Chhaya

For other uses, seeChhaya (disambiguation).

Chhaya
Goddess of Shadows
Surya with consortsSanjnaand Chhaya
Devanagari	छाया
Sanskrittransliteration	Chhāyā
Affiliation	Devi,shadow ofSaranyu
Abode	Suryaloka
Mantra	Om Chhayave Namah
Genealogy
Consort	Surya
Children	Savarni Manu,Shani,Tapati

ChhayaorChaya(Sanskrit:छाया,romanized:Chāyā,lit. 'shadow' or 'shade'), also known asSavarna,is theHindupersonificationandgoddessofshadow,and a consort ofSurya,the Hindusun god.She is the shadow-image or reflection ofSaranyu(Sanjna), the first wife of Surya. Chhaya was born from the shadow of Sanjna and replaced Sanjna in her house, after the latter temporarily left her husband.

Chhaya is usually described as the mother ofShani,the planet Saturn, and the god of karma and justice: a fearedgraha;goddess Tapti, the personification of riverTapti;goddess Vishti, the personification of Kala; and a son Savarni Manu, who is destined to be the next and eighthManu(progenitor of mankind) – the ruler of the nextManvantaraperiod.

Early Vedic and epic legends

In theRigveda(c. 2nd Millennium BCE), which is the earliest narrative about the Chhaya-prototype. After the birth of twins to Vivasvan (Surya), his consort Saranyu - the daughter ofVishwakarma- abandons him and flees in form of a mare. The divine Saranyu places in her place a woman calledSavarna( "same-kind" ): similar to Saranyu, but mortal, unlike the laterPuranas where Chhaya is a mere shadow of Saranyu. Savarna has no children by Surya. A later (700-500 BCE) addition to theRigvedaby Yaska in hisNikutasays that Manu (the progenitor of mankind, called Savarni Manu in later Puranic text) was born to Savarna. While the original text says "they" (interpreted as the gods) substituted Savarna for Saranyu, Yaksa'sNikutatells that Saranyu created Savarna and substituted her.Brhad devatacalls the prototype of Chhaya asSadrisha( "look-alike" ), a woman who looked like Saranyu.Sadrshabegot Manu by Surya, who became a royal sage.

By the time of theHarivamsa(c. 5th century CE), an appendix of the epicMahabharata;Saranyu is called Sanjna and her double is reduced to her shadow or reflection Chhaya. It narrates:that Sanjna, after giving birth to three children of the Sun, abandons him, and leaves Chhaya - who she creates by illusion - to take care of her children. Surya mistakes Chhaya for Sanjna and begets Manu by her. As Manu looked just like his father, he was called Savarni Manu. When Chhaya, also calledparthvi( "earthly" ) Sanjna, became partial to her own son and ignored those of Sanjna,Yamathreatens her by raising his foot. Chhaya casts a curse on Yama that his legs would fall away, but Surya reduced this curse so that some parts of Yama's legs would fall and would be consumed by worms on earth. Upon discovery of this, Surya threatens Chhaya, and she discloses the story of her creation; whereafter Surya finds Sanjna and brings her back. The text also states that Shani was a brother of Savarni Manu, though his birth is not explicitly stated.

Puranic legends

TheMarkandeya Puranatells the tale of Sanjna-Chhaya twice, the tale is similar to that in theHarivamsa,but Sanjna leaves Surya as she is unable to bear his splendour and heat. The curse to Yama is a little different. Yama abuses Chhaya and picks his leg up to kick her. Chhaya curses Yama to have his leg affected with worms and sores. Surya grants Yama, a cock to eat the worms from his leg. In the other telling, the curse is almost same as theHarivamsa.Chhaya also cleverly says that she is Yama's father's wife, but does not say that she is his mother.

TheVishnu Puranaalso records the legend similar toMarkandeya Purana,but has few differences. Unable to bear Surya's intense heat, Sanjna after giving birth to three children - retires to the forest to practice harsh austerities in form of a mare, leaving her shadow-image Chhaya, her handmaid to take her place and tend for her husband and progeny. Surya mistakes Chhaya for Sanjna and fathers three children on her. Chhaya gives birth to Shani, Savarni Manu and Tapti. However, Chhaya became partial to her own children and ignored those of Sanjna. Yama, suspected the behavior of who he thought was his mother and offended her. Chhaya cast a curse on Yama (the details of the curse are not disclosed), which revealed to Yama and Surya that Chhaya was not the true Sanjna. After the extracting the truth from Chhaya, Surya finds Sanjna and brings her back.

TheMatsya Puranaalso presents a similar account about Chhaya, however the children of Chhaya are named as Savarni Manu a son and two daughters: Tapti and Vishti, who was dark blue colour and a personification ofKala(Time or Death) who dwells inHell.Chhaya's tale is also found in the 11th century CEKathasaritsagara.TheMarkandeya Puranarecords that Chhaya had three sons: Shani, Savarni Manu andRevanta,the divine master of horses.Kurma Puranadescribes only Savarni Manu as her son.While in some versions of the tale, Surya abandons Chhaya after knowing the truth about her, Surya deserts Chhaya before bringing back Sanjna,however a contemporary version tells that Chhaya was forgiven and lived with Surya, Sanjna and their children thereafter.

While most accounts consider Chhaya to be the reflection or shadow of Saranyu (Sanjna) - Surya's first wife;Bhagavata Puranatells that Chhaya was a sister of Sanjna and the daughter of the divine architectVishwakarma.

Markandeya Puranaas well asVishnudharmottara Puranaprescribe that Surya should be depicted in images with Chhaya and his other wives by his sides.