When facing her husband, Sanja's eyes would dart about or she would close them entirely, these actions reflected in their twins
Yama and Yami. Yama is the
god of restraint, echoing Sanjna restricting her vision, while Yami is the
goddess of rivers, mimkicking the pattern of her darting eyes. But Sanjna couldn't endure Surya's intensity any longer, bringing to life her shadow -a reflection of herself- before fleeing in the form of a white horse.
She instructed Chhaya to impersonate her and to care for her children... but she never expected Chhaya to mother children of her own.
In the beginning, Surya suspected nothing from this mirror of his wife and she gives birth to three children. These three were
Manu, the
progenitor of mankind, Shani, the
god of karma and justice, and Tapati,
god of the river Tapti. But she doesn't show Sanjna's children the same affection she has for her own children, neglecting them if not being cruel to them.
Yama grows especially angry and resentful, his angry outbursts resulting in Chhaya cursing him! Surya diminishes the curse and becomes suspicious--after all, what mother could place a curse on her own child? When pressured, Chhaya reveals their deception as well as why Sanjna left. Flabbergasted, Surya seeks the aid of Tvashtr, Sanjna's father, who reduces his excessive teja and brightens his skin to a golden hue!
When Surya finds Sanjna, he turns himself into a stallion and pursues her, siring the
Ashvin twins and Revanta, all retaining features of a horse! The Ashvins represent
health and medicine, these liminal deities living as both horse and man and residing in both the mortal and immortal worlds. Meanwhile Revanta is the
master of horses. Afterwards, Surya reveals his new appearance, satisfying Sanjna enough for her to return home with him. Some say Chhaya was abandoned by Surya after her deception while others claim she still lives happily as Surya's devoted second wife!
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