Sri Bhumi Devi is the consort of Sri Oppiliappan in Thiruvinnagara Kshetram. I will focus here on some of the slokas of Swami Desikan.s Bhusthuthi, where he explained to us about Her special role.
If Sri Sthuthi was an elaboration of Sri Suktham, Bhusthuthi is an elaboration of the concepts covered by Bhusooktham.
In thirty three slokas, Swami offers his homage to Sri Bhudevi, as the Dharma Patni of Yajna Varaha Murthy, who fought with the Asura known as HiranyAksha to bring back the stolen Bhumi Devi from under the ocean. Our Acharya points out here that She is easy to approach by Chetanas and She is the sustenance of the Chetanas. He states that Sriman Narayana is enriched by His association with Bhumi Devi. The seventh Sloka 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
HARICHANDANOSOW
Here Swami Says that Sriman Narayana, who is like a Harichandana tree (a variety of Kalpa Taru ) ,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 .
Swami Desikan.s reverence for Bhumi Devi is revealed in the sixth sloka, where he recites Her many names to provide an unambiguous description of Her and dwells on Her many glories as the dear wife of the Lord. His choice of words are Sarvam Sahaa, Avani, Viswambhara, Achalaa, Vipulaa, Vasumdharaa, Ananthaa, PruthvE et al. By the holy name of Sarvam Sahaa, he points out that She represents Her infinite patience with us and putting up with our many trespasses. By the name Avani, She indicates Her functions in protecting the universe; by the name Achalaa, She represents Her steady resolve in helping the Prapannaas to receive the mercy of Her Lord; by the name Viswambharaa, She hints at Her duties of bearing the Universe; by the name Vipulaa, she points out to Her Immeasurable auspicious qualities; by the name vasundharaa, She reveals Her enormous wealth.
To show the unique distinction of Bhuma Devi and Her special place in the affection of Sriman Narayana, Swami states that Bhagavan carries Sri Devi only in His chest, where as He carries Bhuma Devi on His thousand heads in His role as Adisesha:
VISWAMBHAREH MADHURIPU:
PRANAYAANURODHAATH
SESHAATMANAA TU BHAVATHEEM SIRASAA DHADAATHI
In resonance with the first Rk of Bhoosooktham, Swami Desikan states that She enriches and nourishes the Earth and makes it produce all riches including food and minerals. The First Rk of Bhoosuktham is as follows:
BHUMIRBHOOMNAA
DHYAURVARINAANTHARIKSHAM MAHITVAA
UPASTEH TEH DEVYADHITEHAGNIMANNADHAMANNAADHAYAAYAADATEH
In this Taitiriya samhita mantram, the invocation in honor of Bhumi Devi is referred to. The meaning of this Mantram is as follows:
O Bhumi Devi! You are Immeasurable in Your dimensions; it is not posisble to asses your expanse. You shine forth in a manner that is respected by every one. Your qualities of compassion and forbearance elevate You to dizzying heights; You can not be divided into finite pieces by anyone. We offer the Agni that is capable of consuming the Havis for You in appreciation of our recognition of You producing the food that nourishes us.
Swami Desikan"s twelfth slokam of Bhusthuthi echoes the sentiments of the above Bhusooktha Mantram. It begins with the words:
Bhutheshu Yath -----
Here, Swami says that those living beings,which are the object of the mercy of Bhumi Devi get nourished through Her blessings very well; he also says that among the five elements (Pruthvi, Water, Agni, Vayu and ether), only Pruthvi, the amsam of Bhu Devi has the five qualities such as Taste, Fragrance, Shape, Touch and Sound . The rest of the four Pancha Bhoothams have one or two of the above attributes only. As a result, Bhoomi Devi is the embodiment of the mighty riches.
In the twenty eighth slokam of this Sthuthi, Swami addresses Her as Kshameh and goes on to describe Her influence with Her Lord to help chetanas approach Him. Our Acharya says that She is like a ladder (Svargaapavarga Saranim) for Svargam and Moksham. In yet another verse, Swami describes Her as the possessor of blemishless quality of Mercy (Anapaanukampaa). She prepares therefore the fearing Jivans to approach Her Lord. The chetanas are bent down by the fear that their enormous sins can not be expiated by any amount of Praayaschittam. They are sacred to experience the fruits of their accumulated sins through prolonged residence in Narakam. While they are in the grip of such terror, they pray to You and You out of your infinite compassion take pity on them and use Your influence with Your Lord to get the boon of entering Srivaikuntam.
Swami Desikan concludes the Bhusthuthi with a splendid word picture enshrined in the Dhyana slokam. Here, he describes Her as the Adivaraha Mahishi seated on the immense tusk of her Lord (Bhuvaraha Murthy ) arising out of the Pralaya waters:
PATHYUR DAKSHINA PAANI
PANKAJA PUTEH
VINYASTHA PAADHAAMBHUJAA
VAMAM PANNAGA SAARVABHOWMA SADHRUSAM
PARYNKAYANTHEE BHUJAM
POTHRA SPARSA LASAT KAPOLA PALAKAA
PULLAARAVINDHEKSHANAA
SAA MEH PUSHYATU MANGALAANYANUDHINAM
SARVAANI SARVAM SAHAA
The above verse is set in the majestic Sardhoola Vikriitham meter in contrast to almost all of the other slokas of this Sthuthi, which are set in the lilting Vasantha Tilaka meter.
In the above Dhyana Slokam, Swami describes the beautiful vision of Bhumi Devi resting both of Her Lotus feet on the right palm of Sri Varaha Bhagavan and placing Her head on His Cheek, while being embraced by His left hand. Our Acharya says that the intimacy of Her cheek touching the cheek of Her Lord made Her experience the sensation of horripilation. Our Acharya prays that Sri Bhumi Devi in that state of auspiciousness (Romanjali) and the enjoyment of the proximity of Her Lord.s presence (Saamepyam) to confer on us all blessings every day.
bhUstutiH shrImaan.h ve~NkaTa naathaaryaH kavitaarkika kesarI. vedaantaachaarya varyo me sannidhattaaM sadaa hR^idi.. sa~Nkalpa kalpa latikaam.h avadhiiM xamaayaaH svechchhaa varaaha mahiShiiM sulabhaanukampaam.h vishvasya maataram.h aki~nchana kaamadhenum.h vishvaMbharaam.h asharaNaH sharaNaM prapadye.. 1 tvam.h vyaahR^itiH prathamataH praNavaH priyaste saMvedayatyakhila mantra gaNastameva. itthaM pratiita vibhavaam.h itareShvidaaniiM stotuM yathaavadavane ka ivaarhati tvaam.h.. 2 nityaM hitaahita viparyaya baddha bhaave tvadviixaNaika vinivartaya bahu vyapaaye. mugdhaaxarairakhila dhaariNi modamaanaa maataH stanandhaya dhiyaM mayi vartayethaaH.. 3 sa~Nkalpa kiMkara charaachara chakravaalaM sarvaati shaayinaM ananta shayasya puMsaH. bhuumaanam.h aatma vibhavaiH punaruktayantii vaachaam.h abhuumir.h api bhuumir.h asi tvamekaa.. 4 vedhastR^iNaavadhi vihaara parichchhadam.h te vishvaM charaacharatayaa vyatibhidya maanam.h. amba tvadaashrita tayaa paripoShayantii vishvaMbharasya dayitaa.asi tadeka naamaa.. 5 sarvaM sahetyavaniritya chaleti maataH vishvaMbhareti vipuleti vasundhareti. anyaani chaanya vimukhaanya bhidhaana vR^ityaa naamaanyamuuni kathayanti tavaanu bhaavam.h.. 6 taapaan.h xipan.h prasavitaa sumano gaNaanaaM prachchhaaya shiitala talaH pradishan.h phalaani. tvatsa~Ngamaat.h bhavati maadhavi labdhapoShaH shaakhaa shatair.h adhigato hari chandano.asau.. 7 smereNa vardhita rasasya mukhendunaa te nispandataaM vijahato nijayaa prakR^ityaa. vishraanti bhuumirasi tatva tara~Nga pa~NkteH veleva viShNu jaladheH apR^ithagbhavantii 8 svaabhaavike vasumati shrutibhir.h vibhaavye patyur.h mahimni bhavatiiM pratipanna vaasaam.h. sha~Nke vimaana vahana pratimaa samaanaaH stamberam.h prabhR^itayo.api vahanti satvaaH.. 9 saMbhaavayan.h madhuripuH praNayaanurodhaat.h vaxaH sthalena varuNaalaya raaja kanyaam.h. vishvaMbhare bahumukha pratipanna bhogaH sheShaatmanaa tu bhavatiiM shirasaa dadhaati.. 10 kriiDaa varaaha dayite kR^itinaH xitiindraaH sa~Nkrandas.h taditare.api dishaamadhiishaaH. aamodayanti bhuvanaani alika aashritaanaam.h amba tvada~Nghri rajasaaM pariNaama bhedaiH.. 11 bhuuteShu yat.h tvadabhimaana visheSha paatraM poShaM tadeva bhajatiiti vibhaavayantaH. bhuutaM prabhuutaguNa pa~nchakam.h aadyameva praayo nidarshanatayaa pratipaadayanti.. 12 kaantastavaiSha karuNaa jaladhiH prajaanaam.h aj~naatila~Nghana vashaadu pajaata roShaH. ahnaaya vishva janani xamayaa bhavatyaa sarvaavagaahana sahaam.h upayaatya vasthaam.h.. 13 aashvaasanaaya jagataaM puruShe parasmin.h aapanna raxaNa dashaam.h abhinetu kaame. antarhitetara guNaadabalaa svabhaavaat.h audanvate payasi majjanam.h abhyanaiShiiH.. 14 puurvaM varaaha vapuShaa puruShottamena priitena bhogi sadane samudiixitaayaaH. paadaahataaH pralaya vaaridhayastavaasan.h udvaaha ma~Ngala vidher.h uchitaa mR^ida~NgaaH.. 15 vyomaati la~Nghini vibhoH pralayaamburaashau veshanta lesha iva maatum.h ashakya muurteH. sadyaH samudra vasane sarasair.h akaarShiiH aananda saagaraM apaaraM apaa~Nga paataiH.. 16 damShTraa vidaarita mahaasura shoNitaa~NkaiH a~NgaiH prayastava dadhe parirambha liilaam.h. saa te payodhi jala keli samutthitaayaaH sairandhrikeva vidadhe navam.h a~Ngaraagam.h.. 17 anyonya saMvalana jR^imbhita tuurya ghoShaiH. saMvarta sindhu salilair.h vihitaabhiShekaa. ekaata patrayasi vishvamidaM guNaiH svaiH adhyaasya bhartur.h adhikonnatam.h aMsa piiTham.h.. 18 bhartustamaala ruchire bhuja madhya bhaage paryaaya mauktikavatii pR^iShataiH payodheH. taapaanubandha shamanii jagataaM trayaaNaaM taaraapathe sphurasi taarakitaa nisheva.. 19 aasakta vaasava sharaasana pallavaistvaaM saMvR^iddhaye shubha taTidguNa jaala ramyaiH. devesha divya mahiShiiM dhR^ita sindhu toyaiH jiimuuta ratna kalashair.h abhiShi~nchati dyauH.. 20 aavirmadairamara dantibhir.h uhyamaanaaM ratnaakareNa ruchiraaM rashanaa guNena. maatastriloka jananiiM vana maaliniiM tvaaM maayaa varaaha mahiShiim.h avayanti santaH.. 21 niShkaNTaka prashama yoga niShevaNiiyaaM chhaayaa visheSha paribhuuta samasta taapaam.h. svargaa pavarga saraNiM bhavatiimushanti svachchhanda suukara vadhuum.h adhuuta pa~Nkaam.h.. 22 gaNDojvalaaM gahana kuntala darshaniiyaaM shailastaniiM tarala nirjhara lamba haaraam.h. shyaamaaM svatastriyuga suukara gehini tvaM vyaktiM samudra vasanaaM ubhayiiM bibharShi.. 23 niH saMshayaiH nigama siimani viShNu patni prakhyaapitaM bhR^igu mukhair.h munibhiH pratiitaiH. pashyant.h yananya para dhii rasa saMstutena santaH samaadhi nayanena tavaanu bhaavam.h.. 24 saMchoditaa karuNayaa chaturaH pumarthaan.h vyaatanvatii vividha mantra gaNopagiitaa. saMchintyase vasumati sthira bhakti bandhaiH antar.h bahishcha bahudhaa praNidhaana daxaiH.. 25 kriiDaa gR^ihiita kamalaadi visheSha chihnaaM vishraaNitaabhaya varaaM vasudhe sabhuutim.h daurgatya durviSha vinaasha sudhaa nadiiM tvaaM saMchintayan.h hi labhate dhanadaadhikaaraan.h.. 26 udvela kalmaSha paramparitaad.h amarShaat.h uttaM sitena harima~njalinaa apyadhR^iShyam.h. aakasmiko.ayamadhigamya yati prajaanaam.h amba tvadiiya karuNaa pariNaama eva.. 27 pratyekam.h abda niyutair.h api durvyapohaat.h praapte vipaaka samaye janitaanutaapaat.h. nityaaparaadha nivahaachchakitasya jantoH gantuM mukunda charaNau sharaNam.h xame tvam.h.. 28 traaNaabhisandhi subhage.api sadaa mukunde saMsaara tantra vahanena vilambamaane. raxaa vidhau tanubhR^itaam.h anaghaanukampaa maataH svayaM vitanuShe mahatiimapexaam.h.. 29 dharma dR^ihaM sakala duShkR^iti saarva bhaumam.h aatmaana bhij~nam.h anutaapa lavojjhitaM maam.h. vaitaana suukara pateshcharaNaara vinde sarvaM sahe nanu samarpayitum.h xamaa tvam.h.. 30 taapatrayiiM niravadhiM bhavatii dayaardraaH saMsaara gharma janitaaM sapadi xipantaH. maatar.h bhajantu madhuraamR^ita varSha maitriiM maayaa varaaha dayite mayi te kaTaaxaaH.. 31 patyur.h daxiNa paaNi pa~Nkaja puTe vinyasta paadaambujaa vaamaM pannaga saarva bhauma sadR^ishaM parya~Nkayantii bhujam.h. potra sparsha lasat.h kapola phalakaa phullaara vindexaNaa saa me puShyatu ma~Ngalaan.h yanudinaM sarvaaNi sarvaM sahaa.. 32 asye shaanaa jagata iti yaa shruuyate viShNupatnii tasyaaH stotraM virachitamidaM ve~NkaTeshena bhaktyaa. shraddhaa bhakti prachaya guruNaa chetasaa saMstuvaano yadyat.h kaamyaM sapadi labhate tatra tatra pratiShThaam.h.. 33 kavitaarkika siMhaaya kalyaaNa guNa shaaline. shrImate ve~NkaTeshaaya vedaanta gurave namaH.