Introduction
Sanjna, "consciousness" or "understanding", is the wife of Surya, the sun god, and the daughter of Tvashtri (Vishvakarma), the divine craftsman. She is the mother of Yama, the god of death, of the river goddess Yamuna, of the Ashvins, and of Vaivasvata Manu, the ancestor of humankind. In the Rigveda, she is called Saranyu.
Family
- Father: Tvashtri
- Husband: Surya
- Children: Ashvini Kumaras, Yama, Yamuna
Saranyu in the Rigveda
In the Rigveda (10.17), Saranyu, the daughter of Tvashtar, is the wife of Vivasvat (the sun). She had twin children, Yama and Yami. Saranyu then concealed the immortal woman from the mortal and put in her place a woman like herself, and went away in the form of a mare. Vivasvat took the substitute as his wife. When he discovered the truth, he followed as a stallion, and the twin Ashvins were born.
The Puranic story
In the Puranas, the story is expanded. Sanjna could not bear the dazzling heat of Surya, and created a shadow woman, Chhaya, to take her place as his wife. She went to the forest and practised austerities in the form of a mare. For some time Surya did not realise the difference. Then Yama's quarrel with Chhaya, in which Chhaya cursed him, revealed the truth. Surya learned where his wife was, and followed her as a stallion. The two together had the Ashvins, and a further son, Revanta in some accounts.
Sanjna's father Tvashtri then trimmed away part of the sun's brilliance on a lathe, so that Sanjna could live with her husband. The material that was cut off was used to make the weapons of the gods.
Children
Sanjna's children with Surya include Vaivasvata Manu, the seventh Manu and progenitor of the present humanity; Yama, the god of death and justice; Yamuna, the river goddess; and the twin Ashvins, the physicians of the gods.
Meaning
The story is interpreted as a myth about the sun, whose light is too great for the earth, and about the relationship between light and shadow. Sanjna is regarded as the "consciousness" of the sun.
Worship
Sanjna has no widespread separate worship, but she is honoured as the wife of Surya. Some sun temples include her image.