Bhūmi

Bhumi
Earth
Metal Sculpture of Goddess Bhudevi
Affiliation	Devi
Consort	Varaha (Vishnu)

Bhūmi (Sanskrit: भूमि), or Bhūmī-Devī (Sanskrit: भूमी देवी), also known as Bhuma-Devi, Bhū-Devī, Vasudha, Vasundhara, Vaishnavi, Kashyapi, Urvi, Vasumati, or Hiranmaya, is the Hindu goddess representing Mother Earth. She is the consort of Varaha, an avatar of Vishnu, and she is regarded as the mother of the goddess Sita. According to the uttara-kanda, when Sita finally leaves her husband, Rama, she returns to Bhumidevi. She is also the mother of the demon Narakasura .^[1] Bhumi Devi is also considered to be one of the two forms of Lakshmi, which represents fertility and life. The other form, Sridevi, remains with Narayana. Bhudevi is the daughter of Kashyap Prajapati.

According to some stories, she is also considered to be Satyabhama, the wife of Sri Krishna in Dwapara Yuga as well as the divine Tamil poet-saint Andal. She has given birth to several female deities like Sita. Alamelu Mangamma and Sri Padmavathi Devi of Tiruchanur, both considered daughters of Bhudevi, had a similar beginning to Sita, being found in a ploughed field by Akasa Raja. Andal was found in Srivilliputtur, Tamil Nadu, under a Tulasi plant by the Periyaalvar..

Bhumi-Devi incarnates Herself as Andaal

Andaal at Pundarikaksha, Perumal Temple, Tamil Nadu

Bhudevi reincarnated in South India in Sriviliputhur as Andaal (Tamil: ஆண்டாள் Äṇɖāḷ) who is the only female Alvar among the 12 Alvar saints of South India. The Alvar saints are known for their affiliation to the Srivaishnava tradition of Hinduism. Born in the 10th Century CE, she is credited with many great Tamil works such as Thiruppavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi, which are still recited by devotees during the winter festival season of Margazhi. She is known for her unwavering devotion to Lord Vishnu, the God of the Srivaishnavas. She was adopted by the Alvar saint Periyalvar, who found her as a baby lying under a tulasi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) plant in the temple garden of Srivilliputhur. She is often referred to as "Kodhai" or "Goda".

Iconography

Clickable map of the Hindu planets: Vivasvan, Rahu, Bhūmi, Naraka, Ananta, Garbhodaksayi Vishnu

She is depicted in votive statuary, seated on a square platform which rests on the back of four elephants representing the four directions of the world. When depicted with four arms, she holds a pomegranate, a water vessel, a bowl containing healing herbs, and another containing vegetables.^[2] When shown with two arms, she holds a blue lotus known as Kumuda or Utpala, the night lotus, in the right hand.^[3] The left hand may be in the Abhaya Mudra - fearlessness or the Lolahasta Mudra which is an aesthetic pose meant to mimic the tail of a horse.^[4]

Festivals

• Tirumala bashments
• Raja Parva

References

1. "Killing of Narakasura".
2. Elements of Hindu Iconography by T.A.G. Rao Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass (January 1997) ISBN 81-208-0876-2
3. A. G. Mitchell; Victoria and Albert Museum (1982). Hindu gods and goddesses. United Kingdom: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 8.
4. The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography by Margaret Stutley Page 82 ISBN 81-215-1087-2 Published by Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers 2003