APSARA - COURTESANS OF GODS

The greatest asset of the court of Indra, Lord of the gods of Heaven, were the Apsara, ever young, voluptuous and accomplished courtesans There were thousands of them, but the most notable were:

Bas relief: Apsara from Angkor Vat

Alambusha

Aruna
Kesini
Manorama
Menaka
Misrakesi
Rakshita
Rambha
Tilottama
Urvasi
Vidyutparna

Except for Urvasi and Menaka, the rest were the daughters of Kasyapa by one of his wives, viz., Arishta. They were thus Indra’s half-sisters.They were all very beautiful, and accomplished themselves as great danseuses. Urvasi was born under peculiar circumstances: Two ascetics, Nara and Narayana, were doing great penance in the Himalaya at Badarinath. Indra suspected that they wanted to usurp his place as Lord. He presented himself before them and offered whatever boon they wanted. They were so deep in meditation that they did not notice him. Indra then sent all his Apsara courtesans to sing and dance before them, so that they would desire one or more of them. Disturbed at length, sage Narayana slapped his thigh in annoyance; at once, there arose from it a maiden more beautiful and luscious than any of Indra’s gang. She was called Urvasi, because she was born out of a thigh (Uuru, in Sanskrit). Indra and his gang were discomfited; Narayana presented the newly created beauty to Indra, and sent them all off, back to Heaven. Only she has been specifically mentioned by name in Rg Veda (X, 95). Even though she was less accomplished as a singer and a danseuse than some of the others, she was the most charming of them all.

The myths are not specific about Menaka’s origins. According to some, she was a gift of the sea, when it was churned for nectar. But according to others, Menaka was already in Indra’s court, when Durvasas made his famous visit. She presented the sage with the fragrant garland of flowers, which in turn he gave to Indra. Indra had negligently placed it on the head of his elephant, which tossed it down and trampled it, thus enraging the sage to curse them all. The churning of the ocean was the means the gods took in order to get the means for restoring them to everlasting youth.

A type of god known as Gandharva, minstrels and musicians, were the usual companions of these divine courtesans. Sometimes, their union begat progeny. Some Apsara damsels fortuitously had fertile liaisons with humans, the progeny being left behind on Earth, where they became distinguished in many ways. Indra used them mainly for seducing ascetics whom he suspected to be capable of being his rivals. He would send them to sing and dance before them, so that they would lose their self-control and forfeit the virtues of their penances.

Apsara found favour in the Cambodia and other eastern countries. In the great temple at Angkor Vat, there are many depictions of them. The classic dance of Cambodia and Bali feature Apsara dances as one of the most popular items.

ASWINI - TWIN GODS OF HEALTH

Sathyan and Dasran were twin sons of Sun god Surya; they were the handsomest of all. Vedic hymns mention them as physicians of the gods. “Aswinii” means “of the horse”. They are praised for their beneficent attitude to humans. When sage Dirghasravas prayed for cessation of drought, Aswini caused sweet rain to shower. They helped sage Gautama slake his thirst by creating a spring in the desert.

Indra developed technology for brewing alcoholic liquor but entrusted it only to Dadyanga, threatening to behead him if he disclosed it. Aswini promised they would fit him out with a new head, and he revealed it. Indra beheaded him, but the twins kept their promise. They killed demon Vishwak, who was distressing humans. Because they practiced medicine including surgery, Indra decreed that they would not be entitled to share Soma juice offered in Yaga sacrifices.

In Puranas, their genealogy is from Vishnu through Brahma to Kasyapa who begat Surya through Aditi. One of Surya’s wives was Samjna, who, fatigued by his lovemaking, induced her maid Chhaaya (literally ‘shadow’) to substitute in her guise, and escaped to the forest. When Chhaaya abused Yama, another of Surya’s sons, her identity came out. Surya sought Samjna, and approached her disguised as a horse, disclosing his true form only when she was reconciled. Aswini were born and their association with the horse is mythically ‘explained’.

Their interaction with sage Chyavana is charming. This ascetic entered into such deep meditation that vegetation and anthills grew over him. Sukanya, daughter of King Saryati, chanced upon this copse. Intrigued by two points shining from within it, she poked them with a thorn – alas, they were the sage’s eyes; she, unwittingly, blinded him. The consequences were severe; rains ceased and famine loomed. Saryati discovered, through soothsayers, that the mishap was due to the hurt to the sage. He approached Chyavana, old, decrepit, now blind. The sage harboured no grouse, but sought a damsel to minister to him; only Sukanya volunteered. She was married to him, and faithfully served him, doing the most menial tasks.

Aswini, bewitched by Sukanya’s luscious beauty, approached. Loyal and dedicated to Chyavan, she spurned their advances. They offered to restore Chyavana to youth, in return for her as a fee. She refused, but reported it to the sage, who advised her to return and agree, subject to the condition that, if she recognized him after treatment, then they would forfeit the fee. They administered medicines; all three entered a pond. and emerged, looking identical. Because of her unfailing loyalty, she recognized her husband. Sportsmanlike, Aswini accepted their discomfiture. Chyavana offered to restore to them share in Soma sacrifices. Helped by his now delighted father-in-law, he arranged a sacrifice; all gods and sages were present. When the ritual reached the stage of offering Soma, he gave Aswini their share. Indra was incensed, but in the ensuing battle of words, Chyavana recounted Indra’s misdemeanours with wives of various sages, and how he fled to avoid defeat by various demons. Indra had to yield. Now, whenever Yaga is performed, Aswini get their share. Ayurvedic tonic, Chyavanaprasa, is the present version of the medicine believed to have been administered to Chyavana.

KUBERA - GOD OF WEALTH

Kubera, god of Wealth, was born of a lineage different from that of the other gods of heaven. Brahma the creator begat Pulasthya Prajapati, who begat Visravas. Visravas married Ilabila, the daughter of sage Bharadwaja, and begat Kubera. He married another wife, a demoness, and through her begat Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana. He neglected this family, who survived in distress.

The gods placed Kubera in association with Varuna, who accommodated him in his oceans. But Kubera underwent penances, and Brahma the Creator blessed him with immense riches and the overlordship of the North. He then approached his father and requested him to build a capital and palace for him. Accordingly, Visravas had Lanka built on an island in the South, gifted him with a magic aerial ship, and a horde of semi-divine beings known as Yaksha and Gandharva. He was a great devotee of Siva, who, though wantless and ascetic Himself, gifted untold wealth on Kubera.

There is an amusing story of how Ganapati, the elephant-headed son of Siva, humbled Kubera. Seeing how poorly Siva and his family lived, Kubera thought he was doing them a great favour by inviting them for a sumptuous breakfast. Ganapati could not be satiated; he ate up all the food preparations in a jiffy, and wanted more. Kubera was baffled, and fled to Siva, who called his son back, and fed him with a pinch of the ashes that were Siva’s only cosmetic substances. Ganapati’s hunger was satiated.

Ravana, his half-brother, resented his father, Visravas’ neglect of his mother and his siblings. He and his brothers did great penance, and pleased Brahma the Creator, who granted them powerful blessings. Ravana then proceeded to drive his half-brother Kubera out of Lanka. Kubera fled north, and with the help of all the gods and sages, had another glorious capital, called Alaka, built for himself. There, he delighted in his treasure, and a court of beauties who rivalled even the court of Indra. Some of Indra’s courtesans used to be guests of honour in his court too. Siva was a frequent visitor, as were lesser gods. Kuberal was emboldened to send a messenger to Ravana, warning him to desist from harming the gods. Ravana was enraged; he set out to battle. On the way, he raped Rambha, who was going on an assignation to Kubera’s court. In the fierce battle that ensued, Kubera was decisively defeated. He fled, taking the disguise of a chameleon. Ravana looted Alaka and took away the aerial chariot, the jewels and the treasure, and several beautiful women. Kubera had to wait till the ultimate defeat and killing of Ravana by Rama, to get them back.

There are few temples dedicated to Kubera. He is iconically represented as armed with a mace, and riding on a buffalo.

YAMA - GOD OF DEATH

Yama in Rg Veda is a different personality from Yama of the Puranas. Vedic Yama was the first Man who died, pioneering the pathway beyond. He is not directly descended from Kasyapa and Aditi; his genealogy is “Vishnu>Brahma>Marichi>Kasyapa>Surya> Yama. Surya married Samjna, daughter of Viswakarma the First Architect. Yama’s siblings were Manu, from whom humans were born, and Yami, Yama’s twin sister.

One of the most dramatic episodes is in the 10^th Mandala (Book) of Rg Veda - Yami expresses her insistent desire to share Yama’s bed. Yama protests and pleads the impropriety and sin of incest. Yami has her way, and they wed. Because he keeps track of the time beings may spend in the world of the living, he got another name, “Kaala” = Time. Vishnu Purana relates that, once, Samjna had retired to the forest for rest, entrusting her maid Chhaaya (literally “shadow”) to minister to Surya. Through her Surya begat Sani, Tapati and another Manu. When Chhaaya berated Yama for misdemeanour, the secret that she was impersonating Samjna was revealed. Surya begat twins Aswini, son Revata and daughter Bhaya through the recovered Samjna. Brahma the Creator established Yama as Lord of the South, along with Indra in the East, Varuna in the West, and Kubera in the North. He presides over the world of the dead, and especially, hell (“narakam”). The souls of the dead are brought to his court, where his infallible accountant, Chitragupta, audits the balance sheet of good and bad that each had wrought during life; Yama decides on the appropriate punishment. He is dark, red, or green in colour, and usually dressed in red. He rides a buffalo and is armed with a lasso of rope, with which he whisks off the souls of those who are to die.

The god of death was himself killed by Siva. The story of Markandeya is well known. Briefly, the boy was born with a pre-determined life span of only sixteen years. Yama duly went off to claim him, but the boy took refuge, hugging a Sivalinga. Yama, ignoring this, cast his lasso, and when he dragged on it, the Sivalinga broke. Siva, irate at this insult, promptly burnt Yama with a flash from his third eye. The consequences were disastrous; nobody died in the world, and the population, especially of the old and the decrepit, cluttered the earth. Finally, Siva had to revive Yama. A similar story, with Vishnu as the Executioner, is told; he had to incarnate himself as the Boar in order to recover the Earth and of course revive Yama. The story of Satyavan and Savitri is the subject of the great epic by Aurobindo Ghosh. It shows that even death is not the end; love triumphs over it. Yama has a human heart, after all!

The Puranas give a detailed catalogue of the hells under Yama.

SlNo	Name of theHell	Punishment for
1	Thaamisram	Stealing wealth, wives, etc., of others. The guilty beaten with sticks until they faint; when they recover, the punishment is repeated, until the sin is atoned for.
2	Andhathamisram	Wives cheating husbands and vice versa. They are strangulated until they faint; then revived and punishment repeated.
3	Rauravam	For cruelty to animals including humans. The guilty are pushed in among poisonous serpants which frighten them without respite, but do not bite them.
4	Maharauravam	For cheating on property and illegal enjoyment of it. Punishment same as in Rauravam, but with more ferocious serpants which twine around the guilty.
5	Kumbhiipaakam	For killing animals. The guilty are fried in oil, for as many years as the sum of the hairs of all the animals, birds, etc., they had killed.
6	Kalasutram	A terribly hot place, where those who had not adequately served their elders, gurus, and superiors are kept until they faint; when the recover, punishment repeated.
7	Asitapatram	Those who have violated the norms of their caste, and encroached on privileges of other castes, are chastised with poisoned wands, revived when they faint, and punishment repeated.
8	Sukaramukham	For kings who do not rule according to the tenets, especially regarding the rights of the various castes. Crushed between rollers, revived, and punishment repeated.
10	Andhakuupam	A dark pit, where those who had harmed Brahmins, gods, and sages. The souls are tortured by cruel animals, birds, insects, etc.
11	Samdamsanam	Those who neglect performance of propitiation of gods, Brahmins, etc., are thrust here. Insects feed on them until their body is consumed; then, they are fitted out with fresh bodies, and punishment repeated.

12	Taptamurti	A hell made of iron sheets that get red hot from the fires in it; those who committed robbery are punished here with fire.
13	Salmali	Men and women who had had sex with partners with whom it is prohibited. Each is made to embrace a red-hot iron statue of erstwhile paramours.
14	Vajrakandakasali	Those guilty of bestiality are forced to embrace replicas fitted out with sharp blades along the orifices.
15	Vaitarani	Those who seduce other people’s wives are kept in a river, polluted with all sorts of wastes, and infested with insects and microbes. They have to eat and drink what they get out of the pollution.
16	Puyodakam	Similar to the above, but a stagnant well. Reserved for higher caste individuals who have sex with lower caste mates, and for those who neglect their wives and families.
17	Pranarodham	Brahmins who have indulged in hunting animals are hit with arrows, severing their limbs, while the torturers laugh at their antics.
18	Visasanam	Those who sacrifice animals at expensive rituals just to show off their wealth are beaten with whips, endlessly..
19	Laalaabhaksham	Those who indulge in unnatural sex, especially oral intercourse, have to be here, constantly on an exclusive diet of ejaculates.
20	Saarameyashanam	Dogs tear those who have indulged in incendiarism, destruction of public property, violence against other.
21	Avichi	Those guilty of perjury, bearing false witness, and pretending to false worship are cast from a high mountain into rough waves, so that their bodies are torn apart.
22	Aayapaanam	Brahmins who indulge in intoxicating drinks are forced here, and made to drink molten iron.
23	Kshaarakardamom	Those who have abused Brahmins and insulted them are hung head downwards, while they are severely beaten.
24	Rakshobhaksam	Those who have killed animals are cast, in this hell, among them, and bitten, scratched, and otherwise punished by them
25	Sulaprotam	Those who have manoeuvred the conviction and punishment of others by bearing false witness against them are thrown into this hell, to be impaled on spears.
26	Dantasukam	Those who have inflicted pain on animals are cast here, where corresponding animals inflict corresponding pain on them.
27	Vatorodham	Those who have tortured and killed animals in mountains, forests, etc. are punished with the same sort of torture in this hell.
28	Paryavarthanukam	If one has avoided or insulted a guest, out of greed, then he is cast here, where crows and other birds of prey tear out his eyes.
29	Suchimukham	Those who default on loan repayment are here punished with infinity of pinpricks.

The list illustrates that imaginative Brahmins, who had, surprisingly, great kindness towards animals, created it. The tortures in the Hindu hell seem mild in comparison with what human ingenuity could accomplish during the Inquisition in Christendom.

VARUNA - GOD OF THE SEAS

Another son of Kasyapa Prajapati’s, through his wife Aditi, was Varuna. The gods of heaven under the leadership of Indra requested him to take up the lordship of the seas. Brahma the Creator constituted him the guardian of the West, and so, he became an Ashtakdipala, the others being Indra (East), Yama (South), and Kubera (North). He is usually mentioned, in the Rg Veda, as associated with Mitra, another name for the Sun. This association is responsible for causing rains on earth. He is the custodian of riches, jewels, and horses. He supplied sophisticated weapons to gods and men. Though there are no major temples dedicated solely to him now, he is depicted by an icon showing him as a handsome man, riding on a mythical fish, and armed with a lasso-like weapon.

He had several wives and plenty of progeny. Yet, he abducted Bhadra, beautiful wife of sage Utaddhya. The irate ascetic threatened to drink up the ocean, and intimidated, Varuna had to return her to him. Varuna once refused to give a cow that his own father Kasyapa asked for, to sacrifice in a Yaga. Kasyapa stole it, and Varuna complained to Brahma. When Kasyapa still refused to return it, he was cursed to be born in a later incarnation as Sri Krishna, and protect cows throughout his early life. He was known to present gifts of horses to those who found favour with him. He gifted a mace as a weapon to Sruthayudhan, and two wrestlers, along with an elephant to Subrahmanya, son of Siva, when he set out to kill the demons. Significantly, all things cast into the sea are believed to return to Varuna.

But several demons and even humans could defeat him. Ravana attacked the combined forces of all the Dikpalaka gods assembled at a Yaga, and defeated them. Varuna fled, in the disguise of a swan. Ravana challenged him again on the shores of his western ocean; along with his sons, Varuna came to battle, but Ravana defeated all of them. Varuna did not co-operate with Sri Rama when he started building the bridge to Lanka in order to attack Ravana; Rama twanged his bow in preparation to wage battle, and frightened, Varuna appeared with his wives, and rendered all assistance. He had to enter into a diplomatic alliance with Arjuna and present him with the famous bow, Gandiva that was Arjuna’s pride, when the latter allied himself with Agni.

Significantly, Varuna’s association with the west and his command over horses and sophisticated weapons may be a hint that these were brought into Bharatavarsha (that was ancient India) from the West. Though iron was smelted in parts of India even before it was in the Middle East, steel-making was more advanced in the latter region. Varuna gifting these items may be but a mythological and poetic way of saying that they were imported from the Middle East. Mitra, his associate, has close parallels in Middle Eastern mythology.

AGNI - GOD OF FIRE

Next only to Indra, Agni, the God of Fire, has the largest number of hymns in Rg Veda dedicated to him. He is central to the fire sacrifice, the greatest observance of the religion of those times. The myths indicate that he was recognized in two forms. The first was “given” fire, ignited naturally when thunderstorms struck the trees, and carefully preserved by privileged sages. The second was made fire, which the sages generated by friction of two twigs of hardwood. Both forms were duly deified.

Later myths furnish conflicting accounts of the origin of Agni, and his “parentage”. According to one version, he is one of the six “mental children”, i.e., created by a wilful intention of the mind, by Brahma the Creator himself. Agni is usually associated with the sage Angiras, who is the inventor of many Vedic rituals and verses. Agni is described as the mouth of the gods, through which burnt offerings of humans reach the divine. He is counted among the five great elements, viz., Ether, Fire, Wind, Water, and Earth.

According to a story in Maha Bharatam, Agni was cursed to be insatiable. Bhrigu, one of the earliest of the great sages, had set Agni to guard his pregnant wife Puloma. One day, Puloma’s earlier boy friend, Puloman, found out from Agni that Bhrigu had left on tour. Puloman took the form of a boar and kidmapped her. Frightened and crying out, she gave premature birth to a beautiful son. Puloman the boar fled. Bhrigu on return learnt that Agni had revealed the secret of his absence, and cursed him to be insatiable in his hunger. Agni sulked and offerings were no longer conveyed to the gods from the sacrifices. Brahma the Creator had to interfere, and bless Agni with the power to purify all that he touched.

Swaaha, daughter of Daksha Prajapati, had long coveted Agni as her mate. Opportunity arose when the seven great sages performed a Yaga at which Agni was propitiated. The wives of the sages, who of course were immaculate, fascinated Agni. Swaaha offered herself to Agni, in the guise of each one of them in turn. He had then to take as his wife.

Another story connects him with Siva, Parvathy, and their son Subrahmanya. Siva’s seed was so hot that it threatened to burn everything it touched. Agni took it up and deposited in the Ganga, who duly gave birth to Subrahmanya.

Agni still continues to be the holy fire in which all burnt offerings are deposited, for conveyance to the respective gods. But there are now very few temples dedicated exclusively to him. He is represented by an icon as the Dikpalaka (Guardian) of the southeast, in the charts of the eight guardians of the directions (Ashtadikpalaka).

INDRA - LORD OF THE GODS OF HEAVEN

The largest number of hymns in the Rg Veda relates to Indra, son of Aditi and Lord of the Gods. He was handsome, and had a special weapon, Vajra, of supreme power. An Asura, Vrtra by name, had de-feated him. Sages advised him that the only weapon that could prevail against Vrtra had to be made of the bones of Brahmin sage Dadhiichan. When Indra approached the sage h, he readily agreed to be sacrificed. Indra fashioned Vajra out of the bones and killed Vrtra. But ghost of the killed Brahmin hunted Indra, who hid himself in a lotus bud.

His claim to being the Lord was based on his having successfully performed a hundred Yaga sacrifices. He would be dethroned if any one else completed that tally. He had therefore been always jealous on this score. If nothing else succeeded, he is not above begging his rival to desist. The only occasion when this ploy did not succeed was when he was in hiding from Vrtra’s ghost. Nahusha, a king, completed the tally, and was enthroned as Lord.

Indra finally succeeded in placating Vrtra’s ghost. He and wife Indrani plotted Nahusha’s downfall. She invited Nahusha to her bed, if he should arrive for the assignation in a palanquin carried by the seven Great Sages. They acceded to Nahusha’s request, but Agasthya, a dwarf could not go fast enough. Nahusha prodded him, and enraged, Agasthya cursed him to become a python. Indra reinstated himself.

One of his great exploits was: the mountains then had wings. Indra used his Vajra to cut off the wings, so that the mountains became immobile. He causes rains to fall on earth, and creates drought if humans do not propitiate him with Yaga; he has the first share of the offerings.
His misadventures with beautiful wives of great ascetics are legion. The most ‘famous’ instance is when he coveted Ahalya, luscious wife of Gautama, who would leave at cockcrow for his ablutions, leaving her behind. Indra cajoled a cock to crow at midnight; the sage left. Indra disguised himself as the sage, got into the house, and bedded himself with her. He scampered when the sage returned, who cursed In-dra to have his body covered with vulva-like sores, and Ahalya to turn into stone. When Indra and Ahalya begged for reprieve, he granted that the vulva-like sores would appear as if they were eyes, and that the curse would be lifted after Indra did penance at Suchindram in the south; Ahalya would recover when Sri Rama placed his foot on the stone she had become. Indra revelled in being praised as the “one with a thousand eyes”.
His greatest discomfiture is the nucleus for a central myth. The sage Durvasas paid Indra a visit, and presented him with a garland. Indra got on his elephant, placing the garland negligently on its head. The elephant tossed it down and trampled it. The sage, enraged at the scant respect Indra had for his gift, cursed him to become prematurely old. Indra in despair consulted the Trinity and all his friends, who advised that the only remedy was to churn the oceans for nectar. This was an enterprise beyond the gods of heaven by themselves. They used diplomacy to get the demons to join in, promising equal shares of the proceeds. The story is well known. Finally, when the nectar was obtained, Vishnu as be-witching danseuse Mohini beguiled the demons out of their share.

When Vedic Hinduism gradually gave way to popular versions by about 8th century AD, Indra was relegated to a minor position. There are hardly any temples dedicated exclusively to him now. An icon showing the guardians of the quarters usually represents him; riding on a white elephant. He is in charge of the East.

ADITI - MOTHER OF GODS OF HEAVEN

She was not like Eve, Mother of all humans. But ADITI, in Hindu mythology, was Mother of Gods and Demons.

Born as daughter of Daksha Prajapati, son of Brahma, God of the Trinity in charge of Procreation, (Vishnu and Siva, the other members, were respectively Gods of Stability and Destruction), she was married to Kasyapa, grandson of Brahma. Kasyapa married not only Aditi, but all her thirteen sisters also. From Aditi was born thirty three children, of whom twelve became Adity (Suns), including the one that illumines our Earth. From them were born three hundred and thirty three million gods of heaven. Indra is lord of them all. She wanted to be the Mother of Vishnu; He took birth as her son in his Avatar as Vaamana the Dwarf. (The word “deva” in Sanskrit also means “playful”. As Shakespeare said, “they kill us for their sport”!)

In some myths, sister and “co-wife” Diti was mother of demons. Another sister and co-wife, Danu, gave birth to the Daanava, also demons. Together, they were known as Asura. Between the gods of heaven and the Asura, no love was lost. The myths invariably favour the gods, and denigrate the Asura. Literally, “Sura” means fermented alcoholic liquor, and gods of heave indulge in it liberally. “Asura” implies those who abstain.

Indra made an unsuccessful effort to maintain monopoly about brewing and distilling liquor. He had trained ascetic Dadhyanga, in the art. His temporary enemies, godly twins Aswani Devas, tried to get it out of Dadhyanga, but Indra had threatened to behead him if he did so. The Aswini reassured Dadhyanga, who gave them the secret. When Indra beheaded him, Aswini revived him, affixing the head of an ass on his shoulders.

Kasyapa promised Diti that her son would be greater than Indra. Envious, Indra worked out a plan; he befriended Diti, and offered to nurse her during pregnancy. Beguiled, she slept soundly; Indra used his all-powerful weapon to cut the foetus in her womb into forty-nine pieces, which ultimately were born as the progenitors of the Asura.

Indra had a keen eye for beautiful women, human, divine, or demoniac. Early in his career, he desired Ruchi, beautiful wife of ascetic Devasarma. He seduced her to agree to spend a night with him, but Devasarma’s disciple, Vipula berated Indra, until, shamed, the lord of gods withdrew. Arun, charioteer of the Sun, once took disguise as a girl to witness the dance of divine courtesans. Indra raped “her”, from which was born Baali, most powerful of the Apes. Indra was not above bestiality; Rg Veda mentions (Bk 1, Mandala 18, sukta 121) that he had sex with a mare, and the progeny were bovines! He often used divine courtesans to seduce and defeat his enemies.

The myths are silent about what happened to Aditi. Let us believe that She remains, the primordial Female, ever tolerant despite the follies of her children.

T. Madhava Menon