Bhus

Bhus

Bhur, Bhu

भूस्, भूर्, भू, bhūs, bhūr, bhū

• the first of great utterances maha-vyāhṛti; 
• earth as the first and densest of the three worlds, also called ‘bhū-loka’, ‘bhūr-loka’, the planet Earth — ‘bhūmi’; 
• matter, physical level of being available to the perception of the five senses; 
• place of being, space, world or universe;
• location, district, soil, ground; 
• emergence, becoming;
• sacrificial fire.

“Brahmanda Purana”, chapter 38 “Vaivasvata Manvantara: the Mārīca creation” (11-22 verses), says:

Sūta said:
...
It is remembered by the Brāhmaṇas that Bhūta, Bhavya and Bhavat are the three worlds. This Bhūrloka (Earth) is remembered as Bhūta; the Antarīkṣa (Atmosphere) is remembered as Bhavat. The Diva (Heaven) is remembered as Bhavya. I shall mention their means (of derivation).

While meditating upon the names (i.e. what names should be given to the worlds), this (name viz. bhuḥ) was uttered at the outset by god Brahmā. As the word Bhuḥ was spoken at the outset the Bhūrloka (Earth) came into existence.

The root Bhū – is remembered as one meaning ‘existence’. It also means ‘appearance of the world’. Hence this first world became Bhūrloka because of its ‘coming into being’, (Bhūtatva) as well its being visible (Darśana). It is remembered by the Brāhmaṇas as ‘Bhūr’ because of its being bhūta. After this had come into being, the second word Bhavat was uttered by Brahma.

The word Bhavat is used when something is being produced. Bhuvarloka (atmosphere) is mentioned by this word because of its being produced (Bhavana.)

The atmosphere (antarīkṣa) being bhavat (is the process of being produced). The second world is, therefore, called Bhavat.

When the second world had been produced the word Bhavya was uttered by Brahmā. Therefore, that world became Bhavya world. The word Bhavya is considered in the case of what has not yet come into existence (or happened). Hence this Bhavya is remembered by the name Tridiva (Heaven). The Earth is remembered by the word Bhū. The Antarīkṣa (Atmosphere) is remembered as Bhuvaḥ. The heaven is remembered as Bhavya, This is the decision in regard to the (names of the three worlds. Three Vyāhṛtis (utterances) took place (while) speaking about the three worlds.

Source: English translation by G. V. Tagare.