Sanjna

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Saranyu
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.

Sanjna
Goddess of Clouds and Twilight
Shraddhadeva Manu and Revanta

Sanjna (

Hindu scriptures including the Harivamsa and the Puranas
.

Described as the daughter of the craftsman deity

current Manu, the divine twin physicians Ashvins, and the god Revanta
.

Etymology and epithets

Saraṇyū is the female form of the adjective saraṇyú, meaning "quick, fleet, nimble", used for rivers and wind in the

Sarayu).[1] Saranyu has been described as "the swift-speeding storm cloud".[2] In the later text named Harivamsa (5th century C.E.), Saranyu is known as Sanjna or Samjna , which means 'image', 'sign' or 'name'.[3][4] Samjna is sometimes known by the name Sandhya (lit. 'twilight').[5]

Textual sources and family

Statues of Surya and his two consorts — Sanjna and Chhaya

Sanjna is mentioned in the

Vivasvan, whom she temporarily abandoned and appointed Sadrisha (lookalike woman) to foster her children. The story of Saranyu abandoning her husband is then narrated in Yaksha's Nirukta (c. 500 BCE). The text of Bṛhaddevatā also narrates the same story with additional details of Ashvin's birth.[3]

The epic

Vishwakarma (identified with Tvashta) and her lookalike is called Chhaya ('reflection' or 'shadow').[6] However in Bhagavata Purana, Chhaya is her biological sister.[7]

Most scriptures mention 6 children of Surya by Saranyu:

However, as per

Yama and Yamuna (Yami).[4][7]

Legends

Birth of Ashwinikumar, a folio from the Harivamsa

According to many texts, the craftsman deity

Tvastar, has two children Samjna and Trisiras. After Saranyu grows into a beautiful maiden, he arranges his daughter's Svayamvara, a custom in which a lady chooses her husband from the group of eligible suitors. Samjna marries Surya (alias Vivasvan), the sun god.[1][10]

Samjna is unsatisfied with her marital life. The Harivamsa states that power and heat of Surya has made him unpleasant looking to her, while according to the Markandeya Purana, Samjna's behaviour changes as she is unable to bear Surya's splendor or heat.

tapas in the forest.[12]

Meanwhile, Surya, unaware of the replacement, impregnates the look alike. Chhaya is partial to her own children. Yama later abuses and threatens her with his leg in the Harivamsa, while the Markandeya Purana tells that he kicks her. All texts mention that Chhaya casts a curse on him. In some versions, she curses Yama's leg to get infected with worms or fall apart or both. Surya gets to know that she was not Yama's mother due to the harsh punishment which a mother wouldn't consider. This behaviour of a mother to her child makes Surya suspicious and after confronting Chhaya, she discloses the whole incident.

Distressed, Surya goes to his father in law, and asks him to cure his splendor. Vishwakarma then reduces Surya's glory, making him pleasant to behold. Surya then locates Samjna, who was in the form of a mare, and after finding her, he assumes the form of a stallion and engages in love making with her. Samjna delivers twins Ashvins through her nose. Surya shows his normal form to her. Sanjana is pleased to see her husband's beauty and returns to her abode with her new-born twins.

Revant, the divine master of horses, as the son of Sanjana.[9]

In many Puranas, Vishvakarma uses Surya's heat to create many celestial weapons.[8]

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Kinsley 1986, p. 16.
  2. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Erinyes" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 745.
  3. ^
    ISBN 81-208-1491-6
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-89281-354-4
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-226-15640-8
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-89281-807-5
    .
  7. ^
    Prabhupada. "Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: Chapter 13: Description of Future Manus". The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. Archived from the original
    on 15 February 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d e Puranic Encyclopedia: a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature, Vettam Mani, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1975, p. Samjñā
  9. ^
    ISBN 81-7488-168-9
  10. ^ Wendy 1984, p. 154.
  11. ^ Wendy 1988, p. 158 (for Harivamsa).
  12. Wilson, Horace Hayman (1866). "II"
    . The Vishńu Puráńa: a system of Hindu mythology and tradition. Vol. 8. London: Trubner & Co. pp. 20–23.

References

External links

  • Media related to Samjna at Wikimedia Commons
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