pleasing smell.