Editing Aditi (section)

== Attributes ==
===Motherhood===
[[File:Surya gave boon to adithi.png|170px|thumb|Aditi prays to Surya]]
Aditi and the sage Kashyapa had 33 sons, out of whom twelve are called [[Âdityas|Ādityas]] including [[Surya]], eleven are called [[Rudras]], and eight are called [[Vasus]].<ref name=Sathyam-Anct-Sags-173/>
Aditi is said to be the mother of the great god [[Indra]], the mother of kings ([[Mandala 2]].27) and the mother of gods ([[Mandala 1]].113.19). In the ''Vedas'', Aditi is Devamata (mother of the celestial gods) as from and in her cosmic matrix all the heavenly bodies were born. She is preeminently the mother of 12 Âdityas, whose names include [[Vivasvan|{{IAST|Vivasvān}}]], [[Aryaman|{{IAST|Aryamā}}]], [[Pushan|{{IAST|Pūṣā}}]], [[Tvastar|{{IAST|Tvaṣṭā}}]], [[Savitr|Savitar]], [[Bhaga]], [[Dhatri|{{IAST|Dhātā}}]], [[Varuna|{{IAST|Varuṇa}}]], [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]], and [[Indra|{{IAST|Śakra}}]].

She is also the mother of the [[Vamana]], ''avatar'' of [[Vishnu]].<ref name=Vendabase-Bhagavatam-6/> Accordingly, the Vamana ''avatar'', as the son of Aditi was born in the month of [[Shravana]] (fourth month of the [[Hindu Calendar]], also called [[Shravana|Avani]]) under the star Shravana. Many auspicious signs appeared in the heavens, foretelling the good fortune of this child.

In the ''Rigveda'', Aditi is one of the most important figures of all. As a mothering presence, Aditi is often asked to guard the one who petitions her ([[Mandala 1]].106.7; [[Mandala 8]].18.6) or to provide him or her with wealth, safety, and abundance ([[Mandala 10]].100; 1.94.15).

===Creativity===
[[File:Surya family.png|thumb|Family tree of Aditi]]

Aditi is usually mentioned in the ''Rigveda'' along with other gods and goddesses. There is no one hymn addressed exclusively to her, unlike other Vedic gods. Since She is perhaps not related to a particular natural phenomenon like other gods. Compared to [[Ushas]] and [[Prithvi]], Aditi can be defined as the cosmic creator.

The verse "[[Daksha]] sprang from Aditi and Aditi from Daksha" is seen by [[Theosophy (Boehmian)|Theosophists]] as a reference to "the eternal cyclic re-birth of the same divine Essence"<ref>''[[The Secret Doctrine]]'' 2:247n</ref> and divine wisdom.<ref name=theosociety/>

===Freedom===
The name Aditi includes the root "da" (to bind or fetter) and suggests another attribute of her character. As A-diti, she is an unbound, free soul and it is evident in the hymns to her that she is often called to free the petitioner from different hindrances, especially sin and sickness. ([[Mandala 2]].27.14). In one hymn, she is asked to free a petitioner who has been tied up like a thief ([[Mandala 8]].67.14). As one who unbinds, her role is similar to her son Varuna's as guardian of [[Rta]], cosmic moral order. She is called the supporter of creatures ([[Mandala 1]].136).

===Might===
Aditi was attributed the status of ''first deity'' by the Vedic culture, although she is not the only one attributed this status in the ''Vedas''. She is addressed in the Rigveda as "mighty" and revered as the eternal mother of all creation.{{citation needed|date=September 2008}}

===Others===
Like many other Hindu gods and goddesses, Aditi has a ''[[vahana]]'' (a mount). Aditi flies across the boundless sky on a phoenix.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Aditii |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2TJjEAAAQBAJ&dq=aditi+mount&pg=PT90 |title=Mystic Tales |date=2022-01-18 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=979-8-88530-354-5 |pages=90 |language=en}}</ref> The phoenix symbolizes strength, honour, but most importantly, reflects Aditi's nature of cyclical rebirth and infinite creation. 

Her weapons include the famous ''[[trishula]],'' and a sword. 

Aditi is described to possess a pair of earrings, which are stolen from her by the [[asura]] named [[Narakasura|Naraka]]. [[Krishna]] returns the earrings to her after slaying the asura with his consort, [[Satyabhama]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bryant |first=Edwin Francis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVDqCkW1WpUC&dq=aditi+earrings&pg=PA29 |title=Krishna: A Sourcebook |date=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-803400-1 |pages=29 |language=en}}</ref>