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== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology  ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology  ==

Earth is commonly known in Samskrit by the terms Prthvi, Prthivi, Bhumi, Dhara, Medini, etc. The significance of these names are explained with etymologies in Samskrit dictionaries as well as with stories from the itihasas and puranas. Some such interesting interpretations of the names are enumerated here.<ref name=":1" /> For example,

Earth is commonly known in Samskrit by the terms Prthvi, Prthivi, Bhumi, Dhara, Mahi, Medini, Kashyapi etc. The significance of these names are explained in Samskrit dictionaries with etymologies as well as with stories from the itihasas and puranas. Some such interesting interpretations of the names are enumerated here.<ref name=":1" /> For example,

* According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, earth is called Medini since it was made out of the marrow (meda) of the two Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha. She is also called Dhara as she supports everything, Prthvi due to her expanse and Mahi because of her greatness in supporting so many beings.<ref>Swami Vijnanananda (1921-22), [https://archive.org/details/SrimadDeviBhagavatamEnglish/page/n129/mode/2up?view=theater The Srimad Devi Bhagawatam (Part I & II)]</ref>

* According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, earth is called Medini since it was made out of the marrow (meda) of the two Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha. She is also called Dhara as she supports everything, Prthvi due to her expanse and Mahi because of her greatness in supporting so many beings.<ref>Swami Vijnanananda (1921-22), [https://archive.org/details/SrimadDeviBhagavatamEnglish/page/n129/mode/2up?view=theater The Srimad Devi Bhagawatam (Part I & II)]</ref>

<blockquote>मधुकैटभयोर्मेदः संयोगान्मेदिनी स्मृता । धारणाच्च धरा प्रोक्ता पृथ्वी विस्तारयोगतः ॥ ८ ॥ मही चापि महीयस्... ।<ref>Devi Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 3, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A9 Adhyaya 13]</ref>

* According to Shabdakalpadruma, the words Prthvi or Prthivi stem from the root word 'Prath' which means 'to spread' or 'to extend'; it is endowed with the quality of 'sthulatva' or 'expanse'. She is called Prthvi on account of her being considered the daughter of Raja Prthu.  

madhukaiṭabhayormedaḥ saṁyogānmedinī smr̥tā । dhāraṇācca dharā proktā pr̥thvī vistārayogataḥ ॥ 8 ॥ mahī cāpi mahīyas... ।</blockquote>Shabdakalpadruma<ref name=":1" />

<blockquote>प्रथते विस्तारं यातीति पृथिवी । पृथ्वी स्थूलत्वगुणयुक्ता । पृथोर्दुहितृत्वस्वीकारादेतन्नाम ।<ref name=":1" /> prathate vistāraṁ yātīti pr̥thivī । pr̥thvī sthūlatvaguṇayuktā । pr̥thorduhitr̥tvasvīkārādetannāma ।</blockquote>It is said that formerly, the grounds were not even, there were no divisions like villages and towns, no crops like rice or wheat, no agriculture, no cow-protection and no trade. People desired to live in places where the grounds were even. Then they lived on fruits, leaves and roots. But then came a time when everything was destroyed and people found it difficult to live. Therefore, Prthu, making Svayambhuva Manu as calf, milked all the plants from the earth for the welfare of his people. Even today, people live by what was milked then. And because he brought back life on Earth, Prthu became father of the earth and she got the name Prthvi.<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), Puranic Encyclopaedia, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. See: [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/608/mode/2up?view=theater Prthu milks the earth]</ref>

'''पृथ्वी''', स्त्री, (पृथुः स्थूलत्वगुणयुक्ता । “वोतो गुण- वचनात् ।” ४ । १ । ४४ । इति ङीष् ।) '''पृथिवी''' ।  

=== पृथ्वीदोहनम् । ===

पृथोर्दुहितृत्वस्वीकारादेतन्नाम । यथा, अग्नि- पुराणे । “दुहितृत्वमनुप्राप्ता देवी पृथ्वी तथोच्यते ॥”  

पृथुरप्यवदद्वाक्यमीप्सितं देहि सुव्रते ! । सर्व्वस्य जगतः शीघ्रं स्थावरस्य चरस्य च ॥ तथैव चाब्रवीद्भूमिदुंदोह च नराधिपः । स्वे स्वे पाणौ पृथुर्वत्सं कृत्वा स्वायम्भुवं मनुम् ॥ तदन्नमभवत् शुद्धं प्रजा जीवन्ति तेन वै । ततस्तु ऋषिभिर्दुग्धा वत्सः सोमस्तदाभवत् ॥ दोग्धा बृहस्पतिरभूत् पात्रं वेदस्तपो रसः । वेदैश्च वसुधा दुग्धा दोग्धा मित्रस्तदाभवत् ॥ इन्द्रो वत्सः समभवत् क्षीरमूर्ज्जस्करं बलम् । देवानां काञ्चनं पात्रं पितॄणां राजतन्तदा ॥ अन्तकश्चाभवद्दोग्धा यमो वत्सः सुधारसः । अलावुपात्रं नागानां तक्षको वत्सकोऽभवत् ॥ विषं क्षीरं ततो दोग्धा धृतराष्ट्रोऽभवत् पुनः । असुरैरपि दुग्धेयमायसे शक्रपीडनीम् ॥ पात्रे मायामभूद्वत्सः प्रह्रादिश्च विरोचनः । दोग्धा द्बिमूर्द्धा तत्रासीन्माया येन प्रवर्त्तिताः ॥ यक्षैश्च वसुधा दुग्धा पुरान्तर्द्धानमीप्सुभिः । कृत्वा वैश्रवणं वत्समामपात्रे महीपते ! ॥ प्रेतरक्षोगणैर्दुग्धा धरा रुचिरमुल्वणम् । रौप्यलाभोऽभवद्दोग्धा सुमाली वत्स एव तु ॥ गन्धर्व्वैश्च पुनर्दुग्धा वसुधा चाप्सरोगणैः । वतसं चैत्ररथं कृत्वा गन्धान् पद्मदले तथा ॥ दोग्धा च सुरुचिर्नाम नाट्यवेदस्य पारगः । गिरिभिर्वसुधा दुग्धा रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥ औषधानि च दिव्यानि दोग्धा मेरुर्महाबलः । वत्सोऽभूद्धिमवांस्तत्र पात्रं शैलमयं पुनः ॥ वृक्षैश्च वसुधा दुग्धा क्षीरं छिन्नप्ररोहणम् । पालाशपात्रे दोग्धा तु सालः पुष्पदलाकुलः ॥ प्लक्षोऽभवत्ततो वत्सः सर्व्ववृक्षगणाधिपः । एवमन्यैश्च वसुधा तथा दुग्धा यथेप्सितम् ॥” इति मत्स्यपुराणे १० अध्यायः ॥ * ॥ अन्यद्विवरणं भूगोलशब्दे द्रष्टव्यम् ॥

न्यायमते अस्या धर्म्मः । रूप- द्रवत्वप्रत्यक्षयोगित्वम् । इयं गुर्व्वी रसयुक्ता च । अस्या द्रवत्वं नैमित्तिकम् । अस्या गुणाः । स्पर्शः १ संख्या २ परिमितिः ३ पृथक्त्वम् ४ संयोगः ५ विभागः ६ परत्वम् ७ अपरत्वम् ८ वेगः ९ द्रवत्वम् १० गुरुत्वम् ११ रूपम् १२ 

दुहितृत्वङ्गता यस्मात् पृथौर्धर्म्मवतो मही। तदानुरागयोगाच्च पृथिवी विश्रुता बुधैः।। १०.३५ ।।<ref>Matsya Purana, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya 10]</ref>

 

 

पृथिवी f. (-वी) The earth. E. प्रथ् to be famous, Unādi aff. षिवन्, fem. aff. ङीप्, and the vowel substituted for the semi-vowel; also with the anti-penultimate vowel changed to अ, पृथवी; or dropped altogether, पृथ्वी; or without the fem. aff. पृथिवि ।

 

पृथ्वीदोहनम् ।<ref name=":4">Major B D Basu (1916), The Sacred Books of the Hindus ([https://shaivam.org/english/sen-purana-matsya-puranam-1.pdf Vol. 17, Part 1-The Matsya Puranam]), Allahabad: The Panini Office.</ref>  

पृथ्वीदोहनम् ।<ref name=":4">Major B D Basu (1916), The Sacred Books of the Hindus ([https://shaivam.org/english/sen-purana-matsya-puranam-1.pdf Vol. 17, Part 1-The Matsya Puranam]), Allahabad: The Panini Office.</ref>  

The Matya Purana in Adhyaya 10 elaborates on how the earth came to be called 'Prthvi' and 'Gau' through the story of Raja Vena and Raja Prthu.   

The Matya Purana in Adhyaya 10 elaborates on how the earth came to be called 'Prthvi' and 'Gau' through the story of Raja Vena and Raja Prthu.   

Long time ago, there was an oppressive and extremely non-righteous ruler by the name Vena. He refused to heed to the good advice of the brahmanas who wished to bring about law and order and thereby got killed by their curse. In order to avoid anarchy the brahmanas churned the body of Raja Vena giving rise Prthu who sprung out as a result of the good qualities of Vena's father, Prajapati Anga. Prthu was anointed as the ruler while he continued to practice severe austerities and was eventually blessed by Bhagavan Vishnu making him powerful and illustrous. Raja Prthu then noticed the absence of Vedic rites on the earth and set out to destroy the earth with his arrow. It is then that the earth is known to have taken the form of a cow to flee. Thereby, gaining the name Gau.  

Long time ago, there was an oppressive and extremely non-righteous ruler by the name Vena. He refused to heed to the good advice of the brahmanas who wished to bring about law and order and thereby got killed by their curse. Then, in order to avoid anarchy, the brahmanas churned the body of Raja Vena giving rise Prthu who sprung out as a result of the good qualities of Vena's father, Prajapati Anga. Prthu was then anointed as the ruler while he continued to practice severe austerities and was eventually blessed by Bhagavan Vishnu making him powerful and illustrous. However, Raja Prthu noticed the absence of Vedic rites on the earth and set out to destroy the earth with his arrow. It is then that the earth is known to have taken the form of a cow to flee. Thereby, gaining the name Gau.  

This story expresses a beautiful allegory wherein the righteous ruler Prthu envisioned the earth in the form of a cow (an important aspect of agricultural activity) that could give sweet milk, if milked properly. And thereby applied himself to the task of uplifting the degenerated. As the allegory continues, the cow could also represent the offenders whom the Raja is portrayed chasing before they crave for forgiveness, being overpowered by the sovereign who is also anxious to reclaim and uplift them. Therefore, the bow and arrow of the ruler here is like the stick in the hand of a cow's master that directs the footsteps of the animal.  

This story expresses a beautiful allegory wherein the righteous ruler Prthu envisioned the earth in the form of a cow (an important aspect of agricultural activity) that could give sweet milk, if milked properly. And thereby applied himself to the task of uplifting the degenerated. As the allegory continues, the cow could also represent the offenders whom the Raja is portrayed chasing before they crave for forgiveness, being overpowered by the sovereign who is also anxious to reclaim and uplift them. Therefore, the bow and arrow of the ruler here is like the stick in the hand of a cow's master that directs the footsteps of the animal.  

The Matsya Purana then states the different ways in which the earth was milked by different people beginning with Raja Prthu himself while the cow obliged them to cater to the needs of all beings as per Raja Prthu's request. For example,

The Matsya Purana then states the different ways in which the earth was milked by different people beginning with Raja Prthu himself while the cow obliged them to cater to the needs of all beings as per Raja Prthu's request.  

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|+Metaphors in milking of the Earth  

|+Metaphors in milking of the Earth  

|-

|-

|Antaka

|Antaka

|God of death

|Yama

|Svadha

|Svadha

|-

|-

|Power of regerminating even after being lopped in a leaf of Palasa

|Power of regerminating even after being lopped in a leaf of Palasa

|}

|}

The learned call the land Prthvi because she was milke by the old and righteous Raja Prthu.

 

The Puranas maintain Bhumi as a Devi (goddess). The births of Bhumi and its basic goddess are in two different ways. The Mahabharata, (Daksinatya Patha) says that the goddess Bhumi was the daughter of Brahma and that she was married by Mahavisnu. The earth on which we live is the Mrtpinda of which the basic deity is this Bhumidevi. Of the many versions given in the Puranas regarding the origin of earth, three are given below:

दुहितृत्वङ्गता यस्मात् पृथौर्धर्म्मवतो मही। तदानुरागयोगाच्च पृथिवी विश्रुता बुधैः।। १०.३५ ।।<ref>Matsya Purana, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya 10]</ref>

(2) Mahavisnu lay on the surface of water which spread everywhere in the beginning. A lotus sprang up from the navel of Visnu and from its top Brahma was born. Liquid matter began to flow out of Visnu's ears on both sides. From it were born two Raksasas named Madhu and Kaitabha. They persecuted Brahma. Mahavisnu woke up and killed Madhu and Kaitabha. The thick fat of these Raksasas hardened into the earth (Medini). (Devi Bhagavata, Navama Skandha).

3) In the beginning Mahavisnu (Mahavirat Purusa) spread everywhere. In every pore of that Mahavirat who was lying on the surface of the water, there was a Brahmanda. In course of time that '''Virat obtained mind'''. That mind stood connected with each of the pores equally. Later from it were formed the "Pancamahabhutas". From their combination was formed the Bhuta called "'''Maha''' '''Prthvi'''". It was cut into many pieces and each of the pieces was deposited in each pore. It was these '''Prthvi pieces''' which became "'''Bhumis'''” at the time of creation. At the time of the floods, these Bhumis sank again into those pores as before. In each of these Brahmandas, there are the earth, mountains, forests, oceans, the seven islands, Himavan, Meru, Sun, Moon, Stars and other lokas. Also, each of them has its own Brahma, Visnu, Siva and other Devas. Since all the different Bhumis in all the Brahmandas had been formed artificially, they all perish in the floods. (Devi Bhagavata, Navama Skandha).

Prthu by the end of his bow put in arrangement at one place the thousands of mountains which were lying scattered over the country. The grounds were not even and so there were formerly no divisions into villages and towns. There were no grain-plants like paddy or wheat, no agriculture, no cow-protection and no trade. It was since the time of Prthu that all these came into being. People desired to live in places where the grounds were even. Then the people lived on fruits, leaves and roots. When they were all destroyed people found it difficult to live. Therefore Prthu making Svayambhuva Manu as calf milked for the welfare of his people all plants from the earth. People do live even today by what was milked then. Prthu, because he gave life to BhumidevI, became her father and she got the name Prthvi.  (Page 609, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), Puranic Encyclopaedia, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. See: Prthu milks the earth ([https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/608/mode/2up?view=theater Pg.no.609])</ref>

एवं सर्वं कृत्रिमं च बाह्याभ्यन्तरमेव च ॥ १४ ॥ तद्विनाशे विनाशश्च सर्वेषामेव नारद । जलबुद्‌बुदवत्सर्वं विश्वसंघमनित्यकम् ॥ १५ ॥<ref>Devi Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 9, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AF/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A9 Adhyaya 3]</ref>

The Puranas maintain that Bhumi has a Devi (goddess). The births of Bhumi and its basic goddess are in two different ways. The Mahabharata, (Daksinatya Patha) says that the goddess Bhumi was the daughter of Brahma and that she was married by Mahavisnu. The earth on which we live is the Mrtpinda of which the basic deity is this Bhumidevi. Of the many versions given in the Puranas regarding the origin of earth, three are given below:

1) Long ago, towards the end of the age of floods, the earth was in a liquid state. At that time, Siva cut open his thigh and let fall a drop of blood in the water. It assumed the form of an "anda" (egg). Siva took that anda and split it. A man came out of it. From him was made Nature (Prakrti) for the creation of the Universe. One half of the broken anda became sky and the other half became the earth. (Kathasaritsagara, Kathaplthalambaka, 2nd Taraiiga ) .

-- Above text from [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/142/mode/2up?view=theater Page 142, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi]

(2) Mahavisnu lay on the surface of water which spread everywhere in the beginning. A lotus sprang up from the navel of Visnu and from its top Brahma was born. Liquid matter began to flow out of Visnu's ears on both sides. From it were born two Raksasas named Madhu and Kaitabha. They persecuted Brahma. Mahavisnu woke up and killed Madhu and Kaitabha. The thick fat of these Raksasas hardened into the earth. (Devi Bhagavata, Navama Skandha).

Parashurama gifted the whole earth to the sage Kashyapa. From that time, Bhumidevi has been called Kasyapi (daughter of Kashyapa) - Anushasana Parva, Adhyaya 154, verse 7.

3) In the beginning Mahavisnu (Mahavirat Purusa) spread everywhere. In every pore of that Mahavirat who was lying on the surface of the water, there was a Brahmanda. In course of time that '''Virat obtained mind'''. That mind stood connected with each of the pores equally. Later from it were formed the "Pancamahabhutas". From their combination was formed the Bhuta called "'''Maha''' '''Prthvi'''". It was cut into many pieces and each of the pieces was deposited in each pore. It was these '''Prthvi pieces''' which became "'''Bhumis'''” at the time of creation. At the time of the floods, these Bhumis sank again into those pores as before. In each of these Brahmandas, there are the earth, mountains, forests, oceans, the seven islands, Himavan, Meru, Sun, Moon, Stars and other lokas. Also, each of them has its own Brahma, Visnu, Siva and other Devas. Since all the different Bhumis in all the Brahmandas had been formed artificially, they all perish in the floods. (Devi Bhagavata, Navama Skandha).

Once Prthvi, the daughter of Brahma, decided to give up her 'bhumitva' and proceed to brahmaloka to deprive Raja Anga of his kingdom that he wished to give as dana to brahmanas. Seeing her leave, Maharshi Kashyapa temporarily gave up his body and installed himself in the gross body of the Earth with the help of yoga thereby making the earth flourish more than ever. Maharshi Kashyapa upheld the earth for 3000 divine years. When Prthvi returned from brahmaloka, she offered salutations to the great Kashyapa and began living as his daughter thereby gaining the name Kashyapi.<ref>Pandit Ramnarayanadatta Shastri Pandey, Mahabharata (Khanda 6), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref>

-- Above text from [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/142/mode/2up?view=theater Page 142, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi]

अथागम्य महाराजन्नमस्कृत्यि च कश्यपम्। पृथवी काश्यपी जज्ञे सुता तस्य महात्मनः।।<ref>Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-13-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-259 Adhyaya 259]</ref>

== Preservation of the Earth ==

== Preservation of the Earth ==