Earth Devi - Goddess Earth
 |
| Prithvi-Mother Earth |
When reading Vedic literature, one can sometimes be
overwhelmed by the varied amount of gods and goddess. Despite the daunting task
of remembering all the saints and sages, one divine being mentioned throughout
Vedic text is easily remembered– Mother Earth, also known as Prithvi or Bhu
Devi.
It is commonly known that when Vishnu incarnates as an
avatar, Laksmi is said to incarnate as well. When he appeared as Krishna she
was Rukmini, when he appeared as Rama she was Sita, When Vamana she was Kamala,
and when he was Parashuma she was Dharani.
But Vishnu has two wives. Sri Devi, an aspect of
Lakshmi and Bhu Devi, an aspect of the goddess Earth. Bhu Devi can be found
throughout all of the incarnations of Vishnu as pervasively as Lakshmi.
The following accounts from the Ramayana, Mahabharata
and various Puranas have many different versions, so they may differ from
stories you have read or been taught.
Bhu Devi
: Mother Earth and the Ramayana
 |
| Sita found in Earth Thai depiction |
Sita Born of
Earth
The region of Mithila had been stricken with a severe
drought and famine. As a remedy (upaya) to alleviate the famine, the sage Gautama Muni
instructed King Janaka that if he ploughed the fields himself, the rains would
come, and the land would once again become fertile. As King Janaka ploughed the
fields his plough hit something beneath the earth. Upon inspection he
discovered a chest (pot). Within the chest, wrapped in a cloth, he discovered a
baby girl who he called Sita. Sita, was said to be born of Bhu Devi (mother
Earth).
Sita returns
to the Earth
Upon being rescued from Ravana, when Sita reunited
with Rama there were many rumors regarding her chastity while she had been held in captivity. Fed up with the slander,
Sita vowed that if she was in fact telling the truth the Earth would swallow
her. Soon after, a crack formed in the earth and Sita merged back with
Mother Earth.
Bhu Devi: Goddess Earth and Krishna I
Not being able to stand the wickedness of men any
longer, goddess Earth in the form of a cow, approached Brahma and Vishnu to ask
for assistance with managing the wickedness of men. Upon hearing the cries of Mother
Earth, Brahma and Vishnu agreed to incarnate as Krishna to thwart the evil of
men.
Mata bhumih, putro aham, prithivyaha
Bhu
Devi: Goddess Earth and Krishna II
Over 5,000 years ago, Mother Earth was feeling
victimized, exploited and harassed by men. She approached Indra to express the
discontent she was experiencing at the hands of mankind. Disconcerted, Indra said, “ Bhu Devi, I am sorry but
this evil is great and beyond me, let us seek the advice of lord Brahma.”
Indra and Goddess Earth traveled to the abode of
Brahma and the goddess explained her plight. “ Lord Brahma, Kali Yuga is
approaching and men have forgotten righteousness and honor. They are trashing
the Earth, lack any form of compassion, and are destroying dharma, please offer us some assistance.”
Brahma pondered the plight of the Earth for a few
moments and said, “ The evils of man are growing, we must confer with Vishnu to
find a resolution.”
Brahma, Indra and Bhu Devi (Mother Earth) traveled to
the abode of Vishnu where Brahma pleaded the case of Mother Earth to Vishnu. “
Vishnu, I believe it is time you must incarnate once again on Earth to
eradicate the evils of mankind,” said Brahma.
Vishnu looked disturbed. After sadly pondering this
problem for a few moments he slowly rose and said, “ Incarnating is not a nice
experience. Last time I incarnated, I suffered greatly as Rama. If I must
reincarnate in the world of men to assist Bhu Devi I will, but this can only be
done if we get clearance from the Divine Mother (sometimes referred to as Maha Maya, Yoga Maya and other epithets), pray to her and
if she advises it I…I will incarnate once again”
Divine
Shakti Revealed as the Power behind the Gods
Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and Mother Earth devoutly prayed
to the Divine Mother, and she appeared before them in a soft cascading array of
splendorous light.
With a devout and humble pranam Brahma pleaded to the
Divine Mother, “ Dear Mother, the goddess Earth is being destroyed by the
wickedness of man, you have helped to vanquish the worst evils in the past
please help us once more.”
Indra then stepped forward, bowed, and humbly spoke, “O Mother, it is only
through you that anything can be accomplished we are only here through your
help. We seek your protection and blessings in these dark times.”
As they all spoke, the Divine Mother silently watched
with the disposition of a candle’s flame.
Vishnu humbly approached, and with a bowed head
offered gifts and sacred gestures and said, “oh great Divine Mother, you are the shakti
behind Brahma, Shiva and even me, we cannot embark on the task of erasing the
evils that men have done without your sanction.”
 |
| Goddess Earth- Indonesia |
With a silent grace gently resting on her face, the
Divine Mother spoke, “ I have some time ago decided this must be. Kasyapa will be born as Vasudeva, as a member of the Yadavas.
Because of the curse once levied by Sage Bhrigu, Vishnu will be born in a
prison as son of Vasudeva. My Shakti will pervade Balarama and Krishna, and the
evil will reap their wickedness.”
Thus, Krishna was born over 5,000 years ago to come to the aid of Mother
Earth.
Of course, Mother Earth was complaining about many
people including Kamsa, Naraka, Salva, Dhenuka, Vatasaka, Sishupal,
Jarasandha and others.
 |
| Bhu Devi 11th century |
Mother
Earth and Diwali
The demon Hiranyaksha had absconded with the Goddess
Earth and dragged her to the nether regions of Rasatala in the ocean. Vishnu
incarnated as Varaha and descended to the oceans and rescued Mother Earth from the vile demon. As Varaha(Vishnu) and Mother Earth rose from the murky depths the love between them was so intense that they began a divine coupling like eagles in
flight.
After they had risen from the ocean, their enraptured union caused mountains, hills and valleys to form on the flat Earth. With
the essence of the divine goddess permeating his aura, Varaha thrust his tusks into the
earth causing plants and trees of all forms to spring forth. But an unforeseen consequence of their copulation in the shadowy depths of the ocean was that the demon Naraka was born.
Naraka craved ultimate power and command over all, so he embarked on
extreme austerities to obtain them. After many decades, he had done so much penance that
Brahma appeared before him. Reluctantly, Brahma approached the unscrupulous yogi and spoke, “
You have done an innumerable amount of austerities, I will thus grant you any
desire you wish.” Naraka commanded, “
Great Brahma, I wish to be invincible and unconquerable. I wish to never fall at
the hands of death.”
Brahma replied, “ This is against the laws of nature.
I will make you invincible, except that you can die under one condition – if it is at the hands of
your own mother Goddess Earth”
Almost immediately upon receiving his divine boon, Naraka
embarked on a reign of terror. He and his thugs went to and fro murdering,
pillaging and causing great distress to women.
 |
| Naraka and Krishna-Wiki |
One of the wives of Krishna was Satyabhama. No one realized, but she was
secretly the incarnation of the Goddess Earth.
During a fierce engagement with Naraka's army on the battlefield, Krishna asked Satyabhama to hold the reigns of his chariot while he journeyed to battle Naraka. Satyabhama was not inclined to battle, but when an arrow from Naraka struck Krishna’s armor, he feigned that he had been felled. Satyabhama, in a rare show of anger to protect her saintly husband, grabbed Krishna’s bow and with a single shot quickly pierced Naraka with an arrow.
During a fierce engagement with Naraka's army on the battlefield, Krishna asked Satyabhama to hold the reigns of his chariot while he journeyed to battle Naraka. Satyabhama was not inclined to battle, but when an arrow from Naraka struck Krishna’s armor, he feigned that he had been felled. Satyabhama, in a rare show of anger to protect her saintly husband, grabbed Krishna’s bow and with a single shot quickly pierced Naraka with an arrow.
Thus, the invincible demon Naraka was vanquished by his
mother the Goddess Earth in the form of Satyabhama. The second day of the holiday Diwali,
Naraka Chaturdasi celebrates the extinction of this demon at the hands of the
Goddess Earth.
 |
| Prithvi 14 century |
~~~It is said that the Adi Varaha Purana was
transmitted directly to Bhu Devi from Aavatar Varaha. Vyasa was said to have
written it down.~~~
Goddess Earth: Prithvi
 |
| Prithu-Prithvi Wiki |
For many
aeons, the goddess Earth provided for all of mankind in an inexhaustible
abundant manner, but when she saw that mankind began trying to monopolize the
riches she gave freely, she retreated in sadness and anger. As she retracted
her spirit from the earth, no plants flowered and not one seed sprouted.
Countless humans began to starve and waste away. Witnessing this wide spread
famine, Vishnu descended to Earth in the form of Prithu.
Prithu pleaded with goddess Earth, but Bhu Devi turned
herself into a cow and ran away. Growing frustrated, Prithu gave pursuit and
even threatened to shoot the Earth Mother with an arrow to get her to comply. “I
do not wish to support those ungrateful evil humans any longer, and if you strike
me down with an arrow, you will also strike down the Earth itself” Prithvi said.
“ Please
forgive me, It is my duty to preserve and protect humanity. Please give me a chance and I
will change their wicked behavior, instill respect for cows, and I will establish
dharma throughout the land,” said Vishnu in the form of Prithu.
Prithu then began to teach righteous economics
throughout the land. He was the first human to teach fair trade, sustainability
and biodynamic and organic farming. He wrote the Dharma Sutras to teach mankind
proper ethics, and taught respect for the environment.
 |
| Will Cunningham |
Bhu devi became pleased with his progressive
environmentalism, and called her self Prithvi as a term of endearment to honor her
new friend Prithu.
Kali, Tara, Parvati and many other goddesses all have aspects of the Earth mother.
Om Shri Mahimata Namah
Kali, Tara, Parvati and many other goddesses all have aspects of the Earth mother.
Om Shri Mahimata Namah
Samudhra
vasane devi,
parvatha sthana mandale,
Vishnu pathni namasthubhyam
pada sparsam
kshamasva mae.
Prithvi - Vedic Earth Chant
Maha Vedic Earth Stotram - Bhu Suktam
Bhumi Devi
Gayatri
Om Vasundharaya vidmahe
Bhutadhatraya dhimahi
Tanno bhumih prachodayat
