Dolma 21 Prayer In Tibetan Pdf [2021] May 2026
The Dolma 21 Prayer, formally known as the Praise to Tara with Twenty-One Verses of Homage (Tibetan: sgrol ma la phyag 'tshal nyi shu rtsa gcig gis bstod pa), is one of the most beloved and widely practiced liturgies in Tibetan Buddhism. It is recited daily by monks, nuns, and laypeople alike to invoke the swift, compassionate energy of Arya Tara to dispel obstacles and bring about both temporal and spiritual success. Accessing the Dolma 21 Prayer PDF
High-quality PDF versions of the 21 Praises to Tara, featuring Tibetan script, phonetics, and English translations, are available through several authoritative Tibetan Buddhist organizations:
Lotsawa House: Offers the root text in Tibetan, Sanskrit, and English, with various downloadable formats.
FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition): Provides a comprehensive prayer book version with visualizations and preliminary prayers. dolma 21 prayer in tibetan pdf
Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive: Includes combined texts for practice and study.
84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha: A scholarly translation from the Tibetan Kangyur. Summary of the 21 Manifestations
The prayer consists of 21 verses, each addressing a unique form of Tara with specific enlightened qualities: Benefits of Green Tara Practice - SamyeLing.org The Dolma 21 Prayer , formally known as
Structure of the Prayer in Tibetan
A typical dolma 21 prayer in tibetan pdf contains three main parts:
- The Homage (Chag Tsal): The first 21 verses. Each verse starts with “Chag Tsal” (Homage to…), naming a specific Tara (e.g., Tara of Swift Courage, Tara of the White Conch Moon).
- The Root Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha. This is inserted between the verses in some arrangements.
- The Aspiration Prayers: Concluding verses asking for protection, awakening, and the flourishing of the Dharma.
Where to Find Authentic Tibetan PDFs (Ethically)
Because the text is a sacred dharma treasure, always avoid sites that copy copyrighted translations without permission. Instead, try:
- FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition): Offers free, high-quality Tibetan prayer PDFs with lineage permission.
- Lotsawa House: A treasure trove of Tibetan texts in translation, including many Tārā practices in the original.
- Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC): For scanned manuscripts from traditional pecha (loose-leaf Tibetan books).
- Rigpa Sangha or Tergar: Often provide community practice PDFs to registered members.
- A Lama’s Blessing: The best way — ask your teacher. Many lamas freely give printed or digital copies.
What to Look for in a Quality PDF
Not all PDFs are equal. When searching for “Dolma 21 Prayer in Tibetan PDF,” consider these features: Structure of the Prayer in Tibetan A typical
- Uchen Script: Clear, bold, traditional calligraphy.
- Phonetic Transliteration: A romanized version to help non-native readers pronounce correctly.
- Wylie Transliteration: For scholars and serious practitioners.
- Accompanying English Translation: While not strictly Tibetan, a side-by-side version helps with meaning.
- Source Lineage: Ideally, the PDF will note which tradition (e.g., Sarma, Nyingma, or specific Kagyu or Gelug) the version follows, as minor word variations exist.
1. Overview of the Text
The Praises to the Twenty-One Taras (Jetsun Dolma Nyishu Tsig Chik) is arguably the most ubiquitous prayer in Tibetan Buddhism. Recited daily by monastics and laypeople alike, it is a devotional text praising the female Buddha Tara in her 21 distinct forms.
For those searching for a Tibet PDF, the objective is usually one of two things:
- Textual Study: Learning to read the script (Tibetan Uchen).
- Liturgical Use: Using the PDF as a digital prayer book on a tablet or phone.
3. Evaluating the Content (Translation & Transmission)
Not all "Dolma 21" PDFs are created equal. There are two main lineages of this prayer, and the PDF you find might correspond to one or the other:
- The Atisha Lineage (Surya Gupta): This version is more elaborate, describing Tara’s iconography (e.g., "Tara, blazing like the fire at the end of the world"). It is often preferred for visualization practice.
- The Nyingma/Sarma Lineage (Standard): This is the version most commonly found in PDFs online. It is shorter and focuses on the qualities of Tara’s activity.
A good PDF will usually specify which lineage it belongs to, or it will be the standard common version used by the Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Sakya schools for daily recitation.
A Sample Verse (Verse 1) – Tibetan Script:
༄༅། །ཕག་མ་སྒྲོལ་མ་ལ་ཕྱག་འཚལ་བདེ་སྐྱིད་མཆོག་སྒྲོལ་མ། ། Phagma Dolma la chak tsal dekyi chok drolma...