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Although the goddess Aditi is mentioned nearly eighty times in the Rg-veda, it is difficult to gain a clear picture of her nature. She is usually mentioned along with other gods or goddesses, there is no one hymn addressed exclusively to her, and unlike many other Vedic

54 deities she is not obviously associated with some nature phenomenon. Compared to Usas and Prthivi, her character seems ill defined. She is virtually featureless physically. As a mothering presence, Aditi is often asked to guard the one who petitions her or to provide him or her with wealth, safety, and abundance (1.94.15). Appropriate to her role as a mother, Aditi is sometimes associated with or identified as a cow. As a cow she provides nourishment and as the cosmic cow her milk is identified with the redemptive, invigourating drink Soma. (1.153.3). The name Aditi is derived from the root da (to bind or fetter) and suggests another aspect of her character A a-diti, she is the unbound, free one, and it is evident in the hymns to her, that she is often called upon to free the petitioner from different hindrances. VIII. 19.4, V. 69.3, V. 46.6, VIII. 67.12, VII. 10.4, Atharvaveda: III. 8.3, 11.1.11, VIII. 47.9, VI. 4.1, X. 72.8.