61/115 The fact, noticed by Hillebrandt, that the Vasishtha family are the chief praisers of Varuna, may also indicate that his special elevation was due to the theological conceptions of one clan, rather than of the whole people, since in the other family books he is worshipped more as one of a pair, Varuna and Mitra, heaven and sun. Aditi makes, perhaps, the first approach to formal pantheism in India, for all gods, men, and things are identified with her (i.89. 10). Seven children of Aditi are mentioned, to whom is added an eighth (in one hymn).[91] The chief of these, who is, _par excellence_ the [=A]ditya (son of Aditi), is Varuna. Most of the others are divinities of the sun (x. |