| Chhaya | |
|---|---|
Goddess of Shadows | |
 Surya with consorts Sanjna and Chhaya | |
| Devanagari | छाया |
| Sanskrit transliteration | Chhāyā |
| Affiliation | Devi, shadow of Saranyu |
| Abode | Suryaloka |
| Mantra | Om Chhayave Namah |
| Genealogy | |
| Consort | Surya |
| Children | Savarni Manu, Shani, Tapati |
Chhaya or Chaya (Sanskrit: छाया, romanized: Chhāyā, lit. 'shadow' or 'shade'), also known as Savarna, is the Hindu personification and goddess of shadow, and a consort of Surya, the Hindu sun god.[1] She is the shadow-image or reflection of Saranyu (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 of Shani, the planet Saturn, and the god of karma and justice: a feared graha; goddess Tapti, the personification of river Tapti; goddess Vishti , the personification of Kala; and a son Savarni Manu, who is destined to be the next and eighth Manu (progenitor of mankind) – the ruler of the next Manvantara period.[2]
- ^ Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (2008 revision) p. 406
- ^ According to Hindu cosmology, man is currently in the seventh Manvantara.