A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.17

c5.17

ADITI. ‘Free, unbounded.’ Infinity; the boundless heaven as compared with the finite earth; or, according to M. Müller, “the visible infinite, visible by the naked eye; the endless expanse beyond the earth, beyond the clouds, beyond the sky.” In the Rig-veda she is frequently implored “for blessings on children and cattle, for protection and for forgiveness.” Aditi is called Deva-mātri, ‘mother of the gods,’ and is represented as being the mother of Daksha and the daughter of Daksha. On this statement Yāska remarks in the Nirukta:—“How can this be possible? They may have had the same origin; or, according to the nature of the gods, they may have been born from each other, have derived their substance from one another.” “Eight sons were born from the body of Aditi; she approached the gods with seven but cast away the eighth, Mārttānda (the sun).” These seven were the Ādityas. In the Yajur-veda Aditi is addressed as “Supporter of the sky, sustainer of the earth, sovereign of this world, wife of Vishnu;” but in the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyana, as well as in the Purānas, Vishnu is called the son of Aditi. In the Vishnu Purāna she is said to be the daughter of Daksha and wife of Kasyapa, by whom she was mother of Vishnu, in his dwarf incarnation (wherefore he is sometimes called Āditya), and also of Indra, and she is called “the mother of the gods” and “the mother of the world.” Indra acknowledged her as mother, and Vishnu, after receiving the adoration of Aditi, addressed her in these words: “Mother, goddess, do thou show favour unto me and grant me thy blessing.” According to the Matsya Purāna a pair of ear-rings was produced at the churning of the ocean, which Indra gave to Aditi, and several of the Purānas tell a story of these ear-rings being stolen and carried off to the city of Prāg-jyotisha by the Asura king Naraka, from whence they were brought back and restored to her by Krishna. Devaki, the mother of Krishna, is represented as being a new birth or manifestation of Aditi. See Max Müller’s Rig Veda, i. 230; Muir’s Texts, iv. 11, v. 35.