HINDUAMERICAN-WAY OF CELEBRATING EARTHDAY

 

HINDUAMERICAN-WAY OF CELEBRATING EARTHDAY

(Compiled for a Discourse by N.R. Srinivasan at Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville, USA)

 Earth Day is celebrated every year on the 22nd of April since 1970. This daarks the birth of modern environmental movements and celebrates the rising awareness and consciousness among people about the earth and its state. Each one of us is integrally related to earth and should be a part of the movement to conserve and save it sustainably for future generations. Awareness is the key here.  

EARTHDAY.ORG President Kathleen Rogers released the following statement: “The latest IPCC report comes as no surprise. Humanity’s relationship with our environment requires a dire and drastic transformation. While the fossil fuel economy and technologies of centuries past have created in many cases irreversible damage, new innovations, heightened regulations, and increased civic actions can bring about a sustainable future. 

Following COP26 in Glasgow, it is even more apparent that governments will not solve this crisis themselves. We do not have the time to continue the never-ending cycle of commitments with no follow through. If we do not heed these tremendous warnings from scientists and from our own environment, the planet will soon decide our circumstances for us.  

Solving the climate crisis requires individuals, businesses, and governments to act boldly, innovate broadly, and implement equitably. We have no more time to sit back and wait for the next environmental tragedy. We have the power to accelerate innovative climate action plans, to restore our Earth, and to build a healthy planet. It is truly going to take all of us to Invest in Our Planet.” 

For Earth Day 2022, we need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). It’s going to take all of us. All in. Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable--A partnership for the planet. 

It is customary for American Hindus to start the day rushing to the temple for praying, offering favorite dishes to be blessed and consume them as Prasadam. Hindu festivals are combinations of religious ceremonies, semi-ritual spectacles, worship, prayer, lustrations, processions, music and dances, eating, drinking, lovemaking, licentiousness, feeding the poor, and other activities of a religious or traditional character. Why not act on the Earth Day after customary praying to the Supreme? 

After Sri Stuti comes Bhu Stuti, a hymn in praise of Mother Earth, who is also a Consort of the Lord, and who has a Vedic suktam (Bhu Sukta) in her praise, even as Sri has Sri Suktam. This stotra by Vedanta Desikan consists of 33 slokas the last of which (33) incorporates the words of the Sruti, “asya-IsAnA jagato vishnu-patnI”, though in a different order. (Vide also sloka 8 of Sri Stuti).

Bhumi Devi is pictured to us as the Consort of Varaha, very fondly embraced by Him while rescuing Her from the bottom of the sea. Sloka 18 celebrates the coronation (abhisheka) of Bhu Devi perched on the shoulder of Lord Varaha, from where She is said to rule over the world. In places, this Stotra describes the Lord’s love for Bhu Devi as greater than that for Sri Devi. If He gave Sri a place on His chest, He sports with Bhu Devi by placing Her on His head (10). This stotra abounds in slesha and utpreksha. All the names by which Earth is referred to, are mentioned (6). Great emphasis is of course laid on the quality of kshama or forbearance, which Bhu Devi is the embodiment of. The penultimate sloka (32) is a fine pen-picture of Bhu Devi reclining on the left arm of the Lord Who holds Her soft feet in the palm of His right hand. May that Bhu Devi always confer auspiciousness on me is the prayer contained therein. The seventh Shloka covers his thoughts on this aspect of Bhumi Devi. Through the latter half of this verse, he proclaims:   TVATH SANGAMAATH BHAVATHI MAADHAVI LABDHAPOSHA: SAAKA SATAI: ATIGATHO HARICHANDANOSOU-- Here Swami Says that Sriman Narayana, who is like a Harichandana tree (a variety of Kalpaka Tree), gets His nourishment by His association with Sri Bhumi Devi and thereby becomes empowered to perform His duties as praised by the hundreds of branches of the Vedas. 

I daily chant Mrittikka Suktam and Vyahriti Homa Mantra that are included in Mahanarayana Upanishad and do not focus on slokas.

Here is a most popular sloka: समुद्र-वसने देवि, पर्वत-स्तन-मंडिते । विष्णु-पत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं, पाद-स्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे ॥ Samudra-vasane Devi, parvata-stana-maNDite |viShNu-patni namas-tubhyaM, pAda-sparshaM kShamasva me || Salutations to You, consort of Lord Vishnu, Who dwells in the oceans, And is adorned prettily by the mountains, Pardon me Mother, for setting my foot on You. This prayer is typically chanted after kara-darshanam and before one place his feet on Mother Earth for the first time at dawn. Placing one's feet is considered as an act of disrespect. In seeking forgiveness from the Goddess, one acknowledges the divinity of Mother Earth.

Bhudevi is the Goddess Mother Earth. She is the primordial Goddess of Rigveda and the wife of Lord Varaha, the 3rd incarnation of Lord Vishnu. She is believed to be the fertility form of Goddess Lakshmi. Sri Bhudevi is personification of the Mother Earth that often accompany incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Sri Bhudevi in Hindu Tamilian Temples is synonymous with Goddess Andal and is known in her native tongue of Tamil as an Alwar, one who is immersed in their devotion to God. She is the only female Alwar among the 12 Alwars. Though you rarely find a lonely sanctum for Bhudevi, Andal sanctums are very popular in Tamil Nadu temples.

Vishnu Chitta, a devout Brahmin who lived in the temple town of Srivilliputtur, discovered a baby girl lying under a Tulasi plant in his flower garden. He named her “Goda” or “Gift of Mother Earth”, and raised her as his own. One day, Vishnuchitta happened to see Goda wearing the flower garland that he had made for Lord Vadapathrasayee. After reprimanding her, he made a new garland and put it on the Lord. That night, the Lord appeared in his dream and told him that He preferred the garlands worn by Goda. Realizing his daughter’s devotion, he started calling her “Andal” meaning “the girl who ruled over the Lord”.

Andal was very adamant that she would only marry Lord Ranganatha, the presiding deity of the Srirangam temple. The Lord appeared in the dreams of Vishnuchitta and the temple priests asked them to bring Andal dressed up as a bride to the temple on Bogi, the last day of Margazhi (Margasira). Andal ran into the sanctum sanctorum and merged with the Lord. She was only 15 at the time. Andal composed two poems in her short life – the Thiruppavai, a poem of 30 verses in which she imagines herself to be a cowherd girl during the incarnation of Lord Krishna and the Naachiyaar Thirumozhi, which translates to “sacred sayings of the Goddess”. Even today, the Thirupaavai is recited at all Vaishnava temples every morning during the month of Margazhi (Margashirsha)

Bhu Suktam is chanted as a prayer to Bhu Devi (earth goddess), one of the three consorts of Lord Vishnu, the other two being Lakshmi and Neela Devi. Bhu Devi is more contextually the consort of Varaha, one of the incarnations of Vishnu.  

Bhumirbhuumnaa dyaur-varinaa’nthariksham mahithvaa upasthhe the devyadithe’gnim annaadam annaadyaayaa dadhe 

You are the soil (ground) of the earth, the breadth of the sky, and the vastness of space (the region between heaven and earth). O goddess Aditi (the earth), I place in your lap Agni (the god of fire), the consumer of all food, for the consumption of food. 

The word Aditi is used here to mean the earth, though more commonly, Aditi is the mother of Adityas, or the mother of gods in general. Upastha means lap and also means organ of generation. The earth has agni (heat) deep within. Fire consumes everything (including havis, i.e., oblations offered in the fire ritual), and in turn gives the offeror, food and other recompenses. The heat contained in the earth is extremely important for the generation of food in various forms, and hence, in its consumption by various living beings. 

Aayam gauh prshnir-akramiidasanan maatharam punah pitharam cha prayanth-suvah 

The approaching effulgent sun, passes the earth, crosses over, and advances again towards father sky. 

The word gauh in the masculine gender means a bull, but is also used to refer to the sun. One of the meanings of the word prsni is a ray of light (it also means ‘spotted’, but this does not make sense here). Suvah is one of the levels of sky (or heaven) above the earth. In the Vedas, sky and earth – dyaavah-prithvi – are often referred to as a pair. 

Thrigmshad-dhaama viraajathi vaak pathangaaya shishriye prathyasya vaha dyubhih 

The speech (sound) shines through thirty abodes, bearing with it the sun and carrying it west towards the sky. 

The word patanga here means the sun. Sound or speech (vaak) here refers to the primordial speech or sound, which is the origin of all energy and creation. Thirty abodes are thirty ghatikas (1 ghatika = 24 minutes), which together add up to one day-time of 12 hours. The above verse in essence, speaks of the 12-hour day, during which the sun shines on the earth providing immense energy. 

Asya praanaath apaanathyanthashcharathi rochanaa vyakhyan-mahishah suvah 

With upward and downward movement, the sun proceeds in the shining sky, and illuminates in the manifest form. 

Praana and apaana (inhalation and exhalation) refer to upward and downward movement of the sun – post sunrise in the forenoon and towards sunset in the afternoon respectively. Rochanaa is the bright sky. The word mahisha literally means bull. It can also mean a king or someone who is strong; but is here used to indicate the sun. 

Verses 5, 6 and 7 refer to scattering of the sacred fire, its being gathering back and the conducting of a yagna (fire ritual) thereafter. This may also be an allegory for the scattering (sowing) of seeds on the earth, the growth of vegetative output, and the gathering of the same thereupon. 

Vatthvaa kruddhah parovapa manyunaa yad-avarthyaa sukalpam agne thatthava punasthvoddiipayaam-asi 

If I have scattered (you) asunder being angry, in distress or through wrong behavior, oh Agni! as per prescribed rule, that yours, I will rekindle again. 

Vapa = scatter (or sow); kruddhah = being angry; manyunaa = in resentment or distress; avarthyaa = through wrong behaviour; sukalpam = prescribed or sacred rule. 

yatthe manyuparopthasya prithiviimanudadhvase aadityaa vishve thad-devaah vasvashcha samaabharan 

Whatever of you (i.e., Agni) which was scattered in distress, which spread across the earth that the Adityas, Vishwe Devas and Vasus have gathered back. 

Adityas = a group of 12 divinities (suns) – sons of Aditi. Vishwe Devas = group of 12 gods – the sons of Vishwaa; but may also refer to all the gods in general. Vasus are a group of eight gods – representing the five elements (pancha boothas), sun, moon and stars. 

Mano jyothir jushathaam aajyam vichhinnam yagnagm samimam dadhaathu 

brhaspathis-thanuthaam  imam no vishve devaa iha maadayanthaam 

Let the light of mind be pleased with the oblation (of ghee). Let the scattered yagna come together. May Brihaspathi perform this (yagna) for us! May all the gods be delighted here! 

Aajyam = ghee, which is offered as oblation in the yagna (fire ritual). Brihaspathi = preceptor of the gods. 

Verses 8 to 12 below are drawn from different Vedas. They describe, eulogize and pray to goddess earth. 

Medinii devii vasundharaa syaad vasudhaa devii vaasavii brahma-varchasah pithrnaagm shrothram chakshurmanah 

May she (i.e., the earth) be medini, devi, vasundhara, vasudha and vasavi; and through divine power, (may she be) the ear, eye and mind of the pitrs (departed ancestors/manes). 

Here, the goddess is referred to by several names. Medinii = ground, land or soil. Vasundharaa = holding wealth & riches (the earth contains wealth of various kinds and is the source of all material wealth). Vasudhaa = giver of wealth. Vaasavii = abode of all creatures. Brahma-varchas = divine power. 

Devii hiranya-garbhinii devii prasuuvarii rasane sathyaayane siida 

Goddess of the golden womb, goddess –the procreator, the one of many flavors, the abode of goodness, may you be pleased. 

Hiranya-garbhinii = having golden womb; prasuuvarii = procreator; rasanaa = having many flavours/fragrances; sathyaayanaa = abode of goodness. 

Samudravathii saavithrii ha no devii mahyangii mahii-dharanii mahodhyathishthhaa 

Enveloped by the ocean, illumined by the sun, she is our goddess, comprising the earth (soil/ground), sustainer of the earth, a great amalgamator. 

Mahyangii = who has soil as one of her constituents. Mahii-dharanii: Mahii is earth. One of the meanings of Dharanii is female breast. Hence, Mahii-dharanii would mean nurturer of the earth. Mahodhyathishthaa = one who stands as an admixture of many things. 

Shrnge shrnge yagne yagne vibhiishinii indrapathnii vyaapinii surasaridiha 

Providing fearlessness at every peak and in every yagna, she is the consort of the overlord, pervading here as the divine river. 

Vibhiishinii would literally mean terrifying. Indrapathnii, here means consort of the chief god (Vishnu) and not wife of Indra. Vyaapinii = pervading. Sura-  

Vaayumathii jalashayanii shriyandhaa raajaa sathyandho parimedinii shvo paridhaththam parigaaya 

(She is) having (life giving) air, reclining on water (the oceans), holding riches, glittering in materiality, with abundant soil, enveloped by a cover (of vegetation, etc.) all-round. 

Shriyandhaa = holding riches. Raajaa sathyandho = glittering in materiality. Parimedinii = with abundant soil. 

Verses 13 and 14 are evidently of non-Vedic origin, and provide the context for rendering this as a hymn to Bhu Devi, the consort of Vishnu. 

Vishnupathniim mahiim deviim maadhaviim maadhavapriyaamlakshmii-priyasakhiim deviim namaamyachyutha-vallabhaam 

I pay obeisance to the consort of Vishnu, the earth goddess, to Madhavi – who is beloved of Madhava, to the goddess who is a dear friend of Lakshmi, and the favorite of Achyuta. 

Mahiim deviim = to the earth goddess. Madhava = Krishna. Achyutha = a name of Vishnu, which means one who is firm and eternal. Here, the earth goddess is being identified as the consort of Vishnu, the beloved of Madhava, the friend of Lakshmi, and as the favorite of Achyutha. 

Om dhanurdharaayai vidmahe sarvasiddhyai cha dhiimahi thanno dharaa prachodayaath 

Om! May we know the wielder of bow! May we meditate upon the giver of all accomplishments! May that Dharaa (goddess earth) inspire us. 

Siddhi = complete attainment of an object. Siddhis can also refer to the eight super-human faculties or ashta siddhis (anima, mahima, etc.). 

There is one more Suktam in the Atharva Veda dedicated to goddess earth called Pruthvi Suktam.   

Gayatri Japa mantra starts with paying obeisance to Bhudevi: Om Bhuh Bhuvah Suvah…….. 

Wishing you a very happy Earth Day. Always try your level best to protect the Mother Earth after praying!