Aditi means ‘boundless’ – from “A” (without) and “Diti” (to bind). She is a major deity in the Rig Veda, symbolizing endless creation. In Vedic hymns, people pray to her to remove sins and sickness. In the Puranas, she is known as the Mother Goddess. She is the daughter of Daksa-Prajapati and wife of Kasyapa Rishi. She gives birth to the 33 Vedic gods (not 33 crores as is commonly believed) – 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras, 8 Vasus, Agni, and Indra. She is also the mother of Vishnu in his Vamana (dwarf) form. Her sister Diti prays for strong children and becomes pregnant. Aditi feels jealous. Indra secretly cuts the fetus into 49 pieces, which become the Maruts (elements like thunder and rain). A sad Diti curses Aditi to be reborn as a mother who grieves for her children. Aditi is reborn as Devaki, Krishna’s mother, and grieves when her first seven children are killed by her brother Kansa.

In Hindu weddings, the priest shows the couple the Arundhati star. In Indian astronomy, Mizar and Alcor in the Ursa Major constellation (Great Bear or Saptarshi) are called Vasishtha and Arundhati. Unlike most twin stars, where one stays still and the other moves, Vasishtha and Arundhati move together, showing the equal importance of both partners. Arundhati means ‘one who cannot be stopped on the path of goodness.’

The story of ‘Satyavadi’ (always truthful) Harishchandra appears in the Vedas, Mahabharata, and many Puranas. It shows the importance of truth in tough times. The most famous version is in the Markandeya Purana. Harishchandra gave away his kingdom, sold his family, and became a slave to keep a promise to sage Vishvamitra. His wife Taramati (also called Shaivya or Chandramati) shared all these hardships. He worked at a crematorium, and she became a slave. Their son died from a snakebite, but Harishchandra refused to cremate him until Taramati paid the fee. She had only her cloth and offered to tear half of it to pay. Then, the gods stepped in and restored their lives. The first Indian film, Raja Harishchandra, by Dadasaheb Phalke, was based on this story.

In the Bhagavata, Vishnu, and Padma Puranas, Chitralekha and Usa were best friends. Usha was the daughter of the demon king Banasura. Chitralekha was a skilled painter. Usha dreamed of a handsome prince she wanted to marry. Chitralekha painted him and they realized he was Aniruddha, son of Pradyumna and grandson of Krishna. Chitralekha abducted Aniruddha from his bed in Dwarka. When Krishna learned the truth, he attacked and defeated Banasura. After learning Usha and Aniruddha loved each other, he blessed their marriage and brought them to Dwarka.

The story of Nala and Damayanti is in the Mahabharata’s ‘Vana Parva.’ Yudhishthira asks a sage if any king was more unlucky than him. The sage tells Nala’s story, which is retold in many Puranas. It warns against gambling. Nala, king of Nishadha, is handsome and noble. Damayanti, daughter of Vidarbha’s king, matches his qualities. Nala sends a golden swan to express his love. Celestial Gods also love her and force Nala to share their feelings with her. Damayanti refuses them and marries Nala. Later, Kaliyuga affects Nala. His brother challenges him to a dice game, and Nala loses. He leaves Damayanti and wanders, working as a cook. Damayanti’s devotion helps Nala defeat Kali.

Ancient Indian kings belonged to either the solar (Suryavanshi or Ikshvaku) or lunar (Chandravanshi or Aila) dynasty. Ikshvaku, an ancestor of Rama, started the solar dynasty. Ila, an ancestor of Bhishma, started the lunar dynasty. Both were siblings, children of Vaivasvata Manu. The Puranas say after IIa was born, her parents asked Vashishtha Rishi for a son. He made Ila switch between female and male (Sudyumna) every month. As a woman, Ila married Budha and had a son, Pururavas, who began the lunar dynasty. This story may be an early mention of androgyny in Indian texts. Some versions say Budha turned Ila’s attendants into kimpurushas (hermaphrodites).

The gods defeated the demons. Shukracharya, the demons’ guru, prayed to Shiva to regain their strength. Indra sent his daughter Jayanti to disrupt Shukracharya’s penance, instead of an apsara. Jayanti refused to cheat and served Shukracharya well. After his penance, she asked to marry him. This story is in the Bhagavata Purana.

Padmavati, a princess of Vidarbha, married Ugrasena, ruler of Mathura. While visiting her father, Gobhila, Kubera’s messenger, saw her beauty and wanted to marry her. When refused, he disguised himself as Ugrasena and tricked Padmavati. Realizing her mistake, she tried to abort the child. However the foetus told her that it had come to the womb to finish its enmity with Sri Vishnu. Padmavati kept the child, and her father and husband accepted the child. The child grew up as Kansa, a terror to his family and kingdom, until Krishna killed him.

Rukmini, princess of Vidarbha, wanted to marry Krishna. Her brother Rukmi planned her marriage to his friend Sisupala, king of Chedi. Rukmini wrote to Krishna, explaining how they could elope. Krishna agreed, arriving with Balarama and his army. Rukmini’s father quietly supported her plan. During pre-wedding rituals, Rukmini visited Goddess Ambika’s temple, where Krishna waited. She joined him in his chariot. Rukmi and Sisupala chased them, but Krishna defeated them. He spared Rukmi but shaved half his mustache and hair, humiliating him. Rukmi grew so bitter from this episode that he was excluded from the Mahabharata war by both Kauravas and Pandavas. Only Balarama and Rukmi did not fight in the Mahabharata war.

The Mahabharata and Skanda Purana tell of Savitri and Satyavan. Savitri, daughter of the Madra king, chose Satyavan, a poor prince living in the forest, as her husband. Sage Narada warned that Satyavan would die within a year, but Savitri married him. When Yama, the god of death, came for Satyavan, Savitri argued wisely. Her dialogue with Yama teaches ethics and knowledge. Impressed, Yama granted her four boons. Savitri asked for her family’s welfare and a hundred sons. She then said she needed Satyavan to fulfill this, as she wouldn’t remarry. Yama agreed. Savitri is often seen as a helpless woman, but she takes charge in the story. Her tale is celebrated as Vata Savitri Vrata. The link between Savitri and the banyan tree is unclear.

The Puranas often focus on women’s family roles but also highlight some brilliant scholars. Sumana was an expert in the Vedas. Her husband, Somasharma, complained about having no wealth or children. Sumana taught him Vedanta, helping him gain wisdom. She later sent him to sage Vashishtha for further studies. The story notes they had a son, Suvrata, and lived a happy family life.

Devahuti, daughter of Swayambhuva Manu, married sage Kardama, a human progenitor. Devahuti and Kardama established the institution of marriage and human creation. Both were scholars and had nine smart daughters. Due to their love for knowledge, Vishnu was born as a son, Kapila, to them. Kapila taught Devahuti the oldest Hindu philosophy form of Sankhya. Few Hindus follow Sankhya today, but its ideas, like purusha, prakriti, and the three gunas, influenced texts like the Gita. Sankhya does not believe in God. However, its founder Kapila is venerated as Vishnu. He is honored at the Gangasagar mela in Bengal during Makar Sankranti. The historical Kapila likely lived in eastern India around 550 BCE.