Divine Mother in the Rig Veda

An extract from the book A Yoga philosophy guidebook.

    The Divine Mother has many names and faces in the yogic tradition. In the Rig Veda, Aditi (a name which means unbound) is the mother of the devas and the twelve beings that form the Vedic zodiac, from whom the stars    and planets are born. “She is the Supreme Light and all radiances proceed from her.” (Sri Aurobindo). She is self-luminous, the Light that is Mother of all things, and manifests also as Usha, the divine dawn who brings with every new    day more truth to the evolving Earth.

In another Vedic hymn (Rig Veda 10.125.3-8), the rishi speaks as the Divine Mother embodied as Vak, the primordial voice. This verse is commonly known as the Vak Suktam or the Devī Suktam:

“I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship. The devas have dispersed me and established me in many places, causing me to pervade everything.

One who eats food, who sees, who breathes, who hears the spoken word does so through me alone. Even the non-perceivers of you dwell near me. Hear me if you are capable! I speak to you the truth.

I speak these words myself, which are praised by both devas and humans: whomever I wish, I make them powerful, well-versed in knowledge, a sage and a wise one.

I bend the bow for Rudra [Shiva], that his arrow may strike, and slay the hater of devotion. I rouse and order battle for the people, I created Earth and Heaven and reside as their Inner Controller.

On the world's summit, I bring forth sky the Father: my home is in the waters, in the ocean as Mother. Thence I pervade all existing creatures, as their Inner Supreme Self, and manifest them with my body.

I created all worlds at my will, without any higher being, and permeate and dwell within them. The eternal and infinite consciousness is I, it is my greatness dwelling in everything.” (Translation modified from original by    Ralph T.H. Griffith)