Aditi: 16 definitions

Introduction

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Theravada
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
See also

Aditi means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)

Aditi (अदिति) refers to “wife of Prajāpati Kaśyapa; mother of the twelve Ādityas. Her eldest son was Indra and her youngest was Upendra, or Vāmanadeva, the dwarf incarnation of the Lord”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: The Matsya-purāṇa

Aditi (अदिति) is the name of a mind-born ‘divine mother’ (mātṛ), created for the purpose of drinking the blood of the Andhaka demons, according to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.8. The Andhaka demons spawned out of every drop of blood spilled from the original Andhakāsura (Andhaka-demon). According to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.35, “Most terrible they (eg., Aditi) all drank the blood of those Andhakas and become exceedingly satiated.”

The Matsyapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 20,000 metrical verses, dating from the 1st-millennium BCE. The narrator is Matsya, one of the ten major avatars of Viṣṇu.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Aditi (अदिति).—Genealogy. Kaśyapa, grandson of Brahmā and son of Marīci married Aditi, daughter of Dakṣaprajāpati. Aditi had twelve sisters: Diti, Kālā, Danāyus, Danu, Siṃhikā, Krodhā, Pṛthā, Viśvā, Vinatā, Kapilā, Muni and Kadrū. (Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 65, Verse 12). Devas are sons born to Kaśyapa by Aditi and hence they are known as Āditeyas also. Kaśyapa married all the thirteen sisters including Aditi, and all living beings owe their origin to them. (See Kaśyapa). Descendants. 33 sons were born to Aditi. 12 of them are called Dvādaśādityas, viz. Dhātā, Aryamā, Mitra, Śakra, Varuṇa, Aṃśa, Bhaga, Vivasvān, Pūṣā, Savitā, Tvaṣṭā and Viṣṇu. Amongst the other 21 sons are the 11 Rudras and 8 Vasus. (See Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 65, Verse 15). (See full article at Story of Aditi from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Aditi (अदिति).—A daughter of Dakṣa and a wife of Kaśyapa.¹ Mother of Vāmana-Hari and other gods.² Was much concerned at the evacuation of Amarāvati by gods, and informed her husband of her grief. Kaśyapa consoled her saying that it was all Hari's māyā and everything would be rectified by His aid. Asked to the means of approaching Hari, Kaśyapa taught her the payovrata. Observed the vrata for twelve days as directed. Hari heard her prayers, promised to be born in her womb to protect her sons, and desired that she should keep it a secret. She soon waited on Kaśyapa and became pregnant with Hari. Then Hari was praised by Brahmā.³ Birth of the Lord described.⁴ Changed before her into a boy-brahmacārin.⁵ Worshipped for food and other things, while her sons the Ādityas are prayed to for attainment of heaven.⁶ Her desire was fulfilled by Vāmana. Pleased with his anointing, gods sent their praises to Aditi on the exploits of Vāmana.⁷ Kṛṣna took back the kuṇḍalas which had been taken away by Naraka, and Satyabhāmā in her Lord's company bowed to Aditi and handed over the kuṇḍalas. At this Aditi embraced her daughter-in-law.⁸ Prajāpati caused the tejas of the aṇḍa in her garbha, and removing it at the request of gods, made it into two pieces, and finding it weak, placed it on the lap of the Sungod (Mārtāṇḍa): given to dharma.⁹ A part of Mother Earth.¹⁰ A mother goddess.¹¹ Worshipped in housebuilding.¹² Mother of the 12 Ādityas the former Jayadevas.¹³ Known for strength.¹⁴

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 1. 10; VI. 6. 25; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 33. 17; III. 3. 56, 117; 71. 200; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 15. 124; III. 1. 42.
2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 13. 6; VI. 6. 38-39; VI. 18. 9; X. 3. 42; Matsya-purāṇa 172. 5; 178. 20; Vāyu-purāṇa, 96. 196; 97, 23.
3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. ch. 16 & 17.
4) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 18. 1-11; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 72. 22; 73. 75.
5) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 18. 12.
6) Ib. VIII. 18. 13-19; II. 3. 4; Matsya-purāṇa 171. 55-8.
7) Ib. VIII. 23. 4, 21, 27; Matsya-purāṇa 244. 9-48; 245. 63; 246. 58.
8) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 59. 38; Ib. [65 (v) 6-10]; Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 29. 11, 35; 30 (whole).
9) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 277-94, 465.
10) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 238; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 1. 5; 11. 2; 47. 9; 146. 18; 154. 351; 171. 29.
11) Matsya-purāṇa 179. 15.
12) Matsya-purāṇa 253. 27.
13) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 4. 34; Vāyu-purāṇa 66. 55; 60. 65.
14) Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 92. Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 13. 79.

1b) Born of Dakṣa and son was Vivasvān.^*

* Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 1. 6.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Aditi (अदिति) refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.59.12, I.65, I.90.7). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Aditi) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Aditi (अदिति) refers to one of thirteen of Dakṣa’s sixty daughters given to Kaśyapa in marriage, according to one account of Vaṃśa (‘genealogical description’) of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, Dakṣa gets married to Asikni, the daughter of Prajāpati Viraṇa and begot sixty daughters. [He gave thirteen daughters to Kaśyapa]. Kaśyapa’s thirteen wives are Aditi, Diti, Danu, Ariṣṭā, Surasā, Svadhā, Surabhi, Vinatā, Tamrā, Krodhavasā, Irā and Muni.

Aditi gives birth to twelve Ādityas, viz. Aṃśa, Dhātā, Bhaga, Tvaṣṭā, Mitra, Varuṇa, Aryamā, Vivasvān, Savitā, Pūṣā, Aṃśumān and Viṣṇu.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Kamakoti Mandali: The Yoginis of Narasimha Vyuha

Aditi (अदिति) is the name of a Mātṛkā-Śakti created by Mahārudra in order to control the plague of demons created by Andhakāsura.—Accordingly, Andhaka-Asura tried to kidnap Umā (Devī Pārvatī), and was fiercely attacked by Mahārudra who shot arrows at him from his mahāpināka. when the arrows pierced the body of Andhakāsura, drops of blood fell to earth and from those drops, thousands of Andhakas arose. To control this plague of demons, Mahārudra created Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Aditi] and ordered them to drink the blood of the demons and drain them dry.

Source: Kamakoti Mandali: Nrisimha matrika-mandala

Aditi (अदिति) refers to one of the various Mātṛkā-Śaktis created by Rudra in order to destroy the clones that spawned from Andhaka’s body.—Accordingly, [...] Andhakāsura attempted to abduct Girājanandinī (Pārvatī) and thus ensued a fierce battle between Andhakāsura and the great Rudra, the Lord of Umā. Like raktabīja, every drop of blood that fell from the body of Andhaka created another Asura like him and in no time, the entire world was filled with Andhakas. To destroy the growing number of Andhakas, Rudra created innumerable Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Aditi]. These Śaktis of immense power at once began to drink every drop of blood that flowed from the body of Andhaka, but they could still not effectively contain the emergence of more and more demons.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Aditi, one of the hundred daughters of Daksha, is the wife of the sage Kashyapa and the mother of the Devas. Hence, the Devas are also called Adithyas. Her name means 'un-binding' or 'liberation'. She is said to possess ear-rings of unsurpassed splendor. She is always jealous of her sister (and co-wife) Diti, the mother of the Asuras.

Once she incited her son Indra to cause the fetus of Diti to be split into seven pieces[Devi:4.3.18]. Diti cursed her, saying,

"May seven sons be born to you. May you also suffer the grief of loss of your seven sons."

Diti was born as Devaki, the sister of Kamsa as a result of this curse. Her first seven children were killed by her brother, for it had been foretold that her eighth child would be the his slayer.

Aditi also is the mother of the Vamana Avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Aditi (अदिति): A goddess of the sky, consciousness, the past, the future and fertility.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

Mother of the sun, who is called Adicca, which is explained as Aditiya putto. DA.iii.963.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

aditi (अदिति).—f (S) The name of the mother of the gods.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

aditi (अदिति).—f The name of the mother of the Gods in Hindu mythology.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Aditi (अदिति).—a. [na dīyate khaṇḍyate badhyate bṛhattvāt; do-ktic] Free, not tied. आदित्यासो अदितयः स्याम (ādityāso aditayaḥ syāma) Rv.7.52.1. boundless, unlimited, inexhaustible; entire, unbroken; happy, pious (mostly Ved. in all these senses).

-tiḥ [atti prāṇijātam; aditic]

1) Devourer i. e. death; यद्यदेवासृज तत्तदत्तुमध्रियत, सर्वं वा अत्तीति तददितेरदितित्वम् (yadyadevāsṛja tattadattumadhriyata, sarvaṃ vā attīti tadaditeradititvam) Bṛ. Ār. Up.1.2.5.

2) An epithet of God.

-tiḥ f. [na dātuṃ śaktiḥ]

1) Inability to give, poverty.

2) [dātuṃ chettum ayogyā] (a) The earth. (b) The goddess Aditi, mother of the Ādityas, in mythology represented as the mother of gods; see further on. (c) Freedom, security; boundlessness, immensity of space (opp. to the earth). (d) Inexhaustible abundance, perfection. (e) The lunar mansion called पुनर्वसु (punarvasu). (f) Speech; या प्राणेन संभवत्यदितिर्देवतामयी (yā prāṇena saṃbhavatyaditirdevatāmayī) (śabdādīnāṃ adanāt aditiḥ Śaṅkara). (g) A cow. cf. ŚB. on MS. 1-3-49. (h) Milk; wife (?).

-tī (dual) Heaven and earth. [अदिति (aditi) literally means 'unbounded', 'the boundless Heaven', or according to others, 'the visible infinite, the endless expanse beyond the earth, beyond the clouds, beyond the sky'. According to Yāska अदिति- रदीना देवमाता (aditi- radīnā devamātā), and the verse beginning with अदितिर्द्यौः (aditirdyauḥ) &c. Rv.1.89.16. he interprets by taking अदिति (aditi) to mean अदीन (adīna) i. e. अनुपक्षीण, न ह्येषां क्षयोऽस्ति इति (anupakṣīṇa, na hyeṣāṃ kṣayo'sti iti). [In the Ṛigveda Aditi is frequently implored 'for blessing on children and cattle, for protection and for forgiveness'. She is called 'Devamātā' being strangely enough represented both as mother and daughter of Dakṣa. She had 8 sons; she approached the gods with 7 and cast away the 8th (Mārtaṇḍa, the sun.) In another place Aditi is addressed as 'supporter of the sky, sustainer of the earth, sovereign of this world, wife of Viṣṇu', but in the Mahābhārata, Rāmāyaṇa and Purāṇas, Viṣṇu is said to be the son of Aditi, one of the several daughters of Dakṣa and given in marriage of Kaśyapa by whom she was the mother of Viṣṇu in his dwarf incarnation, and also of Indra, and she is called mother of gods and the gods her sons, 'Aditinandanas'; See Dakṣa and Kaśyapa also].

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Aditi (अदिति).—f.

(-tiḥ) 1. The daughter of Daksha, wife of Kasyapa, and mother of the gods. 2. The earth. 3. Being entire. E. a neg. dā to give, and diti affix, not giving pain; or a, do to cut or break. ktic aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Aditi (अदिति).—[a-diti], f. The name of a female deity, Chr. 298, 25 = [Rigveda.] 1, 112, 25; the mother of the gods, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 20, 15.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Aditi (अदिति).—1. [feminine] want, indigence.

--- OR ---

Aditi (अदिति).—2. [adjective] boundless, unlimited, infinite; [feminine] infinity, person, as the other of the gods.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Aditi (अदिति):—[=a-diti] [from a-dāna] 1. a-diti f. having nothing to give, destitution, [Ṛg-veda]

2) [v.s. ...] for 2. aditi, 3. a-diti See below.

3) 2. aditi m. (√ad), devourer id est. death, [Bṛhad-āraṇyaka-upaniṣad]

4) [=a-diti] 3. a-diti mfn. (√4. dā or do, dyati; for 1. a-diti See above), not tied, free, [Ṛg-veda vii, 52, 1], boundless, unbroken, entire, unimpaired, happy, [Ṛg-veda; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā]

5) [v.s. ...] f. freedom, security, safety

6) [v.s. ...] boundlessness, immensity, inexhaustible abundance, unimpaired condition, perfection, creative power, Name of one of the most ancient of the Indian goddesses (‘Infinity’ or the ‘Eternal and Infinite Expanse’, often mentioned in [Ṛg-veda], daughter of Dakṣa and wife of Kaśyapa, mother of the Ādityas and of the gods)

7) [v.s. ...] a cow, milk, [Ṛg-veda]

8) [v.s. ...] the earth, [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska]

9) [v.s. ...] speech, [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska] (cf. [Ṛg-veda viii, 101, 15])

10) [v.s. ...] f. [dual number] heaven and earth, [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska]

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Relevant text

Search found 52 books and stories containing Aditi, A-diti; (plurals include: Aditis, ditis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Aditi’s Tapasya

Vali and the Dwarf Incarnation

show preview

Chapter 17 - The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi’s Son < [Canto VIII - Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations]

Chapter 18 - Diti Vows to Kill King Indra < [Canto VI - Prescribed Duties for Mankind]

Chapter 16 - Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship < [Canto VIII - Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations]

+ 14 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 3 - On the former curse of Vasudeva and Devakī < [Book 4]

Chapter 18 - On the union of Śaṅkhacūḍa with Tulasī < [Book 9]

Chapter 22 - On the Part Incarnations of the Several Devas < [Book 4]

+ 9 more chapters / show preview

Verse 2.2.25 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna: Knowledge]