Chhaya

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
Personal information
Consort	Surya
Children	Savarni Manu, Shani, Tapati

Chhaya or Chaya (Sanskrit: छाया, romanized: Chāyā, lit. 'shadow' or 'shade') is the Hindu personification and goddess of shadow, also called Sandhya 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 Devi the goddess of shadows 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]