Samjñā

By Swami Harshananda

Samjñā was the daughter of Viśvakarma, the architect of the Gods. She was also known as Sureṇu. Married to Surya she bore him two sons named Vaivasvāta and Yama. They also had a daughter named Yamunā. Unable to bear the brilliance of Surya, she one day left him, after leaving her shadow-goddess called Chāyādevī in her place. Chāyādevī bore Surya two sons named Sāvarṇi-manu and Sanaiścara. When Surya discovered the truth he went in search of her and found her roaming about as a mare. The two Aśvins were born to them by their union. He brought her back after pacifying her. As a general word samjñā means a symbol of consciousness.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore