12 Sons of Aditi · 12 Solar months
Dwadasha Aditya
द्वादश आदित्य
Surya manifests in 12 forms — each presiding over one solar month of the Vedic year. The 12 Surya Namaskar mantras (Mitraya, Ravaye, Suryaya…) invoke these Adityas. From Vivasvan (father of dharma) to Trivikrama (Vishnu's solar form), they form the complete solar grid of Sanatana Dharma.
See also Nava Graha, Ashta Lakshmi and Dashavatar of Vishnu.
1Vivasvan
विवस्वान्Month: Magha (Jan-Feb)
Cosmic dawn, source of vedic dharma, father of Manu
2Aryaman
अर्यमन्Month: Phalguna (Feb-Mar)
Nobility, hospitality, marriage bonds, milky way (Aryaman-patha)
3Pushan
पूषन्Month: Chaitra (Mar-Apr)
Nourishment, safe travel, cattle protection, soul-guide
4Tvashta
त्वष्टाMonth: Vaisakha (Apr-May)
Cosmic artisan, divine craftsman, weapon-maker for devas
5Savitar
सवितृMonth: Jyeshtha (May-Jun)
Impeller of action, source of Gayatri mantra, awakener of consciousness
6Bhaga
भगMonth: Ashadha (Jun-Jul)
Bliss, fortune, marital felicity, wealth distribution
7Dhata
धाताMonth: Shravana (Jul-Aug)
Cosmic ordainer, supporter of creation, karma-fruit allocator
8Vidhata
विधाताMonth: Bhadrapada (Aug-Sep)
Cosmic ordainer (writes the karma-script), destiny-encoder
9Varuna
वरुणMonth: Ashwina (Sep-Oct)
Cosmic order (Rta), oceans, oath-keeping, night-sky
10Mitra
मित्रMonth: Karttika (Oct-Nov)
Friendship, cosmic alliance, daylight, contracts
11Indra
इन्द्रMonth: Margashirsha (Nov-Dec)
Heavenly kingship, monsoon thunder, valor, devic-might
12Trivikrama
त्रिविक्रमMonth: Pausha (Dec-Jan)
Vishnu's solar form — Vamana avatar covering three worlds in three strides
The 12 Surya Namaskar mantras
Each round of Surya Namaskar invokes one Aditya: Mitraya, Ravaye, Suryaya, Bhanave, Khagaya, Pushne, Hiranyagarbhaya, Marichaye, Adityaya, Savitre, Arkaya, Bhaskaraya. Practitioners complete 12 rounds at sunrise for full solar circuit. See yoga practice guides and Vedic sankalp generator for ritual setup.