Śri Maha-gaṇapataye namah

We discussed that exasperated with Sun-god, Samjnya-devi created a replica from her shadow and leaving her there, she returned to her parents’ home. She was tired of him who was cursing her frequently. When his daughter who had arrived to visit him, failed to return to her home even after many years, Vishwakarma began to get worried. He tried to advise her on the importance of returning to her husband’s home.

At that juncture, Saṃjnya-devi laid bare all the facts. She explained of her incapacity to withstand her husband’s radiance and hence declared that she would never return back to her home. However, every day her father Vishwakarma inevitably reminded her of her mistake in leaving her husband’s home and coaxed her to change her mind. Tired of this constant advice, Saṃjnya-devi left her father’s home on the pretext of returning to her own home. Instead, she transformed herself into a mare and, entering a forest, began intense austerities.

The Sun-god however was unaware of all these developments. Saṃjyna-devi had left behind her replica created from her own shadow. For convenience sake, we shall refer to this look-alike as ‘Chaya-devi’ (shadow), although in reality, she was none other than Samjnya herself.

Chaya-devi begot two sons named Shani and Sāvarṇi. She also had a daughter named Tapati. In course of time Shani became a planet (Saturn) while Sāvarṇi became a Manu (leader of the creation period Manvantara). Tapati married a king named Samvarna.

As time went by, Chaya-devi began to belittle her step-children i.e. the children of Saṃjnya-devi which caused the Sun-god to become suspicious of her. He pondered deeply and then using his divine vision, he realized that Chaya was not his real wife but that she was merely a shadow of his real wife.

You may wonder as to how Sun-god could be deceived by a shadow. The reason is that these children were destined to be born from this shadow.

Now, Sun-god began to search for his wife Saṃjnya. He located her who in the form of a mare was engaged in severe austerities in a forest. Assuming the form of a horse, the Sun-god approached her. The moment he looked at her, she gave birth to the twins, Ashwini-devatas.

Ashwini-devatas are the sons of Sun-god, who is the bestower of health. They are the celestial physicians.

Jaya Guru Datta