Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.1661

c7.1661

Sūrya married Saṃjñā, daughter of Viśvakarmā. They had three children, Manu, Yama and Yamī. Of them, Yama has the task of taking away the souls of those whose life-span is at an end. Once Saṃjñā who was unable to bear the dazzling brilliance of Sūrya, ordered her maid Chhāyā to attend on him and went to the forest for performing penance. Mistaking her for his wife Saṃjñā, Sūrya begot of her three sons namely, Śaniścara, Manu and Tapaṭī. Once Chhāyā cursed Yama for disobedience. Then Sūrya and Yama understood that she was not Saṃjñā. After that the Aśvinikumāras, Revanta and Bhayā were born to Sūrya and Saṃjñā. Thus Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part III, Chapter 2 says that Yama was the brother of Manu, Yami, the Aśvini Kumāras, Tapaṭī, Śanaiścara and Bhayā. Yama's sister Bhayā was married by the Asura, Heti. Sunīthā was the eldest daughter of Yama. Aṅga married her. The famous King Vena was her son. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part I, Chapter 13).