Earth Day II - Mother Earth and the Ramayana

          Bhu Devi :  Mother Earth and the Ramayana

 

Sita found in Earth Thai depiction

                                               Sita Born of Earth

 The region of Mithila had been stricken with a severe drought and famine. As a remedy (upaya) to alleviate the famine, the sage Gautama Muni instructed King Janaka that if he plowed the fields himself, the rains would come, and the land would once again become fertile. As King Janaka plowed the fields his plough hit something beneath the earth. Upon inspection he discovered a chest (pot). Within the chest, wrapped in a cloth, he discovered a baby girl who he called Sita. Sita, was said to be born of Bhu Devi (mother Earth).

                                                Sita returns to the Earth

Upon being rescued from Ravana, when Sita reunited with Rama there were many rumors as to her chastity while she had been held in captivity. Fed up with the slander, Sita vowed that if she was in fact telling the truth the Earth would swallow her. Soon after, a crack formed in the earth and Sita merged back with Mother Earth.

Prithvi Rig Veda

Bhu Sukta

Bhu Sukta