Lajja Gauri

Aditi, the Hindu Great Mother Goddess, in her form as Lajja Gauri. From Wikipedia: "Aditi is a personification of the infinite. She is the goddess of earth, sky, unconsciousness, the past, the future, fertility. She is the mother of the celestial deities and is referred to as the mother of many gods. A celestial mother of every existing form and being, the synthesis of all things..."

Aditi birthed the 12 Adityas, each the sun for one month of the year. I love that fact, because I was a teacher for two years in an area with a large Indian population. Now I know why so many of the boys were named Aditya! They are the sun, and their mother is the Great Goddess.

Her Lajja Gauri form has a lotus head and is often portrayed in a birthing posture, but without outward signs of pregnancy. According to some sources, Lajja means "modesty". Other sources translate the word as "free", "limitless", or "unbound". If anyone has more knowledge, please share in the comments.

As a creator goddess, I felt that she probably also birthed the earth and the moon, as portrayed in my painting, to the right. Acrylic paint on recycled cedar shingle.

Sources:

Wikipedia - Lajja Gauri

Wikipedia - Aditi

Vidya's Vedic Goddess Blog

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