Prithvi
| Prithvi | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Devi |
| Planet | Earth |
| Mantra | Om Bhumhaya Namah |
| Mount | Elephant |
| Consort | Dyaus |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Gaia |
| Indo-European equivalent | Dʰéǵʰōm |
| Norse equivalent | Jörð |
| Roman equivalent | Tellus Mater |
| Classical elements |
|---|
Prithvi (Sanskrit: पृथ्वी, pṛthvī, also पृथिवी, pṛthivī, "the Vast One"), also rendered Pṛthvī Mātā, is the Sanskrit name for the earth, as well as the name of the goddess-personification of it in Hinduism and some branches of Buddhism. Shei is depicted as a stable, fertile, and benevolent presence in Vedic literature. She is frequently addressed as a mother, and those who praise her see her as a nurturing, generous goddess who provides sustenance to all beings living on her vast, firm expanse. While the Rigveda predominantly associates her with Dyaus Pita ('Father Sky'), the Atharvaveda and later texts portray her as an independent deity.[1]
In later Hinduism, particularly in Puranic scriptures, Prithvi looses her Vedic associations and transforms into Bhumi, and becomes significantly associated with Vishnu, one of the most important gods in later Hinduism.[1]
Owing to strong historical Hindu influence, the name is also used for national personifications of Indonesia, where she is referred to as Ibu Pertiwi.
In Vedic literature
[edit]The goddess Prithvi is consistently linked with the earth, the terrestrial realm inhabited by humans. In the Rigveda, she is almost always paired with Dyaus, the male deity associated with the sky.[2] These two deities are so interdependent in the Rigveda that Prithvi is seldom addressed alone, but rather as part of the dual entity, dyavaprithivi, or sky-earth.[3] Together, they are described as kissing the center of the world (1.185.5) and sanctifying each other through their complementary relationship (4.56.6). They are considered the universal parents, having created the world (1.159) and the gods (1.185), with Dyaus often referred to as father and Prithvi as mother. There is an implication that the two were once closely joined but later separated by Varuna's decree (6.70). They reunite when Dyaus fertilizes the earth (Prithvi) with rain, though in some cases it is said that together they produce abundant rain (4.56). It remains unclear to what extent Prithvi is exclusively associated with the earth and not the sky.[1]
In addition to her maternal and productive nature, Prithvi (usually alongside Dyaus in the Rigveda) is celebrated for her supportive qualities. She is often described as firm, one who upholds and supports all things (1.185), encompassing everything (6.70), broad and wide (1.185), and motionless (1.185), though elsewhere she is said to move freely (5.84). Prithvi, with Dyaus, is frequently petitioned for wealth, riches, and power (6.70), with the waters they create together being described as fertile, nourishing, and full (1.22). They are also asked to protect people from danger, expiate sin (1.185), and bring happiness (10.63). Together, they represent a vast, firm realm of abundance and safety, a domain pervaded by order (rita), which they strengthen and sustain (1.159). They are described as unwasting, inexhaustible, and rich in seeds (6.70). In a funeral hymn, the dead are asked to rest in the lap of mother earth, Prithvi, who is described as gracious and kind, gently covering the deceased like a mother covering her child with her skirt (10.18.10-12).[1]
Pṛthvī Sūkta
[edit]The most extensive hymn in praise of Prithvi in Vedic literature is found in Pṛthvī Sūkta of the Atharvaveda (12.1). In this hymn, Prithvi is celebrated alone, without mention of Dyaus. The mighty god Indra is her consort (1.6), protecting her from all dangers (12.1.11, 18). Vishnu strides over her (12.1.10), and other gods like Parjanya, Prajapati, and Vishvakarma either protect her, provide for her, or serve as her consorts. Agni is said to pervade her (12.1.19). Despite these associations with male deities, the hymn emphasizes Prithvi’s greatness as a deity in her own right. Her fertility is repeatedly highlighted—she is the source of all plants, especially crops, and nourishes all living creatures. Prithvi is described as patient and strong (12.1.29), supporting both the wicked and the good, the demons and the gods. She is often addressed as a mother and is asked to pour forth milk like a mother to her child. She is called a nurse to all living beings (12.1.4), with breasts full of nectar. The singer of the hymn asks her to offer her breasts so that he might live a long life. Additionally, Prithvi is said to manifest in the scent of men and women, in the luck and light within men, and as the vibrant energy of maidens (12.1.25).[1]
Buddhism
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In Buddhist texts and visual representations, Pṛthvī is described as both protecting Gautama Buddha and as being his witness for his enlightenment. Prithvi appears in Early Buddhism in the Pāli Canon, dispelling the temptation figure Mara and his army by attesting to Gautama Buddha's worthiness to attain enlightenment. To save Buddha, she wrung out her hair, covering the land with water and drowning the demons.[4] The Buddha is frequently depicted performing the bhūmisparśa or "earth-touching" mudrā as a symbolic invocation of the goddess. [5]
In Chinese Buddhism, she is considered one of the Twenty-Four Protective Deities (二十四諸天 Èrshísì zhūtiān) and is usually enshrined in the Mahavira Hall of Buddhist temples along with the other devas.
Epithets
[edit]
| Category | Transliteration | Gloss |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Bhūmi | Soil |
| Dhatri | Nursing Mother | |
| Dharitri | Nurturer | |
| Janitra | Birthplace | |
| Medini | Nurturer | |
| Prshni | Mother of Plants | |
| Vanaspatinam Grbhir Osadhinam | Womb of Forest Trees and Herbs | |
| Vishvadhaya | All-Nourishing | |
| Vishvagarbha | World's Womb | |
| Vishvamshu | Producer of Everything | |
| Vishvasvam | Source of Everything | |
| Sustainer | Dhar | Upholder |
| Drdha | Steady One | |
| Ksama | Patient One | |
| Sthavara | Stable One | |
| Vishdava | All-Preserving | |
| Vishvadharini | All-Supporting | |
| Vishvamhara | All-Bearing | |
| Enricher | Ratnagarbha | Repository of Gems |
| Ratnavati | Abounding in Jewels | |
| Vasundhara | Bearer of Treasure |
See also
[edit]- Phra Mae Thorani – Mother Earth (goddess) of Buddhist mythology
- Vasudhara – Buddhist bodhisattva of prosperity
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Kinsley, David (1998). Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-0394-7.
- ^ Leeming, David; Fee, Christopher (2016). The Goddess: Myths of the Great Mother. Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1-78023-538-7.
- ^ Doniger O'Flaherty 2007, p. 201, 330.
- ^ Shaw 2006, p. 27.
- ^ Shaw 2006, p. 17.
Works cited
[edit]- Doniger O'Flaherty, Wendy, ed. (2007). Rigvedapenguincl00anon The Rig Veda: An Anthology: One Hundred and Eight Hymns. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-044989-1.
- Shaw, Miranda Eberle (2006). Buddhist Goddesses of India. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-12758-3.
Further reading
[edit]- Dallapiccola, Anna (2024). Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-51088-9.
- Kinsley, David (1987). Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 81-208-0379-5.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Prithvi at Wikimedia Commons
