Editing Prithvi (section)

==In Buddhism==
{{See also|Phra Mae Thorani}}
Prithvi was adopted into [[Buddhism]], and plays a vital role in it, regarded as the first goddess appearing in [[Early Buddhist texts|Early Buddhism]] in the [[Pāli Canon]].  Her essential qualities—nurturing, sustaining, and upholding cosmic order—remained intact, but her role was transformed to fit the Buddhist cosmology.<ref name=":5" />
[[File:MAK - I 10198.jpg|thumb|A 3rd-century Gandhara sculpture depicting the Buddha summoning Prithvi, who is shown emerging from the ground beneath the Buddha's seat.]]
Prithvi's most notable role in Buddhist tradition is during the moment of [[The Buddha|Shakyamuni Buddha]]’s enlightenment, known as the ''[[Maravijaya]]'' (Victory over Mara). As the [[Bodhisattva]] Siddhartha Gautama meditated under the [[Bodhi]] tree, [[Mara (Buddhism)|Mara]], the king of demons, sought to prevent his enlightenment by questioning his worthiness and sending an army to disrupt him. When Mara challenged Siddhartha to provide evidence of his past virtuous deeds, the Bodhisattva touched the Earth with his right hand, displaying what is known as the "earth-touching gesture" ([[Bhūmisparśa mudrā|bhumisparśa]] mudra), invoking Prithvi as a witness. Prithvi emerged from the Earth, and dispelled Mara’s forces. This act confirmed that Siddhartha’s journey toward enlightenment was righteous, rooted in the ethical and compassionate life he had lived through many past lifetimes. By calling Prithvi as a witness, Siddhartha demonstrated that enlightenment is not just a spiritual achievement but also deeply connected to one’s actions on Earth. In some versions of the story, such as in the ''[[Nidanakatha]]'', she verbally testified to the Bodhisattva’s virtues. In other accounts, like the ''[[Mahavastu]]'', her response was more physical, as she caused the Earth to shake, terrifying Mara’s forces. In the ''[[Lalitavistara Sūtra|Lalitavistara]]'', Prithvi appears in bodily form, emerging from the Earth with her retinue of goddesses. Her presence and the subsequent quaking of the Earth defeated Mara’s armies and created the peaceful environment necessary for the Buddha to attain enlightenment.<ref name=":5" />

Prithvi’s role extends beyond being a moral witness. She is also intimately tied to the throne of enlightenment, where the Buddha attained liberation. This symbolic location, often referred to as the navel of the Earth or ''[[Vajrasana (yoga)|vajrāsana]]'', is seen as the center of the world, where the spiritual and material realms converge. Prithvi’s association with this spot signifies her importance in the Buddha’s journey, as it was only at this exact location, the most stable and sacred place on Earth, that Shakyamuni Buddha could achieve enlightenment. In this sense, Prithvi provides not only moral support but also the physical foundation for the Buddha’s final realization.<ref name=":5" />

[[File:002 Calling the Earth to Witness (9140835199).jpg|thumb|A Thai painting showing Prithvi saving Buddha from demons of Mara]]

In Buddhist art, Prithvi is often depicted at the base of the Buddha’s throne during the moment of his enlightenment. The [[Greco-Buddhist art|Gandharan]] reliefs from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE frequently portray her emerging from the Earth with her head and torso visible, symbolizing her connection to nature and her role as a stabilizing force. She is sometimes shown with a vase of plenty, brimming with jewels or lotuses, representing her abundance and nurturing qualities.
Later, in the [[Gupta period]] (4th to 6th centuries CE), Prithvi is also depicted holding a vessel, symbolizing the spiritual and material wealth that she nurtures. In some Southeast Asian traditions, she wrings water from her hair which drowns Mara's army, symbolizing the spiritual merit accumulated by the Buddha over many lifetimes.<ref name=":5" />

In [[Chinese Buddhism]], she is considered one of the [[Twenty-Four Protective Deities]] (二十四諸天 Èrshísì zhūtiān) and is usually enshrined in the [[Mahavira Hall]] of Buddhist temples along with the other devas.<ref>Lewis Hodous; William Edward Soothill (2004). A dictionary of Chinese Buddhist terms: with Sanskrit and English equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali index. London: RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN 0-203-64186-8. OCLC 275253538.</ref>