Tara is the name of a bodhisattva, that is a Buddhist goddess, who is especially worshipped as the shakti or spouse of Avalokitesvara (fig.). Her name is derived from the word ‘to cross’, and refers to her function, i.e. to help mankind to cross safely from birth to death, and as the personification of love and compassion, she is associated with the Chinese goddess Kuan Yin (fig.).