Puranic encyclopaedia

by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222

This page describes the Story of Bhumi included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).

Story of Bhūmi

The earth.

General.

The Purāṇas maintain that Bhūmi has a Devī (goddess). The births of Bhūmi and its basic goddess are in two different ways.

The Mahābhārata, (Dākṣiṇātya Pāṭha) says that the goddess Bhūmi was the daughter of Brahmā and that she was married by Mahāviṣṇu. The earth on which we live is the Mṛtpiṇḍa of which the basic deity is this Bhūmidevī. Of the many versions given in the Purāṇas regarding the origin of earth, three are given below:—

1) Long ago, towards the end of the age of floods, the earth was in a liquid state. At that time, Śiva cut open his thigh and let fall a drop of blood in the water. It assumed the form of an "aṇḍa" (egg). Śiva took that aṇḍa and split it. A man came out of it. From him was made Nature (Prakṛti) for the creation of the Universe. One half of the broken aṇḍa became sky and the other half became the earth. (Kathāsaritsāgara, Kathāpīṭhalaṃbaka, 2nd Taraṅga).

(2) Mahāviṣṇu lay on the surface of water which spread everywhere in the beginning. A lotus sprang up from the navel of Viṣṇu and from its top Brahmā was born. Liquid matter began to flow out of Viṣṇu’s ears on both sides. From it were born two Rākṣasas named Madhu and Kaiṭabha. They persecuted Brahmā. Mahāviṣṇu woke up and killed Madhu and Kaiṭabha. The thick fat of these Rākṣasas hardened into the earth. (Devī Bhāgavata, Navama Skandha).

3) In the beginning Mahāviṣṇu (Mahāvirāṭ Puruṣa) spread everywhere. In every pore of that Mahāvirāṭ who was lying on the surface of the water, there was a Brahmāṇḍa. In course of time that Virāṭ obtained mind. That mind stood connected with each of the pores equally. Later from it were formed the "Pañcamahābhūtas". From their combination was formed the Bhūta called "Mahā Pṛthvī". It was cut into many pieces and each of the pieces was deposited in each pore. It was these Pṛthvī pieces which became "Bhūmis" at the time of creation. At the time of the floods, these Bhūmis sank again into those pores as before. In each of these Brahmāṇḍas, there are the earth, mountains, forests, oceans, the seven islands, Himavān, Meru, Sun, Moon, Stars and other planets. Also, each of them has its own Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and other Devas. Since all the different Bhūmis in all the Brahmāṇḍas had been formed artificially, they all perish in the floods. (Devī Bhāgavata, Navama Skandha).

3) Bhūmi Devī (Goddess Earth) is the wife of Mahā Viṣṇu. In Varāha Kalpa (Age of the Pig) the Asura Hiraṇyākṣa carried the Earth and Submerged it under water. At once Mahā viṣṇu appeared in the form of a Pig and lifted up the Earth on its horns. When the Earth floated on the surface of water like a lotus leaf, Bhūmi Devī who was pleased, stood up in her charming figure. Mahāviṣṇu fell in love with her and with the brilliance of a crore of suns, had sexual union with her for the period of one Devavarṣa. It is from that time that Bhūmi Devī became Mahāviṣṇu’s wife. As a result of their union, a son named Maṅgala was born to them.

Ghaṭeśa is the son of Maṅgala. Maṅgala has another name, Covva. After the birth of Maṅgala, at the behest of Lord Viṣṇu, all people began to offer worship to Bhūmidevī. Mahāviṣṇu himself first worshipped her by reciting the mantra—"Om Hrīṃ-Śrīṃ-Krīṃ-Vasudhāyai Svāhā". After that this mantra became popular for worshipping Bhūmidevī. (Devī Bhāgavata, Navama Skandha).

Narakāsura was Bhūmidevī’s son by Hiraṇyākṣa, the Asura. When Hiraṇyākṣa, in the form of a pig, carried Bhūmidevī on his horns to Pātāla, the horns came in contact with Bhūmidevī and she became pregnant. In Bhāgavata, Daśama Skandha we read that Narakāsura was born as the result of this contact. (See the word Naraka I).

Sītā was the daughter of Bhūmidevī, born on another occasion. Sītā was married by the Kosala King Śrī Rāma. When she was abandoned by her husband, she was at last accepted by Bhūmidevī within her own self. (See the word Sītā).

Bhūmi and Prahlāda.

Since Bhūmidevī had been the wife of the Asura Hiraṇyākṣa she has also been called the mother of the Asura clan. Hiraṇyākṣa’s brother was Hiraṇyakaśipu. Prahlāda, the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu, was a devotee of Viṣṇu. The father did not like the son’s devotion to Viṣṇu. So he persecuted Prahlāda in various ways. Once he threw down Prahlāda from the top of a high building. At that time Bhūmi devī appeared there and received him in her arms. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapter 24).

Bhūmidevī and Pṛthu.

Once the Emperor Pṛthu turned Bhūmidevī into a cow and milched all resources from her. (For details, see the word Pṛthu).

Pārvatī’s curse.

Once Pārvatī and Śiva indulged in their sexual act for many years. The earth began to shake to its foundations. The gods approached Śiva with a request to refrain and he agreed. Śiva’s semen was discharged and fell on the earth. Pārvatī who was angry at this, cursed Bhūmidevī as follows:—"You Bhūmidevī! You will assume many forms and become the wife of many. Since you have prevented me from giving birth to a son, no children will be born to you in future." (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, 36th Sarga).

Other details.

(1) Narakāsura has another name, "Bhauma". (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Dākṣiṇātya Pāṭha, Chapter 38).

(2) Bhūmidevī prayed to Śrī Kṛṣṇa and obtained Vaiṣṇavāstra for her son Narakāsura. (Mahābhārata Droṇa Parva, Chapter 29, Verse 30).

(3) When Paraśurāma was carrying on the annihilation of Kṣatriyas, Bhūmidevī induced the sage Kaśyapa to entreat Paraśurāma to stop his massacre of Bhūpālas. (Protectors of Bhūmi=Kṣatriyas). (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Chapter 79, Verse 44).

(4) Once she (Bhūmidevī) described to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the greatness of Brahminhood. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 34, Verse 22).

(5) At another time she explained to Śrī Kṛṣṇa the nature of Gṛhasthāśramadharma, (Duties of a householder). (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 97, Verse 5).

(6) On one occasion, when King Aṅga touched her, Bhūmidevī lost her own form and vanished. At that time, Kaśyapa prajāpati paralysed her. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 152, Verse 2).

(7) Paraśurāma gifted the whole earth to the sage Kaśyapa. From that time Bhūmidevī has been called "Kāśyapī" (daughter of Kaśyapa). (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 154, Verse 7).

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