度母意謂'渡運至彼岸的聖母'，是慈悲的女性菩薩，由於她即從蓮花寶座步下來救渡眾生，因此是慈悲事業的特別表徵。據經典記載，度母是觀世音菩薩的悲淚所化生，或是因發願以女身證悟所化現。基於無數眾生所需，度母顯無數化現，其中最為著名的是徵服障礙與幫助眾生脫險的大力綠度母，還有賜予眾生披護、長壽與和平的寂靜白度母。。
Tara which means 'she who ferries across' is the female Bodhisattva of compassion. In particular she represents compassion in action, since she's in the process of stepping from her lotus throne in order to help sentient beings. According to the text, Tara was born from Avalokiteshvara's tears of compassion or from her own vow to be enlightened in a female form. There are innumerable manifestations of Tara, as many as beings require, but her most famous are the dynamic Green Tara, who overcomes obstacles and relieve beings from danger, and the peaceful White Tara, who brings protection, longevity and peace..