In Buddhism, the female represents prajna, or insight, without which one cannot achieve enlightenment. Among the most popular female goddesses is Tara, said to have been born from the petals of a lotus (symbol of enlightenment) on a lake of tears shed by her male counterpart, the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Tara, also a bodhisattva, is the compassionate savior-goddess. She can appear in more than a dozen forms, which bear different attributes and are distinguished by their respective colors. Tara is usually depicted holding a lotus blossom, relating to the story of her birth.

In this painted wood statue from Nepal, Tara stands in a graceful posture, raising her right hand in the mudra of reassurance. Originally, this statue would have stood in a temple and been periodically adorned with garments and ornaments that embellished its carved skirt and earrings. The facial features are typical of the wood-carved statues created in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal in the 14th century. The distinctive shape of the head and face of this and other carved-wood portrayals of Tara from this region suggests that they are all products of a single workshop.