Page:Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic.djvu/41



has the honour of being almost the only goddess mentioned by name in the Rig Veda, as the mother of any of the gods; but it is by no means an easy task to delineate her character, as the most contradictory statements are made concerning her. She was invoked as the bestower of blessings on children and cattle ; and she is declared to be the mother of Varuna, and other deities, sometimes eight, sometimes twelve in number. She is supposed to be the impersonation of "infinity, especially the boundlessness of heaven, in opposition to the finiteness of earth." Another supposition is that Aditi is the personification of “universal, all-embracing Nature or Being." This latter idea seems to be the more correct from the following verses, where a man about to be immolated says, "of which god, now, of which of the immortals, shall we invoke the amiable nane, who shall give us back to the great Aditi, that I may behold my father and my mother?” Whatever may have been intended by the poets to be expressed by this name, or whatever may have been the precise power personified by Aditi, she is connected with the forgiveness of sin. Thus, May Aditi make us sinless." "Aditi be gracious, if we have committed any sin against you.” “Whatever offence we have, oh Agni, through our folly committed W, HM