8 - The story of Pruthvi

Narada said — With the twinkling of the and eye once. The end of the life of Brahma amounts to the dissolution. 

At the time of that natural dissolution, the earth disappears and the entire universe gets submerged in water. Thus everything gets absorbed in lord Krishna. Then where does this earth disappear and how does it resurfaces at the time of beginning of the universe how does she become fortunate enough again to grow vegetation on itself? You kindly let me know the story of earth in detail which provides welfare.

Narayana said — Everything emerges from lord Krishna at the time of creation of the universe and at the time of dissolution they merge in him. This has been ordained by the srutis. 

Now you listen to the story of the beginning of the world which is of quite pleasant in nature, destructor of the obstructions, the best, remover of the sins and is quite meritorious. 

Some of the people express the opinion that the earth came into existence with the fluid from Madhu and Kaitabha which is again the earlier theory. You listen to the story. 

In the ancient times the two demons Madhu and Kaitabha were pleased at lord Vishnu's prowess in war. They were pleased and said: ‘'You can kill us at the place where the earth is not covered with water.” It is evident from this, that at the time when both of them were at five the earth was not visible. When they were dead, some fluid emerged out of their bodies and the earth was formed with it. That is why the earth is also called Medini. You just listen to the clarification of the story. In the earlier times, there was water everywhere and the earth was covered with water. Fluid of the demons just touched the earth. And therefore, the people call her Medini. 

Now you listen to the story about her realistic birth which is acceptable to all. This theory was profounded at the Pushkara region were Dharma, recited it to me from his own mouth and is also according to Vedas. Mahavirat who resides in the water accumulated a lot of dust over his body which was becoming to visible for long. О sage, it accumulated in all his hair-pits. In due course of time it was collected and it reappeared in the form of an earth. 

Thus from each one of his hair-pits and earth emerged which appears at the time of creation and during the time of dissolution it disappears. It moves always. 

Appearing at the time of the creation of the universe it emerges out of the water and disappears in water at the time of dissolution. This is the rule for her. 

In every universe this earth has mountain, forest and seven oceans besides the seven continents. 

Similarly, the Himalaya, Meru, the planets, the moon and the sun always surround her. There are sacred placed in sacred land of Bharata, having the mountain of gold besides all the castles the nether-world and seven other lokas are beneath it. The seven lokas including Brahmaloka and the Dhruvaloka are above her. Thus the entire universe is based on the earth. Accordingly, the entire universe was formed because of the earth. The Goloka and Vaikuntha are eternal and are beyond the universe. 

О Brahmanas, thus at the end of Brahma the event which has been described as the natural dissolution besides all other globes, get destroyed. 

Lord Krishna then at the beginning of the universe, himself creates Mahavirat who remains alive even at the time of dissolution, with the sky, along with other gods. At the time of the Varaha incarnation of the lord, the earth was the goddess. The gods, Manu, the sages, the Brahmanas and Gandharvas adored her, since she happened to be the spouse of lord Vishnu. Their son is known as Mangala and a son named Suyas'a was born to Mangala. 

Narada said — О lord, you tell me the way how the earth was adored by the gods at the time of Varaha-kalpa and if so, in what form? The goddess provides shelter to all and it so said that lord Varaha himself adored her along with others. О lord you tell me the method of the adoration of the earth, the process of bringing the earth from the waters of the ocean, the birth Mangala and all other details which provide welfare to all. 

Narayana said — In earlier times at the time of Varaha incarnation of Vishnu Brahma had eulogised the lord as a result of which the lord killing Hiranyaksa rescued the earth from the water. 

He established the earth in the waters like lotus leaf over which Brahma resorted to the beautiful creation. 

Thereafter Varaha who possessed the lustre of crores of suns. Looked at Pruthvi with passionate eyes who was also reciprocated with passionate eyes at that time. The lord turned himself as capable of performing the love-spots enjoyed the company of an earth for a complete divine day and night. 

Because of that pleasant union, she fainted. The actor of the love-spot always provides pleasure to his partners.

Because of that union, they were unconcerned about the passage of time. After the lapse of year, they regained consciousness, the lord then left the company of beautiful damsel and he re-emerged in the form of Varaha. Thereafter, he adored the goddess of earth with devotion offering incense, the lamp, naivedya, vermilion, sandal-paste, clothes and flowers. Thereafter the lord said to her. 

Mahavaraha said — “O beautiful one, the sages, the Manus, the gods, siddhas and humans adore you properly and in turn you provide protection to them. At the time of starting of construction of a house or entry into the house after it is constructed, at the time of construction the step-well, tanks, wells, at the time of releasing or blocking of the water, start of irrigation, the people and the gods will always adore you. Those who neglect to perform puja for you, will invite their fall into the hell. 

Vasudha said — О lord, at the command issued by you in the form of Varaha, I shall, bear the burden of the universe with pleasure, but О lord, I have a request for you and you kindly listen to me. I shall be unable to bear the load of the pearls, mother of pearls, adoration of the lord, Shivalinga, Salagrama, the conch, the lamps, the gems, rubies, yajnopavita, the flowers, the book, the leaves of Tulasi, the rosary, garland of flowers, camphor, gold, Gorochana, the sandal paste and the sacred water of Salagrama. I shall not be able to bear their weight and shall feel uncomfortable with them.” 

The lord said — О beautiful one, such of the fools who will place these things over you will have to fall in the hell named kalasutra for a hundred divine years. 

О Narada after speaking this, the lord kept quiet and thereafter from the womb of the earth the planet named Mangala (mars) was born. Thereafter with the permission of the lord all the people started adoring the earth by the method prescribed by Kanva. 

Reciting the basic mantra, they offered naivedya and all other things. Thus the adoration of earth started in all the three worlds.

Narada said: “What is her dhyanam, stotra and the basic mantral I am getting anxious to know about all these details which are enshrined in the Puranas. Therefore, you kindly let me know.” 

Narayana said — “In the earlier times Narayana himself adored the goddess of earth. Thereafter Brahma did so, followed by the king Pruthu who also did so. 

Thereafter all the sages, the Manush and the sages like Narada honoured her. О Narada I am now speaking out the dhyanam, the stotra and her mantra which you please listen. Om Hreem Kleem Sreee Vaam Vasudhaayai Svaha. This is the hymn reciting which lord Vishnu had adored the earth. The form of dhyanam is like this, “The body of goddess earth is of white complexion like the jasmine flowers and her lustre exceeds the lustre of hundreds of moons. All her limbs are plastered with sandal-paste and she is adorned with all the ornaments. She is the basis of all the gems is glorified with the mines of the gems. She is clad in silken garments which are purified by fire. She wears a smile over her face and she is adorable by all. I bow in reverence to the earth like this. 

О best of the Brahmanas, the goddess is adored by all with this dhyanam, now I tell you the method prescribed by Kanva for her adoration you please listen.” 

Vishnu said — “You are the granter of victory; you give me victory. You are the spouse of lord Yajnavaraha, you can never be defeated by anyone. You are the base of victory and are always victorious. Therefore, you bestow us with victory. You are base of all the people and the form of the seed. You are endowed with all the prowess. You fulfil all the wishes. You therefore, grant me all my desired things, you have a stable mind and are the store of all the food-stuffs, vegetation store of all the grains and produce the food-stuffs you produce the cereals in appropriate time; you are filled with agriculture produce and have a docile nature, you are the image of welfare, the base of welfare, bestowers of welfare, granter of welfare, the form of welfare and are filled with all the rays of welfare. Therefore, you grant me the welfare. You are auspicious one and the seed of suspiciousness, you are eternal and the base of all the good deeds, besides being the temple of the virtuous people, bestower of merit, the form of the lord, the best of the ladies endowed with the heaps of gems and are the giver of the gems. О goddess, earth you are everything for the kings, graceful to the kings and are the very base of arrogance of the kings. О goddess earth, grant me the land.” Thus whosoever adoring the goddess earth like this, recite her stotra he becomes the ruler of the earth. For crores of birth, someone by reciting her stotra gets the merit of giving away land in charity. If one after giving away in charity something, forcibly takes it back, he earns a sin. That sin is removed by reciting this stotra. There is no doubt about it. Thus the digging of the well without the prior permission of the land-lord or digging of the earth, performing shraddha over the land of others, these are sinful acts and the one who earns these sins is relieved of the same by reciting this stotra. О sage by dropping the semen on earth or placing the lamp on the ground, one earns a sin, which can be removed by reciting this stotra. By reciting this stotra an intelligent person earns the merit of performing a hundred Ashvamedha sacrifices. There is no doubt about it.