The Golden Tara

The Golden Tara, Accessed on October 03, 2010 at http://layrayski.blogspot.com/2009/06/golden-tara.html.  

            This image is famously associated with Butuan. Butuan as you may probably know is rich in history. 

         This photo of the golden tara was taken at Balanghai Hotel, the real image which weighs approximately 4 pounds, and is a 21 carat gold figurine, is now located at Chicago museum (if my memory serves me right). 

       If you visit Butuan, you can also view the replica at Butuan regional museum. This artifact was found in 1917, southeast of Butuan at an Agusan river tributuary. It is as the experts say, an evidence of the early indian influence, as it was dated as early as 850-950 AD.

        A source also says that In 1917 after a storm and flood, a 21-carat golden figurine of a female deity of Hindu was found by a Manobo woman on a muddy bank of Wawa River, a tributary of the large Agusan River. This ancient figure seated in lotus position weighs nearly 4 pounds which is the earliest known image identified to be an Indian in origin. The image corroborates a single cultural sphere that developed in the archipelagic regions of Southeast Asia during the height of trade between Butuan and the rest of the Sri Vijaya Empire.

        The Golden Tara of Butuan is a metaphor of the City's Glorious history and its journey to a progresive future. I even had my classmates painted with a gold paint and they wore a gold suit. They portrayed the Golden Tara and they danced in Baguio City representing Butuan City.