Sanjna also known as Saranyu is the chief consort of Surya, the Sun god.
Saranyu has been described as “the swift-speeding storm cloud”. In the later text named Harivamsa (5th century C.E.), Saranyu is known as Sanjna or Samjna (pronounced. Sangya), which means ‘image’, ‘sign’ or ‘name’. In the Puranas, Samjna is known by many other names including Sandhya, Sanjana and Suvarchala.
According to many texts, the craftsman deity Vishwakarma, also known as 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.
Birth of Yama and Yami:
The Harivamsa states that the power and heat of Surya have made him unpleasant looking to her, while according to the Markandeya Purana, Samjna’s behaviour changes as she is unable to bear Surya’s splendour or heat. Her behaviour angers Surya and he curses her next-born children. After the birth of Yama and Yami, she is unable to tolerate more and decides to abandon her husband.
Creation of Chhaya:
Before leaving, she creates a similar-looking woman from her shadow (Chhaya) and asks her to take care of the children. However, in Vedic accounts, the lady is a similar-looking woman named Savarna.
According to Harivamsa and Markandeya Purana, Samjna reaches her father’s abode but is asked by him to return. Helpless, she assumes the form of a mare and roams in the forest of Kuru.
In the Vishnu Purana, a similar legend is recited by the sage Parashara but Samjna leaves Surya to gain control over his heat by performing tapas in the forest.
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 says 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 is 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.
Birth of Ashvins:
Distressed, Surya goes to his father-in-law and asks him to cure his splendour. Vishwakarma then reduces Surya’s glory, making him pleasant to behold. Surya then locates Samjna, who is in the form of a mare, and after finding her, he assumes the form of a stallion and engages in lovemaking 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 newborn twins. Unlike the previous version of Harivamsa, Markandeya Purana states that Surya asks his father-in-law to reduce his heat after the birth of Ashvins.
Some texts also add Revant, the divine master of horses, as the son of Sanjana.
In many Puranas, Vishvakarma uses Surya’s heat to create many celestial weapons.
