Meaning of individual names of Sri Tara Astottara Shatanamavali

Sri Siva Uvach

तारिणी तरला तन्वी तारा तरुणवल्लरी ।
ताररूपा तरी श्यामा तनुक्षीण पयोधरा ॥ १ ॥
tāriṇī taralā tanvī tārā taruṇavallarī ।
tararūpā tarī śyāmā tanukṣīṇa payodharā ॥ 1 ॥

This strotram is narrated by Lord Shiva to the Divine Mother, and He addresses Her as Maheshani (or Supreme Goddess).

In the Shiva Purana, Daksha also addresses the eternal Mother as Maheshani when she is born as his daughter.

महेशानि नमस्तुभ्यं जगदम्बे सनातनि ।।
कृपां कुरु महादेवि सत्ये सत्यस्वरूपिणि ।।२८।।

Mantra 1
तारिणी
tāriṇī

Tarini is derived from the Sanskrit root “tṛ” (to cross), and thus, she is our protector and deliverer. She takes us through the cycle of birth and death.

The fact that this is Maa Tara’s first name in the 108 names/mantra also signifies its importance. In Lalitha Sahasranama, the first name is Sri Mata, which denotes She is the Mother of the universe. All through LSN, we see how she is the Mother of the universe

Same way, this strorta, begins with Tarini, She is the one who bestows Liberation. So Ma Taara’s role as liberator from this world is the most significant. How does she liberate us from the world, the future names will shed some light on the same.

She, the protectress, visualized as travelling in a boat that takes the Ātma (Soul/consciousness) across the Ocean of Saṃsāra .

Namavali: ॐ तारिण्यै नमः । om̐ tāriṇyai namaḥ

Mantra 2
तरला taralā

In Sanskrit, tarala generally means “moving,” “agile,” “restless,” “wavy,” or “dynamic.” It conveys a sense of motion, fluidity, and liveliness.

She is the ever-moving, dynamic energy and life force pulsating through us. She is always in an active state and in the creation, preservation, and destruction process.

om taralāyai namaḥ। ॐ तरलायै नमः

Mantra 3
तन्वी
tanvī
this mantra means, “slender,” “delicate,” or “graceful woman”.

This serves to remind devotees that the divine feminine encompasses both power and tenderness—she is both the fierce protector and the gentle, slender mother.

om tanvyai namaḥ । ॐ तन्व्यै नमः

Mantra 4
तारा
tārā

She is Tara, one who is our saviour and takes us across this ocean of samsara and cycle of birth & death.

Tara also means, the star, and like the North star, is the bright star in the sky, provides navigation and direction to us. Similarly, Ma Taara, provides the right direction towards Liberation.

om tarayai namaḥ । ॐ तारायै नमः

Mantra 5
तरुणवल्लरी
taruṇavallarī

Tarun means youthful, tender and vallari means creeper, often symbolizing delicate and flexible and graceful.

In the context of Maa Tara’s qualities this mantra means –

Graceful and Delicate Beauty: Just as a young vine is tender, flexible, and beautiful, Maa Tara is described as possessing an ever-fresh, graceful, and delicate aspect.

Symbol of Growth and Renewal: The young creeper represents continuous growth, vitality, and the power of renewal—qualities that are attributed to the goddess as she sustains and nourishes the universe.

Nurturing and Supportive Nature: Vines are known for their ability to support and entwine, symbolizing Maa Tara’s nurturing embrace and her readiness to support her devotees lovingly and gently.

She is ageless and is beyond the dimensions and constraints of time, energy and matter.
om taruṇa-vallaryai namaḥ । ॐ तरुणवल्लर्यै नमः ।

Mantra 6
ताररूपा
tararūpā


Mantra 7
तरी
tarī

Mantra 8

श्यामा
śyāmā

Mantra 9
तनुक्षीण पयोधरा
tanukṣīṇa payodharā