Saranyu (Saraṇyū) is the wife of Surya, and a goddess of the dawn in Hindu mythology, and is sometimes associated with Demeter.

According to Max Muller and A. Kuhn, Demeter is the mythological equivalent of the Sanskrit Saranyu, who, having turned herself into a mare, is pursued by Vivasvat, and becomes the mother of the two Asvins, the Indian Dioscuri, the Indian and Greek myths being regarded as identical. According to Farnell, the meaning of the epithet is to be looked for in the original conception of Erinys, which was that of an earth-goddess akin to Ge, thus naturally associated with Demeter, rather than that of a wrathful avenging deity.

Saraṇyū is the female form of the adjective saraṇyú, meaning "quick, fleet, nimble", used for rivers and wind in the Rigveda.

Etymologically, Saranyu may be related to Helen. In Rigveda 10.17, Saranyu is the daughter of Tvastar, and, like Helen, is abducted, and Vivasvan is given a replacement bride instead.

1ab tváṣṭā duhitré vahatúṃ kṛṇotîtīdáṃ víśvam bhúvanaṃ sám eti1

1cd yamásya mātâ paryuhyámānā mahó jāyâ vívasvato nanāśa

Tvastar prepares the bridal of his Daughter: all the world hears the tidings and assembles.

But Yama's



Mother, Spouse of great Vivasvan, vanished as she was carried to her dwelling.

2ab ápāgūhann amŕtām mártyebhyaḥ kṛtvî sávarṇām adadur vívasvate

2cd utâśvínāv abharad yát tád âsīd ájahād u dvâ mithunâ saraṇyûḥ

From mortal men they hid the Immortal Lady, made one like her and gave her to Vivasvan.

Saranyu brought to him the Asvin brothers, and then deserted both twinned pairs of children.

See also

• History of India

• Hindu scriptures

• Hindu Epics
  • Ramayana, Mahabharata, the Puranas

• hindu mythology

• Hindu deities

• List of Hindu deities

• List of Hinduism-related articles

References

• Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 8120803795) by David Kinsley

• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, a publication in the public domain.