Prithivi

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Prithu chases Prithivi in ​​the form of a cow

Prithivi , Prthvi or Prthivi Matar ( Sanskrit पृथ्वी माता pṛthvī Mata f. "Earth", "width", "width", "Mother Earth") is in the Vedic religion the mother goddess that in Rgveda in six hymns together with her husband Dyaus when Dyava-Prithivi is called. She is considered the friendly mother of all beings. Her children are Indra , Agni , Surya and Ushas .

Rigveda

When she gave birth to Indra, numerous signs heralded that her son would overturn the old order. So she hid him from his father. One day Indra is said to have separated Prithivi from Dyaus forever or devoured his parents. Its symbolic animal is the cow. In earlier Hinduism King Prithu was considered her father, but in later Hinduism she no longer plays a role. However, she is also venerated by a Central Indian tribe, the Baigas , as earth and mother goddess, who only sow into the ashes of the burned-up jungle in order not to tear up “the womb of their mother earth” with the plow. Prithivi is invoked exclusively with Dyaus in Rigvedic hymns. Prithivi is gracious, benevolent, generous, and kind. A dead person is to be handed over to mother Prithivi's lap, so that she may give him refuge and protection; she shouldn't weigh too heavily on him, but rather be like a mother who covers her child with her dress. Prithivi is supposed to provide support. They are often referred to as fixed and as a being that supports and carries all things. It surrounds all things, is broad, extensive and motionless.

Atharvaveda

In the Atharvaveda , however, there is a hymn which is addressed exclusively to her alone (AV 12.1). It is also her longest. There Indra, Vishnu , Parjanya , Prajapati and Vishvakarman are assigned to her. The mighty King Indra is her companion (AV 1.6) and protects her from any danger (AV 13.1.11.18). Vishnu strides over them (AV 12.1.10) and all of them, Parjanya, Prajapati and Vishvakarman, protect them, take care of them or are their companions. It is said of Agni that he would penetrate her (AV 12.1.19). Despite the connections with these gods, it becomes clear that Prithivi is a goddess in her own right. The hymn repeatedly emphasizes Prithivi's fertility. She is the “all-giver”, the source of all plants, especially of grain and medicinal herbs; it also feeds all beings living on it. She is described as patient and strong (AV 12.1.29). She is the sustainer of the good as well as the bad, of the demons as the gods. She is addressed as a mother and asked to give milk for her son like a mother. She is called a wet nurse for all living things (AV 12.1.4) and her breasts are full of nectar. The singer of the hymn asks her to offer him her breasts so that he can enjoy a long life. Furthermore, it is said of Prithivi that it manifests itself in the fragrance of men and women and that it is happiness and light in men and the glorious strength of girls (AV 12: 1.25).

Indo-European origin

It is believed that the name goes back to the Indo-European original language . Names of gods such as Germanic Folde and Gallic Litavis were added and an Indo-European god name ( * Plth 2 uih 2 meh 2 tēr ) was reconstructed. But the interpretation is not certain, as little is known about the corresponding deities. It is also critical that Litavis was equated with the Roman goddess of war Bellona .

See also

In the Puranas or Ramayana , Bhudevi (or Bhu or Bhumi ) appears as the earth goddess (cf. Varaha incarnation of Vishnu).

literature

Web links

Commons : Prithvi  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ pṛthvī . In: Monier Monier-Williams : Sanskrit-English Dictionary . Clarendon Press, Oxford 1899, p. 647, col. 1 .
  2. ↑ a b Prithivi. In: Gerhard Bellinger : Knaurs Lexikon der Mythologie. Munich 1999, ISBN 3-8289-4154-0 , p. 409.
  3. ↑ Rigveda 10.18, 10-12 de sa 
  4. ↑ Rigveda 1,1,85 de sa 
  5. ↑ Rigveda 6.70 de sa 
  6. ↑ Rigveda 1,185 de sa 
  7. ↑ Rigveda 1,185 de sa