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{{short description|Offsprings of the Hindu goddess Aditi}}
{{other uses|Aditya (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Surya with Adityas.jpg|thumb|An 11th–century sculpture of [[Surya]] with eleven other Adityas depicted at the top]]

In [[Hinduism]], '''Adityas''' ({{lang-sa|आदित्य|Āditya|of Aditi}}, {{IPA-sa|aːd̪ɪt̪jɐ|pronunciation}}), refers to the offspring of [[Aditi]], the goddess representing the infinity.<ref name=Karel-2005/> The name ''Aditya'', in the singular, is taken to refer to the [[solar deity|sun god]] [[Surya]]. Generally, Adityas are twelve in number and consists of Vivasvan, [[Aryaman]], [[Tvashta]], [[Savitr]], [[Bhaga]], [[Dhatri|Dhata]], [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]], [[Varuna]], [[Ansa (god)|Amsa]], [[Pushan]], [[Indra]] and [[Vishnu]] (in the form of [[Vamana]]).<ref name=Dalal-2014/>

They appear in the ''[[Rig Veda]]'', where there are 6–8 in number, all male. The number increases to 12 in the ''[[Brahmanas]]''. The [[Mahabharata]] and the ''[[Puranas]]'' mention the sage [[Kashyapa]] as their father.<ref name=Dalal-2014/> In each month of the year a different Aditya is said to shine.

==Sun worship ==
[[File:Surya Namaskar sculpture at IGIA T3 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Sculpture of the 12 [[asana]]s of one form of Surya Namaskar{{efn|Incorporating [[Ashtanga Namaskara]] in place of [[Caturanga Dandasana]]}} in [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi]]<ref>{{cite news |work=Indian Express |date=4 September 2010 |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/destination-delhi/677151 |title=Destination Delhi}}</ref> (figures sculpted by Nikhil Bhandari)]]

===Characterisation===
{{see also | Solar deity }}

The Aditya have been described in the [[Rig Veda]] as bright and pure as streams of water, free from all guile and falsehood, blameless, perfect.

This class of deities has been seen as upholding the movables and immovable [[Dharma]].
Adityas are beneficent gods who act as protectors of all beings, who are provident and guard the world of spirits and protect the world. In the form of [[Mitra-Varuna]], the Adityas are true to the eternal Law and act as the exactors of debt.<ref name=RigVeda-2-XXVII/>

In present-day usage in [[Sanskrit]], the term Aditya has been made singular in contrast to Vedic ''Adityas'', and are being used synonymously with [[Surya]], the Sun. The twelve Adityas are believed to represent the twelve months in the calendar and the twelve aspects of Sun. Since they are twelve in number, they are referred as DvadashAdityas.<ref name=Sathyam-Anc-Sages/>

The 12 Ādityás are basically the monthly suns, corresponding to the approximately 12 lunations in a solar year.{{efn|The actual value is close to {{sfrac|12|7|19}}; {{nowrap|   {{sfrac|7|19}} ≈ {{frac|1|3}} ; }} so there always 12 complete lunar months in a solar year, and about every third year there is an extra, 13 th lunar month, which the assignment of deities to months does not appear to address.}} These are also called the 12 purushas, pertaining to the 12 lunar months of the year. Here the months refer to the lunar months. In astronomy the lunar months with a solar sankranti are said to have an Aditya or purusha. The month without a sankranti is said to be neuter and is said to be an extra month or the intercalary lunar month.

===Mentions in Hindu scriptures===
{{anchor | scripture | Scriptures | Text | Texts }}
{{see also | Hindu texts}}

The Ādityas are one of the principal deities of the [[Vedic]] classical [[Hinduism]] belonging to the solar class. In the Vedas, numerous hymns are dedicated to [[Mitra]], [[Varuna]], [[Savitr]], etc.

In hymn 7.99 of the ''[[Rigveda]]'', [[Indra]]-[[Vishnu]] produces the sun, his discus a vestige of his solar creation, equivalent to the sun. The Vishnu [[purana]] identifies the Discus chakra with the following: 'thoughts, like the chakra, flow faster than even the mightiest wind.'

The [[Gayatri mantra]], which is regarded as one of the most sacred of the Vedic hymns is dedicated to Savitr, one of the principal Ādityas. The Adityas are a group of solar deities, from the [[Brahmana]] period numbering twelve. The ritual of ''[[Surya Namaskār|Surya Namaskaar]]'', performed by [[Hindus]], is an elaborate set of hand gestures and body movements, designed to greet and revere the Sun.

The sun god in Hinduism is an ancient and revered deity. In later Hindu usage, all the Vedic Ādityas lost identity and metamorphosed into one composite deity, [[Surya]], the Sun. The attributes of all other Ādityas merged into that of Surya and the names of all other [[Ādityas]] became synonymous with, or epithets of, Surya.

The ''[[Ramayana]]'' has [[Rama]] as a direct descendant of the Surya, thus belonging to the [[Suryavansha|Suryavamsha]] or the Solar dynasty. The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' describes one of its warrior heroes, [[Karna]], as being the son of the Pandava mother [[Kunti]] and Surya.

The sun god is said to be married to the goddess [[Sanjna|Sanjnya]]. She is depicted in dual form, being both sunlight and shadow, personified. The goddess is revered in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The charioteer of Surya is [[Aruṇa|Aruna]], who is also personified as the redness that accompanies the sunlight in dawn and dusk. The sun god is driven by a seven-horsed Chariot depicting the seven days of the week and the seven colours of rainbow which are seen due to the dispersion by [[Surya]]'s rays.

=== Surya Namaskaram ===
{{main|Sun Salutation}}
[[Surya Namaskar|Surya Namaskaram]], the ''Salute to the Sun'' or ''Sun Salutation'', is worship of sun<ref name="Sun Salutation">{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Kritika |title=Sun Salutation: Full step by step explanation |url=https://www.suryanamaskar.org/ |publisher=Surya Namaskar Organization}}</ref> which is also included as a practice in [[yoga as exercise]] incorporating a flow sequence of some twelve gracefully linked [[asana]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Carol |title=Yoga on the Ball |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b8Xgqsbp_6oC |year=2003 |publisher=Inner Traditions |isbn=978-0-89281-999-7 |page=48}}</ref><ref name=macmullen68>{{cite journal |last=MacMullen |first=Jane |title=Ashtanga Yoga |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cfUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68 |volume=September/October |year=1988 |journal=[[Yoga Journal]] |pages=68–70}}</ref> Similar exercises were in use in India, for example [[Indian wrestling|among wrestlers]]. The basic sequence involves moving from a standing position into [[Downward dog|Downward]] and [[Upward Dog]] poses and then back to the standing position, but many variations are possible. The set of 12 asanas is dedicated to the solar deity [[Surya]]. In some Indian traditions, the positions are each associated with a different [[mantra]].

=== Sun worship festivals ===
{{anchor | Festivals | Festival }}
{{see also | List of Hindu festivals }}

[[Makar Sankranti]] is a festival dedicated to sun worship in India and by the [[hindu diaspora]] of India.

[[Chhath]] (Hindi: छठ, also called ''Dala Chhath'') is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Surya, the chief solar deity, unique to [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]] and the [[Terai]]. This major festival is also celebrated in the northeast region of [[India]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], and parts of [[Chhattisgarh]]. Hymns to the Sun can be found in the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. Practiced in different parts of India, the worship of the Sun has been described in the Rigveda. There is another festival called Sambha-Dasami, which is celebrated in the state of Odisha for the ''surya''.

The sun is prayed to by South Indians during the harvest festival.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Jain Chanchreek|author2=K.L. Chanchreek|author3=M.K. Jain|title=Encyclopaedia of Great Festivals |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TicTAQAAIAAJ |year=2007 |publisher=Shree Publishers |isbn=978-81-8329-191-0|pages=36–38}}</ref> In [[Tamil Nadu]], the [[Tamil people]] worship the sun god during the [[Tamil culture|Tamil]] month of [[Tamil calendar|Thai]], after a year of [[crop]] farming. The month is known as the harvesting month and people pay respects to the sun on the first day of the [[Tamil calendar|Thai]] month known as [[Thai pongal]], or Pongal, which is a four-day celebration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pongal-festival.com/|title=502 Bad Gateway nginx openresty 208.80.154.49|website=www.pongal-festival.com}}</ref> It is one of the few indigenous worship by the [[Tamil people]] irrespective of religion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ntyo.org/kolangal/thaipongal.htm |title=Tamizhs festival |publisher=ntyo.org |access-date=3 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011227113057/http://www.ntyo.org/kolangal/thaipongal.htm |archive-date=27 December 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Names of solar deities ==
{{ anchor | Name | names | Deity | Deities | List of deities | List of solar deities | List of adityas | List of Hindu solar deities }}
{{ see also | List of solar deities }}
[[File:Sun Temple of Gwalior.jpg|thumb|The Sun Temple of [[Gwalior]] is modelled after the famous [[Konark]].]]

===Rigveda===

In the [[Rigveda]], the Adityas are seven or eight in number and include:<ref name=Dalal-2014/>

# [[Varuna]]
# [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]]
# [[Aryaman]]
# [[Daksha]]
# [[Bhaga]]
# [[Amsha]]
# [[Savitr]] or [[Surya]]<ref name=Jamison-Brereton-2015/><ref name=MacDonell-1897/>
# Sometimes [[Martanda]]

===Brahmanas===

In the [[Satapatha Brahmana]], the number of Adityas is eight in some passages, and in other texts of the same [[Brahmana]], twelve Adityas are mentioned.<ref name=Muir-1863/>{{rp|page=102}} The list of 12 Adityas is as follows:

# [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]]
# [[Aryaman]]
# [[Indra]]
# [[Ravi (god)|Ravi]]
# [[Varuna|{{IAST|Varuṇa}}]]
# [[Dhatri|{{IAST|Dhātṛ}}]]
# [[Bhaga]]
# [[savitr|{{IAST|Savitṛ}}]]
# [[Surya|Sūrya]] or Arka
# [[Ansa (Hinduism)|{{IAST|Aṃśa}}]]
# [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]]
# [[Daksha|{{IAST|Dakṣa}}]]

===Upanishads===

In the ''[[Chandogya Upanishad]]'', Aditya is a name of [[Vishnu|{{IAST|Viṣṇu}}]] in his avatar as [[Vamana|Vāmana]]. His mother is [[Aditi]].

===Vishnu Purana===

The Adityas in the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]''<ref name=Vishnu-Purana-I-XV/> are:

# [[Vishnu]]
# [[Aryaman]]
# [[Indra|Śakra]]
# [[Tvastar|{{IAST|Tvaṣṭṛ}}]]
# [[Varuna|{{IAST|Varuṇa}}]]
# [[Dhatri|Dhūti]]
# [[Bhaga]]
# [[Savitr|{{IAST|Savitṛ}}]]
# [[Vivasvat]]
# [[Ansa (Hinduism)|{{IAST|Aṃśa}}]]
# [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]]
#[[ Pushan|{{IAST|Pūṣan}}]]

===Bhagavata Purana===

In the [[Bhagavata Purana]], the Adityas are associated with each month of the year, it is a different Aditya who shines as the Sun-God (Surya).<ref name="Srimad-Bhagavata-12-11-27" />

{|
|-
|   || {{small|'''Name'''}} || {{small|'''Action'''}}
|- style="vertical-align:center;"
| 1 || As [[Indra]]<br/>{{small|or Vishnu}} (Vamana) || he destroys the enemies of the gods
|-
| 2 || As [[Dhata]]|| he creates living beings
|-
| 3 || As [[Parjanya]]|| he showers down rain
|-
| 4 || As [[Tvastar|Tvashtha]]|| he lives in the trees and herbs
|-
| 5 || As [[Pushan|Pushya]]|| he makes foodgrains grow
|-
| 6 || As [[Aryaman]]|| he is in the wind
|-
| 7 || As [[Bhaga]]|| he is in the body of all living beings
|-
| 8 || As [[Vivasvat|Vivasvan]]  || he is in fire and helps to cook food
|-
| 9 || As [[Amshuman (deity)|Amshuman]]  || he is again in the wind
|-
| 10 || As [[Varuna]]|| he is in the waters and
|-
| 11 || As [[Mitra]]|| he is in the moon and in the oceans
|}

===Linga Purana===

According to the ''Linga Purana'',<ref name=Linga-Purana-6/> the Adityas are:

# [[Brahma]]
# [[Vishnu]]
# [[Indra]]
# [[Tvastar|{{IAST|Tvaṣṭṛ}}]]
# [[Varuna|{{IAST|Varuṇa}}]]
# [[Dhatri|Dhata]]
# [[Bhaga]]
# [[Savitr|{{IAST|Savitṛ}}]]
# [[Surya|Vivasvat]]
# [[Amshuman (deity)|Amshuman]]
# [[Mitra]]
# [[Pushan|{{IAST|Pūṣan}}]]

=== Aditya as nakshatra devatas ===
{{unreferenced|section|date=May 2020}}

Adityas are responsible for proper functioning of the universe and in Hindu cosmology they are given lordship over celestial constellations, called ''[[nakshatra]]s'' in [[Jyotish vidya|Jyotish]]. Nakshatras are forces of universal intelligence which are intertwined with the birth-death cycle of life, identity of all created beings, events and day to day consciousness in our lives. In India, at [[Konark]], in the state of [[Odisha]], a temple is dedicated to Surya. The [[Konark Sun Temple]] has been declared a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]. Surya is the most prominent of the ''[[navagrahas]]'' or nine celestial objects of the Hindus. ''Navagrahas'' can be found in almost all Hindu temples.

Adityas manage the Shakti of the nakshatras. Here are few examples.

# Bhaga has lordship over [[Pūrva Phalgunī|Purva Phalguni]] nakshatra. Bhaga is bestower of fortune. Bhaga in Sanskrit means "a portion" so our portion in life is regulated by this divine celestial being. Many a times this is related to fortunate marriages, or fortune from marriage and partnerships. It is a very worldly nakshatra bestowing divine intelligence with respect to worldly gains in life. Beings born when Purva Phalguni is rising in the east are literal physical manifestation of this energy.
# [[Aryaman|Aryama]], the God of Patronage, is an Aditya who is the lord of [[Uttara Phalgunī|Uttar Phalguni]] nakshatra and as suggested by the name, a person born under the auspices of Aryama finds many lucky opportunities with benefactors in their lives, among many other qualities that are possessed by this divine being.
# [[Savitr|Savitur]], rules over [[Hasta (nakshatra)|Hasta]] Nakshatra and is the cheerful Aditya who manages worldly skills and artistry. Handiwork of all kinds, from needlework, pottery making to technical skills industry, sleight of hand pick pockets, magicians, and Reiki masters all are blessed by the divine intelligence and benevolence of this Aditya.
# [[Mitra]], rules over [[Anuradha (nakshatra)|Anuradha]] nakshatra they are the peacekeepers of this world.
# [[Varuna]], rules over [[Shatabhisha|Shatbhishak]] nakshatra the nakshatra of 1000 healers and gives a person intelligence about all sorts of medicine. Varuna as its ruling Aditya is lord keeper of law, hence themes of crime and punishment, law and order fall under his rulership. Varuna in RigVeda is to be feared and not taken lightly.

This makes Vedic Adityas not some conceptual, abstract, or mythological characters in a story book, but part of the visible cosmology and the everyday realities of our daily lives. We manifest their qualities in our lives and as such are part of the divine ourselves.

==See also==

; [[Solar_deity#Hinduism|Sun worship in Hinduism]]
* [[Aditi]]
* [[List of solar deities#Hindu|List of solar deities in Hinduism]]
* [[Sun_temple#Hindu|List of Surya temples]]
* [[Surya Namaskar]]

; Other related
* [[Ashvins]]
* [[Prajapati]]
* [[Rudras]]
* [[Vasus]]
* [[List of Hindu deities]]
* [[List of Hindu temples]]
* [[Hindu pilgrimage sites|List of Hindu pilgrimage sites]]

==Further reading==
* {{cite web
|title=On the Ādityas
|series=Concepts in Hinduism
|website=hinduwebsite.com
|url=http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/concepts/Adityas.asp
}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|25em|refs=

* {{cite book |last=Singleton |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Singleton (yoga scholar) |title=Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice |year=2010 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-974598-2 |pages=180–181, 205–206 }}

<ref name=Dalal-2014>
{{cite book
|last=Dalal |first=Roshen
|date=2014-04-18
|title=Hinduism: An alphabetical guide
|publisher=Penguin UK
|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9
|lang=en
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&q=Pushan
}}
</ref>

<ref name=Jamison-Brereton-2015>
{{cite book
|last1=Jamison |first1=Stephanie
|last2=Brereton |first2=Joel
|year=2015
|title=The Rigveda – Earliest religious poetry of India
|page=43
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|isbn=978-0190633394
}}
</ref>

<ref name=Karel-2005>
{{cite book
|first=Karel |last=Werner
|year=2005 |title=A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism
|page=17
|publisher=Routledge
|isbn = 9781135797539
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HvuQAgAAQBAJ&q=%C4%80dityas+offspring+aditi&pg=PA17
}}
</ref>

<ref name=Linga-Purana-6>
{{cite book
|title=Linga Purana
|url=http://www.astrojyoti.com/lingapurana-6.htm
}}
</ref>

<ref name=MacDonell-1897>
{{cite book
|last=MacDonell |first=Arthur Anthony
|year=1897
|title=Vedic Mythology
|pages=43
|publisher=Oxford University Press
}}
</ref>

<ref name=Muir-1863>
{{cite book
|last=Muir |first=John
|year=1863
|title=Original Sanskrit Texts on the Origin and Progress of the Religion and Institutions of India
|publisher=Williams and Norgate
|url=https://archive.org/details/originalsanskri01muirgoog
}}
</ref>

<ref name=RigVeda-2-XXVII>
{{cite book
|title=Rig Veda
|at=Book 2, Hymn XXVII
|translator=Griffith, Ralph T.H.
|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv02027.htm
}}
</ref>

<ref name=Sathyam-Anc-Sages>
{{cite book
|last=Sathyamayananda |first=Swami
|title=Ancient Sages
|year=2012
|page=173
|publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math
|location=Mylapore, Chennai
|isbn=978-81-7505-356-4
}}</ref>



<ref name=Srimad-Bhagavata-12-11-27>
{{cite book
|title=Srimad Bhagavata Purana
|at=12.11.27–49
}}
</ref>

<ref name=Vishnu-Purana-I-XV>
{{cite book
|title=Vishnu Purana
|chapter=Book I: Chapter XV
|chapter-url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp050.htm
|via=Sacred-Texts.com
}}
</ref>

}} 

==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline|Adityas}}

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Adityas - Revision history

ImportMaster at 12:08, 14 January 2023