| Bhumi | |
|---|---|
Metal Sculpture of Goddess Bhudevi |
|
| Earth | |
| Affiliation | Devi |
| Consort | Sri Maha Vishnu, Varaha |
Bhūmi (Sanskrit: भूमि), also Bhūmī-Devī (Sanskrit: भूमी देवी) is the divine wife of Varaha, an Avatar of Vishnu. She is the representative goddess, Mother Earth. According to Hindu mythology, the divine saint Andal is a form of her. The demon Narakasura is her son.[1] She is the mother of Sita, (note the symbolism of the baby Sita being found in a ploughed field). According to the uttara-kanda, when Sita finally leaves her husband Rama, she returns to Bhumidevi. Bhumi Devi is also believed to be one of the two forms of Lakshmi. The other is Sridevi, who remains with Narayana. Bhudevi is the Goddess of Earth, and the fertility form of Lakshmi. She is Daughter of Kashyap Prajapati and known as kasyapi.She is Satyabhama, wife of Sri Krishna in Dwapara Yuga. Several female deities have had births similar to Sita. Alamelu Mangamma or Sri Padmavathi Devi of Tiruchanur had a similar beginning, being found in a ploughed field by Akasa Raja. Andal from Srivilliputtur in Tamilnadu was found under a Tulasi plant by Perialvar.
She is depicted in votive statuary, seated on a square platform which rests on the back of four elephants representing the four corners 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 Komud or Uttpal 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 cow.[4]
|
|||||||||||||||||