Word

Aditya

Sanskrit

आदित्य

IAST

āditya

In General

There are 12 Adityas in the Universe; all of them being mothered by Aditi. The 12 Adityas are (the names are slightly different in different texts) : Vivasvan , Aryama , Pusan ,Tvasta , Savitha , Bhaga , Data , Vidhata , Varuna , Mitra , Satru and Urukrama . Vedic literature identify only 8 Adityas

Veda

There are 120 suktas in Rigveda for the Aditya. Aditya is the Godhead of the supreme Truth and Knowledge. His rays are the light emanating from that supreme Truth and Knowledge. He is in the Sun world or Vijnanamaya loka or supermind of Aurobindo philosophy. The name Savitri is used while mantras are addressed to the active aspect of Surya. Similarly He is Twashtri, the fashioner of things and Pushan, the increaser of spiritual wealth.

The four powers of Surya are 1. Varuna : a vast purity and clear wideness destructive of all sin and crooked falsehood;2. Mitra : a luminous power of love and comprehension leading and forming into harmony all our thoughts, acts and impulses; 3. Aryaman : an immortal puissance of clear discerning aspiration and endeavor; 4. Bhaga : a happy spontaneity of right enjoyment of all things dispelling the evil dream of sin and error and suffering.

In BrU Yajnavalkya answers to the question posed by Sakalya thus: We experience the sun’s energy levels differently during the twelve months in a year. These twelve aspects of the sun are the 12 Adityas.

Purana

The twelve sons born to the sage Kasyapa of his wife Aditi are known as the twelve Adityas. All of them are called Adityas, meaning children of Aditi. Vishnu Purana names 12 adityas as follows: Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman, Amsa, Dhuti, Bhaga, Shakra, Savita, Tvasta, Vishnu, Pusan, Vivasvan.