KarmaVaani
Vaishnava tradition
भूदेवीBhudevi
Bhumi · Prithvi · Vasundhara
The earth goddess, Vishnu's second consort beside Lakshmi, the patient mother who bears all beings.
- Abode
- Vaikuntha
- Consort
- Vishnu
- Colour
- Dusky green
- Arms
- 2
Bhudevi is the earth itself as a goddess. The Atharvaveda's hymn to the earth praises her as mother of all who live on her. In the Puranas she is a consort of Vishnu, standing at his left as Lakshmi stands at his right; Varaha raised her from the ocean, and when she grew heavy with the cruelty of kings she went as a cow to plead with the gods, which led to Krishna's birth. Sita was found in a furrow of the earth and returned into it.
Mantra
समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डले। विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे॥
Samudra Vasane Devi Parvata Stana Mandale, Vishnupatni Namastubhyam Padasparsham Kshamasva Me
O goddess clothed by the oceans, wife of Vishnu, I bow to you; forgive me for touching you with my feet. Said on waking, before stepping onto the ground.
How Bhudevi is shown
A gentle, dusky goddess standing at Vishnu's left, holding a blue water lily.
- Blue water lily (utpala)
- The fertility and beauty of the earth.
- Pot of grain
- The harvest she gives to all beings.
Stories
Prithu milks the earth
In a time of famine, King Prithu raised his bow against the earth, who had hidden her riches. She fled as a cow and, cornered, asked to be spared: she would give everything if milked rightly. Prithu made Svayambhuva Manu the calf and milked her of grain and herbs. The earth is called Prithvi after him.
