Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.866

c7.866

2) Birth. Kaśyapa was born to Marīci, the eldest of the spiritual sons of Brahmā. Indra was the son of Kaśyapa and Aditi, the eldest daughter of Dakṣa. The twelve sons who were born to Kaśyapa and Aditi are called Ādityas. The twelve Ādityas are—Dhātā, Aryamā, Mitra, Rudra, Varuṇa, Sūrya, Bhaga, Vivasvān, Pūṣā, Savitā, Tvaṣṭā, and Viṣṇu. In addition to them, Aditi had twentyone sons more. Indra is the eldest of the 33 sons. (M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 65, Verses 9-15). Indra became the ruler of the Devas. Airāvata is Indra’s elephant, Uccaiśravas, his horse, and Vajra his weapon. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 51, M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 18).