Bhumi Devi
The Earth Goddess
Mother Earth herself in goddess form, patient and giving. In many tellings she is Sita's true mother - which is why Sita was found in the soil.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: à°à±‚దేవి
- Also known as: Bhudevi, Prithvi, Dharani
- Symbols: Globe, Lotus, Green fields
Story
Bhumi Devi is the Earth - not just the planet we stand on, but a patient, generous mother who feeds every living thing. She has been rescued and honored again and again in our stories: when the demon Hiranyaksha dragged her to the bottom of the cosmic ocean, Vishnu became the mighty boar Varaha and lifted her out on his tusks - a story carved gloriously at Simhachalam and told across Andhra. At Tirumala, Bhudevi stands beside Sridevi (Lakshmi) as one of Venkateswara's two consorts, so Telugu families see her at almost every Balaji temple. Her most touching role is in the Ramayana: in many tellings, Bhumi Devi is Sita's real mother. King Janaka found baby Sita while ploughing a field - the Earth's own gift, rising from a furrow. And at the very end of Sita's story, when her trials were finally over, the ground opened gently and Bhumi Devi took her daughter home in her arms. That is why farmers touch the earth with respect before ploughing, and why many of us say a small sorry to the ground when we step out of bed each morning.
Fun fact
Many Hindu families whisper a tiny apology to Bhumi Devi every morning - "samudra vasane devi..." - asking Mother Earth to forgive them for touching her with their feet all day.
Family and connections
- Child: Sita (in many tellings)