Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Prithvi पृथ्वी our Earth Mother


Prithvi पृथ्वी our Earth Mother

4rd April 2012.
Starting a series on 5 Elements " Pancha Mahabhutas" 001


Salutations to Earth Mother
Prithvi  पृथ्वी our Earth Mother --is the personification of -where we stand on, grow on and live In Pancha Mahabhutas is  the basic essence of the element earth.


Thus when we start our prayers we touch the earth in thanksgiving and also forgiveness .


Prithvi is best known by the name Dharti-Ma -and so many beautiful songs on her.
She  is also called Dhra,  Dhrithri, meaning that which holds everything. In Vaishnava temple esp in South Prithvi Devi, known Bhumi Devi & along with Sri Devi Lakshmi are worshipped.  


Refer Bhu Suktam and Sri Suktam chanted in most temples -
I also learnt that Prithvi Sukta of 63 verses is in the Atharva Veda


As Prithvi Mata "Mother Earth" is linked to the Aakash tattva -also called as Dyaus -Father Sky


Interestingly the Red Indian Chingachgook (the lone survivor) in classic and film "Last of Mohicans" by James F Cooper  says a prayer to Earth & Sky in the last scene -and earlier the hero Daniel refers to stars in "Father Sky"  too.


In the Rig Veda the Earth & Sky are referred to and  is  possibly the most Ancient worship of two sides of creation -as they compliment & supplement and were also known as "Dayaprithvi" .


Puranic lore has a lot on this in stories and legends and Bhu Devi is also associated with Go Mata -as the Giver.


As Mother of Sita devi in Treta Yuga-Ramayan, and in Satyabhama in Dwapara yuga Mahabharat period. Alamelu Mangamma or Sri Padmavathi Devi of Tiruchanur at Tirupati--All  had a similar beginning, being found in a ploughed field by Akasa Raja. In latter days as Andal in South,
Interesting fact is,  Bhu Devi  is seen in Indonesia "Ibu Pertwi" & in Eastern countries too.


 Bhumi Devi Gayatri Mantra
Om Vasundharaya vidmahe
Bhutadhatraya dhimahi
Tanno Bhumih prachodayat  
Meaning of Mantra “Om. Let us meditate on Bhumi Devi, the One who provides all , bless us with abundance."


21 aspects of Mother Nature in "nurture" are seen in the following.
Some are explained in Gita also.


As Provider
Bhumi ("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")
  • Vishvagabha ("World's Womb")
  • Vishvamshu ("Producer of Everything")
  • Vishvasvam ("Source of Everything")


As Sustainer
  • Dhara ("Upholder")
  • Drdha ("Steady One")
  • Kshama ("Patient One")
  • Sthavara ("Stable One")
  • Vishdava ("All-Preserving")
  • Vishvadharini ("All-Supporting")
  • Vishvamhara ("All-Bearing")




 

As Enricher
  •  Ratnagarbha ("Repository of Gems"")
  • Ratnavati ("Abounding in Jewels")
  • Vasundhara ("Bearer of Treasure")--
 Namaskar to Mother Earth


COMPILED from many sources


Rgds
TR


1 comment:

  1. thank you for putting all of this information together! I did an image search for some of the names of Mother Earth listed above, and found very few images, even though there are SO many images of other Hindu gods and goddesses. I wonder why this is?

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