Prithvi

"Dharti Mata" redirects here. For the 1938 film, see Dharti Mata (film).

For other uses, see Prithvi (disambiguation).

Prithu chasing Prithvi, who is in the form of a cow.

Prithvi (Sanskrit: पृथ्वी, pṛthvī, also pṛthivī) "the Vast One" is the Sanskrit name for the earth as well as the name of a devi in Hinduism and Buddhism.

As Pṛthvī Mātā "Mother Earth" she contrasts with Dyaus Pita "father sky". In the Rigveda, Earth and Sky are primarily addressed in the dual as Dyavaprthivi. She is associated with the cow. Prithu, an incarnation of Vishnu, milked her in cow's form.

She is a national personification in Indonesia, where she is known as Ibu Pertiwi.

In Buddhism

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 by attesting to Gautama Buddha's worthiness to attain enlightenment. The Buddha is very frequently illustrated in figurative art wielding bhūmisparśa or "earth-touching" mudrā.

The Pṛithvī Sūkta

Pṛithvī Sūkta or Bhūmī Sūkta is a celebrated hymn of the Atharvaveda (AVŚ 12.1) dedicated to Prthivi. It consists of 63 verses.

Epithets

Indonesian depiction of Prithvi in ancient regal attire as Ibu Pertiwi at the Indonesian National Monument

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

Further reading

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
• Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 81-208-0379-5) by David Kinsley