Prithvi (Sanskrit: पृथ्वी, ', also पृथिवी, ', "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 one of the most important goddesses in the historical Vedic religion.
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.
Etymology and epithets
thumb|A [[Bhagavata Purana illustration by Manaku, c. 18th century. While the Earth goddess is referred to as Bhudevi in later post-Vedic scriptures, the term Prithvi remains as a prominent epithet. According to Puranas, the Earth got the epithet after being tamed in the form of a cow by the king Prithu, an incarnation of god Vishnu. and the poetic formula kṣā́m ... pṛthivī́m ('broad earth'). The name Pṛthivī (Sanskrit: पृथि्वी) has its roots in Proto-Indo-European mythology, originating from the epithet Plt̥h₂éwih₂, which means "the Broad One." This term highlights the expansive and nurturing nature of the Earth and forms the basis for the Vedic concept of Pṛthivī Mātā, or "Mother Earth."
Another connection is found between Prithvi and the mythological figure Prithu (Sanskrit: पृथु, Pṛthu), who chases the goddess Prthvi, shapeshifted as a cow. His name means 'far, wide, broad' and in later texts, the term Prithvi is treated as patronym for Earth derived from his name.
Goddess Prithvi is referred to by various epithets across different religious traditions, particularly in the Vedic and Buddhist contexts. These epithets highlight her nurturing, sustaining, and protective qualities, as well as her connection to truth, fertility, and abundance. Some of the key epithets used for Prithvi are listed below:
Rigveda
In the Rigveda, the goddess Prithvi is predominantly associated with the Earth, representing the terrestrial realm where human existence unfolds. However, Prithvi is rarely depicted in isolation. She is most often paired with Dyaus, the male deity representing the sky. This coupling of Prithvi and Dyaus forms the dual entity Dyavaprithivi, symbolizing the interconnectedness of the sky and earth. Their unity is so fundamental in the Rigveda that Prithvi is seldom addressed separately, with the two being described as kissing the central point of the world (Rigveda 1.185.5). Their mutual relationship is one of sanctity, as both deities complement each other (4.56.6). Together, they are considered the universal parents, responsible for the creation of the world (1.159) and the gods (1.185). According to the Kanda XIII,8,3,3, the text says that "May Savitri deposit thy bones in the mother's lap [māturupastha].' Savitri thus deposits his bones in the lap of the mother [māturupastha], this earth [pṛthivyai]; 'O Earth, be thou propitious unto him!'".
Prithvi’s relationship with other cosmic forces is also evident in the Brahmanas, where she is identified with Aditi, the mother of the gods. In the Brahmanas, Aditi and Prithvi are often conflated, with both representing the physical manifestation of the cosmos. Aditi retains her identity as the cosmic mother, while Prithvi symbolizes the Earth, the tangible, nurturing ground on which all creatures live. In later Brahmanas, Prithvi is less abstract than the waters but is similarly viewed as a manifestation of the material matrix of creation. She is no longer paired with Dyaus but with Prajapati, who becomes her mate in the cosmogonic process. This change reflects a shift in her identity from the earlier Vedic depictions, where she was closely associated with Dyaus as part of a divine pair, to her later role as the earth goddess who embodies the physical universe.
Significance and Influence
Prakṛti
The concept of Prithvi also intersects with the philosophical idea of the Prakriti-Purusha duality, which is fundamental to the Samkhya system of thought and later Hindu philosophy. David Leeming, Christopher Fee and other scholars note that Prithvi can be seen as a manifestation of Prakriti—the material, feminine principle that is the source of creation and the foundation of the manifest universe. Prakriti is often paired with Purusha, the male principle representing consciousness or spirit. Wangu points out that this pairing can be understood as a development of the earlier Dyaus-Prithvi duality from Vedic literature, where Dyaus (sky) and Prithvi (earth) were the universal parents. In this later philosophical context, Prithvi, as Prakriti, represents the material energy that brings Purusha’s consciousness into manifestation.
In Buddhism
Prithvi was adopted into Buddhism, and plays a vital role in it, regarded as the first goddess appearing in Early Buddhism in the Pāli Canon. Her essential qualities—nurturing, sustaining, and upholding cosmic order—remained intact, but her role was transformed to fit the Buddhist cosmology.