| Tara | |
|---|---|
| Member of Panchakanya | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Episode_from_Kishkinda_Kanda.jpg) Lakshmana Meets with Tara (leftmost), her husband Sugriva (2nd from left) and Hanuman (rightmost) in the Palace of Kishkinda | |
| Other names | Tārā |
| Devanagari | तारा |
| Affiliation | Vanara/Apsara, Panchakanya |
| Abode | Kishkindha |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents |
|
| Consort | Vali Sugriva (After the death of Vali) |
| Children | Angada |
In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Tara (Sanskrit: तारा, Tārā, lit. 'star')[1] is the Queen of Kishkindha and the wife of the vanara King Vali. After being widowed, she becomes the Queen of Sugriva, Vali's younger brother.
Tara is described as the daughter of the vanara physician Sushena in the Ramayana, and in later sources, as an apsara (celestial nymph) who rises from the churning of the milky ocean. She marries Vali. After Vali is presumed dead in a battle with a demon, his brother Sugriva becomes king and appropriates Tara; however, Vali returns and regains Tara and exiles his brother, accusing him of treachery.
When Sugriva challenges Vali to a duel, Tara wisely advises Vali not to accept because of the former's alliance with Rama—the hero of the Ramayana and an avatar of the god Vishnu—but Vali does not heed her, and dies from Rama's arrow, shot at the behest of Sugriva. The Ramayana and its later adaptations emphasize Tara's lamentation. While in most vernacular versions, Tara casts a curse on Rama by the power of her chastity, in some versions, Rama enlightens Tara.
Sugriva returns to the throne but spends his time carousing and fails to act on his promise to assist Rama in recovering his kidnapped wife, Sita. Tara—now Sugriva's queen and chief diplomat—is then instrumental in reconciling Rama with Sugriva after pacifying Lakshmana, Rama's brother, who was about to destroy Kishkinda in retribution for Sugriva's perceived treachery. After this incident, Tara is only mentioned in passing references, as the Queen of Sugriva, as the story moves from Kishkindha to the climactic battle in Lanka to retrieve Sita.
Tara's intelligence, presence of mind, courage and devotion to her husband Vali is praised. She is extolled as one of the panchakanya (five [revered] women), the recital of whose names is believed to dispel sin.
- ^ Lefeber p. 234