She was the daughter of Daksha, and married Kashyapa, son of Marichi, and grandson of Brahma. Aditi’s sisters were Diti, Kala, Danayus, Danu, Simhika, Krodha, Pradha, Vishwa, Vinata, Kapila, Muni and Kadru, according to Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 66 verse 12.The devas were the sons of Aditi and Kashyapa. That is why they’re also called Aditeyas. Kashyapa also married her sisters, and from them were born all of the world’s living beings.
Aditi had 33 sons, of which twelve were Dwadashadityas – Dhata, Aryama, Mitra, Shakra, Varuna, Ansha, Bhaga, Vivasvan, Pusha, Savita, Twashta and Vishnu. According to Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 65 verse 15, of the remaining, 11 were rudras and 8 were vasus.
Vishnu was born to Aditi as Vamana. The story of this birth was told by Vishwamitra to Rama and Lakshmana while they were traveling through the jungles, in the context of an ashram’s importance. When they visited the ashram, Vishwamitra told them that this was the place where Vishnu was born as Vamana. When Virochana’s son Mahabali conducted a yajna, the devas were frightened of the powers he was amassing and requested Vishnu to end the yajna. At the same time, Aditi was praying for Vishnu to be born as her son. According to Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 272 verse 62, Anushasanaparva Chapter 83 verses 25-26 and Ramayana Sarga 29, Vamana was born to her a thousand years later.
Once Kashyapa decided to conduct a yajna. While all the other arrangements were completed, he couldn’t get a suitable cow. He finally stole Varuna’s cow and conducted the yajna, and refused to give it back even after the yajna was completed. An enraged Varuna reached Kashyapa’s ashram, but he wasn’t there. Kashyapa’s wives Aditi and Surasa didn’t accord Varuna the desired respect. He cursed that they would be born in Gokul. Varuna then complained to Brahma. Brahma called Kashyapa and told him that since he had stolen the cow, he and his wives would be born in Gokul and would have to tend to cows. According to Devibhagavata Skanda 4, this was why, in the 28th Dwaparayuga, Kashyapa, Aditi and Surasa were born as Vasudeva, Devaki and Rohini respectively. This story was told to Janamejaya by Vyasa.
Thus Aditi was born as Devaki. There’s a reason why Devaki had to stay in prison at Kamsa’s command. Kashyapa, Aditi and Diti used to stay in an ashram. Aditi used to tend to all of Kashyapa’s needs and he was pleased enough to grant her a boon. Aditi wanted a perfect son and Kashyapa agreed. Thus Indra was born to Aditi. Diti was jealous and asked Kashyapa for a son who equaled Indra. Kashyapa agreed to this too and Diti became pregnant. As her pregnancy progressed, Diti began to glow and Aditi was afraid that she’d have a son who would surpass Indra. One day Aditi called Indra and told him that once Diti’s child was born, it was possible that Indra would be relegated to being second in terms of importance, and therefore he should do something about it. Indra approached Diti and told her that he was there to tend to her needs. Diti was happy to hear this and soon fell asleep. Indra managed to get into Diti’s womb and cut her unborn child into 49 pieces. As it was being cut, the child began to cry. Indra kept saying ma ruta (don’t cry). The child escaped the womb as 49 marutas (vayu) Diti woke up, learned the facts and cursed Aditi that since her child had been killed by treachery, Indra would lose his control over the three worlds, and since Aditi was responsible for this, she would not only have to stay in prison and pine for her child, but her children would die too. According to Devibhagavata Skanda 4, it was because of this curse that Indra lost his position to Nahusha, and when Aditi was born as Devaki, she was imprisoned by Kamsa and her children were killed by him too.
Narakasura once obtained a boon from Vishnu and began tormenting all the three worlds. He even attacked devaloka, and stole Indra’s golden umbrella and Aditi’s ear rings. According to Mahabharata Udyogaparva Chapter 48 verse 80, Sabhaparva Chapter 38 verse 29 and Bhagavata Dashamaskanda, Vishnu incarnated as Krishna, defeated Narakasura and retrieved the stolen material.
According to Mahabharata Aranyaparva Chapter 135 verse 3, Aditi once cooked rice in the interiors of the Mainaka mountains as part of an offering to get children. After the Mahabharata war, when Yudhishtira praises Krishna – Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 43 verse 6, he mentions that Vishnu was born to Aditi seven times.
When the asuras started became stronger, the devas were perturbed. Aditi decided to send all the devas to annihilate the asuras. She prepared rice for them. When it was ready Budha approached her for some food. She replied that the rice had been prepared for the devas because they were going to war, and Budha could have some only after they had finished their meal. According to Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 343 verse 96-98, Budha cursed that when Vivasvan would be born as Anda, Aditi would be his mother and she’d suffer from stomach pains then.
Before the time of Swayambhumanu, a prajapati called Supatas and his wife Prishni meditated for twelve thousand years. Vishnu appeared before them and they asked for a child like Vishnu to be born to them. Vishnu was subsequently born to Prishni as Prishnigarbha. According to Bhagavata Dashamaskanda Chapter 3, this was told by Krishna to Devaki during his birth. Prishni, Aditi and Devaki were all incarnations of the same person.
