Aditya

In Hinduism, the Ādityas are a group of solar deities, sons of Aditi and Kashyapa.

"Aaditya" and its modifications like "Vikramaditya","Aditya","Suryaaditya" etc are also common Indian male names, as a mark of respect to the Sun God.

Vedas

In the Rigveda, the Adityas are seven deities of the heavens, headed by Varuna, followed by Mitra:

1. Varuna
2. Mitra
3. Aryaman
4. Bhaga
5. Daksha
6. Anśa
7. Sūrya (the Sun) or Savitr.
8. Ravi

As a class of gods, the Rigvedic Ādityas were distinct from other groups such as the Maruts, the Rbhus or the Viśve-devāḥ (although Mitra and Varuna appear also in the context of the latter).

In the Yajurveda (Taittirīya Samhita), their number is given as eight.

Brahmanas

In the Brāhmaṇas, their number is expanded to twelve, corresponding to the twelve months:

1. Aṃśa
2. Aryaman
3. Bhaga
4. Dakṣa
5. Dhātṛ
6. Indra
7. Mitra
8. Ravi
9. Savitṛ
10. Sūrya
11. Varuṇa
12. Yama
13. Saha

Vedanta and Puranic Hinduism

Āditya in the (Chāndogya-Upaniṣad) is also a name of Viṣṇu, in his Vāmana (dwarf) avatāra. His mother is Aditi.

Another such list, from the Viṣṇupurāṇa is:

1. Aṃśa
2. Aryaman
3. Bhaga
4. Dhūti
5. Mitra
6. Pūṣan
7. Śakra
8. Savitṛ
9. Tvaṣṭṛ
10. Varuṇa
11. Viṣṇu
12. Vivasvat

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References

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola

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