| Prithvi | |
|---|---|
| Member of Thirty-three gods | |
| Devanagari | पृथ्वी |
| Affiliation | Devi, Pancha Bhoota |
| Planet | Earth |
| Symbol | Cow |
| Texts | Rig Veda, Atharva Veda (Prithvi Suktam) |
| Genealogy | |
| Consort | Dyaus |
| Children | Ushas and other Rigvedic deities |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek | Gaia |
| Indo-European | Dʰéǵʰōm |
| Norse | Jörð |
| Roman | 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. The goddess Prithvi is an archetypal Mother Goddess, and along with Ushas and Aditi, she is one of the most important goddesses in Vedic Hinduism.[1]
She is depicted as a stable, fertile, and benevolent presence in Vedic literature. She is frequently addressed as a mother, and 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, the figure of Prithvi is supplanted by the goddess Bhumi, while the term Prithvi serves as one of her epithets. She becomes significantly associated with Vishnu, one of the most important gods in later Hinduism, and his avatars—Varaha and Prithu.[1][2]
Besides Hinduism, Prithvi holds a significant position in Buddhism, symbolising the vastness and support that the Earth provides to all life. Her appearance in the Buddhist tradition is tied to the very moment of Buddha’s enlightenment, and she is considered the first goddess in the Buddhist pantheon.[3]
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Dalal, Roshen (18 April 2014). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9.
- ^ Shaw, Miranda Eberle (2006). Buddhist Goddesses of India. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-12758-3.