Prthvi (पृथ्वी)

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The creation has originated from these five great elements. Earth, water, fire, air and sky are called the five great elements.

The word bhut is formed by the sum of the kt affixes in bhu sattayam (ground metal). Bhut means one who has power (existence) or one who exists. Bhut are not the work of any other person, that is, there is no reason for their origin, but the existence of everything else as a factor cause of the great elements.

According to Maharishi Charak, these great elements are very small and difficult to identify by the senses.

(Charak shastra 1/32)

The great elements are called mahabhuta -

¶egfUr Hkwrkfu egkHkwrkfu¸

Because of their importance or grossness, they are known as mahabhuta. The body and non living substances of all living beings are made from them.

bg fg nzo;a i×pegkHkwrkRede

These are the five great elements:

1. Sky

2. Air

3. Fire

4. Water

5. Earth

Sky

The sky has been considered to be eternal. One of the properties of the sky is shabd. Just as the sky is eternal, so is its property - "shabd" is also everlasting.

Wind

The origin of air is assumed to be from the sky. ¶vkdk'k}k;q%¸ air is also considered to be eternal. The air has its own property of touch and the quality of the sky shabd. In this way the two properties of air - touch and word are everlasting.

Fire

Fire is also called tej. The origin of fire is believed to be from air.

Fire is considered to be ¶ok;ksjkfXu¸. Fire has three properties of shabd, touch and form. All three qualities are eternal. Such are the three properties of fire.

Aap

Aap is called water. The origin of water is assumed to be from aap -¶vxzsjki%¸. aap is considered to be everlasting.

Water has shabd, touch, form and taste properties. All four properties are eternal.

Earth

Earth is believed to originate from water. Amazing earth. shabd, touch, form, taste, smell are the five properties of earth.

Apart from the above basic essential properties, there are some other characteristics in these mahabhutas which we can feel through our senses, for example in the earth, water, light, air respectively, we can infer the characteristics of smell, liquidity, consistency etc. Similarly, we can see the experience of resistance in the sky.

The Five Great Elements Properties

Sky shabd

Air shabd, touch

fire (tej) shabd, touch, form

aap (water) shabd, touch, form, taste

Earth shabd, touch, form, taste, smell

The manifestations of Sattva, Rajas, Tamas qualities are described in the five great elements. As per the nature of their qualities, the predominance of sattva quality in the sky, rajo quality in air, sattva and rajo quality in fire, sattva and Tamas qualities in aap (water) and tamas quality in the earth can be seen.

Five great elements Predominance of sattva, rajas, tamas

Sky Sattva predominance

Wind Rajas predominance

fire Sattva + Rajas predominance

aap Sattva + Tamas predominance

Earth tamas predominance

The entire universe is created by these five elements.

• The five great elements- Water, fire, air, sky and earth.

• The five great elements and their properties are continual.

• The creation of the universe is made from these five elements.

the Earth is one of the five great elements.

Preservation of the Earth

In our ancient knowledge tradition, there was a lot of emphasis for the preservation of the earth. It is said in the Vedas that ¶ekrkHkwfe% iq=kks¿g¡i`fpO;k%¸ meaning that the earth is our mother, it is as nutritious as mother and I am its protector like a son.

In the Aranyani Sukta of the Rigveda, the sage says that ¶u okv[;kfugaUaUaURlUJ~p~p=kfHkxPNfr¸ meaning that those who love and know the importance of forests never destroy the forests nor do any other violence towards such forest lovers. Here the sage of the Rigveda is saying that we should conserve our natural resources.

The Atharva sage in the Atharvaveda has set a unique example for the earth -

( 12.1.35 )

That is, O land! I wish whichever of your part I dig, that should fill itself again. O discoverable earth! I should never harm your heart nor make your heart sad.

In Vedic culture, small components of the environment have been considered superior in specific condition. And it has been said that just as parents nurture their children, so do the land and solar system-

(Rigveda 6.51.5)

Land Conservation in the Vedas

Earth is the only place that has nourished and protected biodiversity. ¶ekrk Hkwfwfwfe% iq=q=kks¿sge~ i`f`fFkR;k%¸ Conservation of land in the Vedas is inherent in the protection of the mother's land. Even in the Earth Sukta of the Atharvaveda it has been said that in order to protect the land, we should be ready for self-sacrifice -¶o;a rq';a cfyâr%L;keA¸

the importance of conserving land in the Vedas;

the basic spirit of the Vedas for conservation of land.

In Vedic culture there is a lot of emphasis on conservation of land. The Earth Sukta of the Atharvaveda is note worthy in this subject-

(Atharvaveda-12.1.35)

That is, O land! If I dig any part of you, it should be filled immediately. O discoverable earth! I won't do anything that will either hurt your heart or harm you.

This personal prayer towards the earth shows how sensitive the Vedic sage is to the earth. If we keep this kind of sensation in our minds, then the conservation of the land will be done by itself.

According to the Vedas, the earth is our shelter. It nurtures us and takes care of us. Therefore it is our responsibility to protect it. In the Atharvaveda, the sage says, O land! As long as I see your various forms with the yam sun, till then my vision should not destroy the best and good action.

(Atharvaveda 12.01.33)

The sage here wishes for the preservation of the various forms of the earth.

Atharva, the sage of the Rigveda says that we should protect the earth because this earth nourishes us, protects our wealth, has a firm foundation, has gold in itself, is always moving, provides happiness to all, is nurturing fire; such land which considers Indra as prime, will protect us amidst the power of money -

(Atharvaveda 12.01.6)

The sage of the Atharvaveda expresses his concern for the preservation of the Earth and says that O Earth! May we be healthy in your lap. Keep ourselves prepared for sacrifice while sustaining the life of our metals. Here the sage talks about sacrificing our lives for the protection of the Earth.

(Atharvaveda 12.1.62)

The sage of the Arthavaveda warns that if the earth is not preserved in time, then the human species should be prepared to suffer the vicious cycle because just as the horse shakes off the dust particles, in the same way earth, the planet, the protector of the world, the receptive earth of flora and medicines, has always shaken those humans who do not conserve it and harm it

(Atharvaveda 12.1.57)

The sage of the Rigveda accorded the status of mother to the earth.

(Rigveda 1.164.23)

That is, the sky is my father, the fraternity is my navel, and this earth is my mother who is the greatest.

In the Vrihdarnpakopanisd , Yajnavalkya explains to the sage Maitreyi that this earth is the soul of all the bhut (core elements) and all bhut are in the middle of this earth.

(Vrihadaranyakopanishad 2.5)

When the Vedic sages are so conscious about the preservation of the earth, then we should not over-exploit nature, but rather emphasize the preservation of the earth.

Mahatma Gandhi also said that the nature is capable of fulfilling our needs but not in fulfilling anyone's greed. Here, Gandhi ji gives more indication to stop the over exploitation of nature and says that if the nature is used by inclusive conservation, then all the needs of human species can be fulfilled.

We should be conscious of the environment around us, exploitation of land and conserve the earth as much as possible.

Conservation of the Earth in Vedas

Importance of Conservation of earth

Puranic Encyclopedia

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)

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 ) .

(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).

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).

-- Above text from Page 142, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi

Prthvi - The characteristic of this padartha is smell. Prthvi is of two kinds, Nitya (eternal) and Anitya (perishable). Nitya is in the form of atom (paramynu) and anitya in the form of Kiirya. They are classified into body, sense organs and objects. (Page 547, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

JIVATMAN (The individual life or soul). The Aparabrahman (which is next to the highest Brahman) that is so minute and subtle is called Jivatman. Parabrahman is God almighty. It is mentioned in Taittiriyopanisad about this aparabrahman as follows : "Tasmad va etasmadatmana akasah sambhutah, akasad vayuh vayoragnih, agnerapah adbhyah prthvi prthivya osadhayah osadhibhyo annam annat purusah sa'va esa puruso annamayah." 'From this Atman came into existence ether possessing the quality of sound. From ether air, possessing the qualities of sound and touch, came into existence. Fire with the qualities of sound, touch and colour came into being from air. From fire, water having the qualities of sound touch, colour and taste came into being. From water earth with the qualities of sound, touch, colour, taste and smell came into existence. Vegetation grew from earth, and from vegetation food, from food semen, and from semen Purusa came into existence. The materialized form of aparabrahman is the body. Its subtle form is the soul. Jivatma or the individual soul is the subtle form of soul dwelling in the materialized form of the aparabrahman. This soul sits in the miniature lotus of heart in the miniature ether. The body which is made of the five elements is the dwelling place of this Jivatma. The individual life exists in every living being. The body originated from food is the outer covering of the Jivatma. This materialized body is also called Annamayakosa (the cask of food). Inside this annamayakosa there is the Pranamayakosa (the chest of the life breaths) . It is stated in the Taittiriyopanisad that this Pranamayakosa is separate from and existing inside the annamayakosa. The Pranamayakosa which exists inside the annamayakosa has the shape of man. The life breath which appears as the inhaling and exhaling breath is the head of the Pranamayakosa. The life breath Vyana is the right wing and Apana is the left wing, ether its soul and Prthvi (the earth) its tail. 2 Inside the Pranamayakosa, there exists the Manomayakosa (the chest of mind), but it fills the entire interior of the Pranamayakosa. The Vijnanamayakosa(the chest of knowledge or understanding) exists inside the Manomayakosa. The Jivatma or the individual life dwells inside this Vijfianamayakosa and pervades the entire body. It is by the activity of Vijnanamayakosa that the Jivatma feels its individuality. Inside the Vijnanamayakosa there exists a fifth kosa (chest) called the Anandamayakosa, which is the immediate covering of Jivatma, and which has no sense of individuality. The three Kosas, Anandakosa, Vijnanakosa and Pranamayakosa together is called Suksmasarira (the subtle body). It must be remembered that Suksmasarira is different from Susuksmasarira (the minute subtle body) . Heart is the abode of the Jivatma. Hrdi (in heart) ayam (this being Jivatma exists). So the name 'Hrdaya' (heart) is meaningful. 1 The Purusa (male being),which sits inside the heart or the Jivatma is as big as the toe according to the Kathopanisad. The Jivatma or the Aparabrahman is without beginning. Even from the past which is beyond our thinking crores and crores of Jivatmans had got into individuals and when the Annamayakosas of the individuals decayed due to death, they abandoned them and entered into new individuals. The author of the Brhadaranyaka gives an explanation to the question why this Jivatma which is as free as air enters the body of man, beast, bird, tree, rock etc. and subjects itself to misery and hardship. "Where does the Jivatma originate from? how does it enter this body?" Jivatma originates from Paramatma (the soul of the universe) . As the shadow pervades the body of a man this Jivatma overshadows this body." Sri Sankaracarya expounds it in another way; he says that the Jivatma is tied to the body by the imagination or desires of the mind.

-- Above text from Page 358-359, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi