THREATENED: This expressive sculpture of the Buddhist goddess Tara is one of a life-sized pair at Svayambhunath. The goddess, absorbed in meditation, holds her hand in vitarka-mudra, the gesture of the convincing argument. Much of the beauty of this masterpiece, however, is lost nowadays, as the image, in imminent danger of being stolen, has recently been set behind heavy iron bars. Photo: 25. 12. 84. (Fig. E184/G11).