Editing Prithvi (section)

==Etymology and epithets==
{{Main|*Dʰéǵʰōm}}
[[File:Prithu - Crop.jpg|thumb|A ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' illustration by [[Manaku]], c. 18th century. While the Earth goddess is referred to as [[Bhudevi]] in later post-Vedic scriptures, the term Prithvi remains as a prominent epithet. According to ''[[Puranas]]'', the Earth got the epithet after being tamed in the form of a cow by the king [[Prithu]], an incarnation of god [[Vishnu]].<ref name=":3" />|left]]
Prithvi is the most frequent Vedic word for both the earth and the Earth-goddess;<ref name = "W" /><ref>Mallory, James P.; Adams, Douglas Q. (1997), Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture, London: Routledge, ISBN 978-1-884964-98-5</ref> and the poetic formula ''kṣā́m ... pṛthivī́m'' ('broad earth').<ref name = "W" /><ref>García Ramón, José L. (2017). Reconstructing Indo-European phraseology: Continuity and renewal (PDF). The Split: Reconstructing Early Indo-European Language and Culture. University of Copenhagen.</ref> The name Pṛthivī (Sanskrit: पृथि्वी) has its roots in Proto-Indo-European mythology, originating from the epithet [[*Dʰéǵʰōm|Plt̥h₂éwih₂]], which means "the Broad One." This term highlights the expansive and nurturing nature of the Earth and forms the basis for the Vedic concept of Pṛthivī Mātā, or "Mother Earth."<ref name = "W" >West, Martin Litchfield (2007), Indo-European Poetry and Myth, Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-928075-9</ref>

Another connection is found between Prithvi and the mythological figure ''[[Prithu]]'' ([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]: पृथु, ''Pṛthu''), who chases the goddess Prthvi, shapeshifted as a cow. His name means 'far, wide, broad' and in later texts, the term Prithvi is treated as patronym for Earth derived from his name.<ref>Doniger, Wendy. ''On Hinduism''. New York: Oxford University Press. 2014. pp. 439-440. {{ISBN|978-0-19-936007-9}}</ref><ref>{{citation |first= Michael|last= Meier-Brügger| author-link= Meier-Brügger| title= Indo-European Linguistics| location= New York | publisher = de Gruyter |year=2003|page = 117| isbn=3-11-017433-2}}</ref>

Goddess Prithvi is referred to by various epithets across different religious traditions, particularly in the [[Vedic]] and [[Buddhist]] contexts. These epithets highlight her nurturing, sustaining, and protective qualities, as well as her connection to truth, fertility, and abundance. Some of the key epithets used for Prithvi are listed below:<ref name=":5" />
* ''Bhūmi'' – 'Soil'. This Vedic epithet becomes her [[Bhūmi|primary name]] in later [[Hinduism]]<ref name = "W" />
* ''Viśvagarbhā'' – 'Womb of the world'
* ''Medinī'' – 'Fertile one'
* ''Janitrī'' – 'Birthplace'
* ''Viśvasaṃ'' – 'Source of everything'
* ''Viśvaṃśu'' – 'Producer of everything'
* ''Dhātrī'' – 'Nursing mother'
* ''Dhāritrī'' – 'Nurturer'
* ''Viśvadhāyā'' – 'All-nourishing'
* ''Pṛśnī'' – 'Mother of plants'
* ''Vanaspatinām gṛbhir oṣadhīnāṃ'' – 'Womb of forest trees and herbs'
* ''Sthāvarā'' – 'Stable one'
* ''Dṛḍhā'' – 'Steady one'
* ''Kṣamā'' – 'Patient one'
* ''Dharā'' – 'Upholder'
* ''Viśvambharā'' – 'All-bearing'
* ''Viśvadhārinī'' – 'All-supporting'
* ''Ratnagarbhā'' – 'Repository of gems'
* ''Ratnavatī'' – 'Abounding in jewels'
* ''Vasundharā'' – 'Bearer of treasure'