The Birth Story of the Ashvini Kumaras - Markandeya Purana

The Divine Story of Surya and Sanjana: Why the Sun God Became a Horse

Among the fascinating stories of Hindu mythology, the tale of Surya Dev and his wife Sanjana stands out for its extraordinary transformations, divine revelations and unusual account of the birth of celestial beings. According to the Markandeya Purana, Sanjana could not endure the intense radiance of her husband, the Sun God. She eventually left his celestial abode and took the form of a mare, seeking refuge in the distant northern region of Uttarakuru.

When Surya discovered her whereabouts, he too transformed himself into a horse. Their reunion in equine forms led to the birth of the Ashvini Kumaras, the divine twin physicians, and Revanta, a celestial figure associated with horses and horsemanship.

But why did Sanjana leave her husband? How did Surya discover the deception involving her shadow, Chhaya? And why were the Ashvini Kumaras born through such an unusual divine encounter?

The answers lie in the ancient narrative preserved in the Markandeya Purana, which describes the events leading to the reunion of Surya and Sanjana.

1. Who Were Surya Dev and Sanjana?

Surya Dev, also known as Vivasvat or Martanda in various scriptural accounts, is the Hindu Sun God, representing the radiant power that illuminates the world.

Sanjana, also written as Sanjna or Samjna, was the daughter of Vishwakarma, the celestial architect renowned for his craftsmanship and ability to fashion extraordinary divine objects.

According to the Markandeya Purana, Sanjana became the wife of Surya and gave birth to children who would later occupy important positions in Hindu cosmology. Their family included Manu Vaivasvata and Yama, while other traditions also associate their household with Yamuna.

However, their marriage encountered difficulties because Sanjana found her husband's overwhelming radiance impossible to endure.

2. Why Did Sanjana Leave Surya Dev?

The story begins with Sanjana's inability to tolerate Surya's intense brilliance.

According to the Markandeya Purana, whenever Surya looked at Sanjana, she would instinctively close her eyes. Surya interpreted this behaviour as disrespect and responded angrily, pronouncing that she would give birth to Yama, the deity associated with death and justice.

The narrative presents this episode as the beginning of a deeper problem: Sanjana could not comfortably live with Surya because of the intensity of his radiance. Unable to endure the situation, she decided to leave the solar abode.

Sanjana Creates Her Shadow, Chhaya

Before departing, Sanjana created a figure resembling herself from her shadow. This figure was called Chhaya, meaning “shadow”. Sanjana entrusted Chhaya with the responsibility of remaining in her place, caring for the household and looking after the children. She instructed her not to disclose the substitution to Surya. With Chhaya occupying her place, Sanjana left in search of a place where she could live without suffering from Surya's overwhelming brilliance. This deception would eventually become the key to Surya discovering the truth about his wife's disappearance.

3. Sanjana's Escape to Uttarakuru in the Form of a Mare

After leaving Surya's abode, Sanjana returned to her father, Vishwakarma. However, he did not accept her permanent withdrawal from her marriage and urged her to return to her husband. Unwilling to resume her former life while Surya's radiance remained unbearable, Sanjana departed for the northern region known as Uttarakuru. There, she adopted the form of a mare and engaged in austerities. Her transformation was not simply a change in appearance. It enabled her to remain hidden while continuing her spiritual discipline in a remote setting.

The Markandeya Purana describes Surya eventually discovering Sanjana in this equine form. Her decision to become a mare therefore sets the stage for one of the most unusual episodes in the mythology of the Sun God.

4. How Did Surya Discover Chhaya's Secret?

While Sanjana remained away, Chhaya continued to live in her place. For a time, Surya did not realise that the woman living with him was not his original wife. The truth emerged following a conflict involving Yama.

According to the traditional account, Chhaya became angry with Yama and pronounced a curse against him. This caused suspicion because Yama recognised that her behaviour was inconsistent with what he expected from his mother. Surya investigated the matter and eventually learned that Chhaya was not Sanjana but her shadow-replica. With the deception exposed, Surya sought to discover where his real wife had gone. Through his divine insight, he located Sanjana in Uttarakuru, where she was living in the form of a mare and practising austerities. Surya now understood where she was. Yet another obstacle remained: his own radiance had been the principal reason for her departure.

5. Why Did Vishwakarma Reduce Surya's Radiance?

Before approaching Sanjana, Surya went to his father-in-law, Vishwakarma, the celestial craftsman.

According to the Markandeya Purana, Vishwakarma reduced Surya's overwhelming radiance by removing fifteen of its sixteen parts, leaving him with one-sixteenth of his original splendour. The radiance removed from Surya was used to fashion powerful divine weapons. These included the discus of Vishnu and the trident of Shiva, along with other celestial weapons and objects. This episode is particularly significant because it links the story of Surya and Sanjana with the traditional origins of important weapons belonging to Hindu deities. The reduction in Surya's brilliance also explains how the couple could be reunited. His appearance was now less overwhelming, addressing the very difficulty that had driven Sanjana away. With his radiance moderated, Surya prepared to find his wife.

6. Why Did Surya Transform into a Horse?

Having located Sanjana, Surya travelled to Uttarakuru in the form of a horse. The transformation mirrored Sanjana's earlier decision to adopt the form of a mare. When Sanjana saw the approaching horse, she feared that it might be an unfamiliar male. The account explains that she turned to face him, remaining cautious as he approached. The two horses then came together, and their noses touched.

The Markandeya Purana describes this encounter as the event through which their divine offspring came into being. The imagery of the horses meeting is central to understanding the unusual birth narrative that follows. Rather than being a passing detail, the equine transformation explains why the children born from this encounter are closely associated with horses and why the Ashvini Kumaras occupy such a distinctive place in Hindu mythology.

7. The Birth of the Ashvini Kumaras

One of the most remarkable features of this story is the birth of the Ashvini Kumaras, the divine twin physicians. The twins are identified as Nasatya and Dasra, also written as Nasatya and Dasra in English translations of the Sanskrit names.

According to the Markandeya Purana, when Surya and Sanjana met in their horse forms, their noses came together and Surya's radiance passed through the encounter. The narrative associates the birth of the twins with the horses' mouths or nostrils, although translations differ in how they render the precise imagery. The Ashvini Kumaras subsequently became renowned as the physicians of the gods.

They are associated with healing, restoration, vitality and the ability to overcome physical affliction. Their presence in Hindu mythology is especially significant because they represent divine medical knowledge and the restoration of well-being.

Their equine association also reflects the circumstances of their birth. The Sanskrit name Ashvin is connected with the horse, and the twins are frequently represented in traditional imagery with horse-related features.

Thus, the story of Surya and Sanjana offers a mythological explanation for the distinctive identity of the Ashvini Kumaras.

8. Who Was Revanta, the Son of Surya and Sanjana?

The account does not end with the birth of the twins.

The Markandeya Purana also describes the birth of Revanta following the encounter between Surya and Sanjana. Revanta is depicted as a striking celestial figure equipped for battle. The text describes him with weapons and armour, mounted on a horse and carrying a quiver. His association with horses is particularly appropriate given the circumstances of his birth. Revanta was born from the semen that fell on the ground during the unnatural union of Surya and Sanjana.

In later Hindu traditions, Revanta is associated with horsemanship, protection and the retinue of celestial beings. His story adds another dimension to the episode, showing that the equine union of Surya and Sanjana was connected not only with the Ashvini Kumaras but also with another distinctive divine figure.

Together, the twins and Revanta form the principal offspring associated with this particular reunion in the narrative.

9. How Did Surya and Sanjana Reunite?

After the birth of their divine offspring, Surya revealed his original form to Sanjana.

However, this was no longer the same overwhelmingly radiant appearance that had caused her to flee. Vishwakarma had reduced Surya's excessive brilliance, making his appearance more tolerable. Sanjana was delighted when she saw him in this changed form. The couple then returned to their celestial abode together, bringing the separation to an end. The story concludes with reconciliation. Sanjana no longer needed to hide in the northern wilderness, and Surya had addressed the problem that had disrupted their marriage. Their reunion also explains the mythological origins of the Ashvini Kumaras and Revanta, whose identities remain closely connected with this extraordinary episode.

Conclusion

The story of Surya and Sanjana transforming into horses is one of the most unusual narratives in Hindu mythology. What begins as a separation caused by Surya's overwhelming radiance develops into a journey involving deception, divine craftsmanship, transformation and eventual reconciliation.

Sanjana's decision to become a mare leads Surya to seek her in the same form. Their reunion in Uttarakuru gives rise to the Ashvini Kumaras, the divine physicians, and Revanta, another celestial figure associated with horses.

Through this account, the Markandeya Purana connects the story of a divine couple with the origins of important figures in Hindu tradition. The episode remains memorable for its distinctive imagery and for the way it links Surya's radiance, Vishwakarma's craftsmanship and the birth of the celestial twins through unnatural union.

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