The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c8.106

c8.106

Tvashtar, the creator, offers his daughter Saraṇyū in marriage to the whole world of gods and mortals. The suitor who gains favor is Vivasvant, conceived as a mortal. Saraṇyū, barely wedded, is displeased with Vivasvant and flees; not, however, until she had given birth to the twins Yama and Yamī. This marriage, you perceive, provides the twins with a mother, whereas they have previously had only a father. In order to make sure her escape, she changes into a mare and flees to the gods, who hide her away from her mortal family, Vivasvant, Yama, and Yamī. The gods, in order to make matters still more safe, construct another female, called Savarṇā, who is to take Saraṇyū's place in Vivasvant's affections. The word *savarṇā* means "of like character"; it trickily states that the new female was at one and the same time like Saraṇyū in appearance, and also suitable in character to the mortal Vivasvant—more suitable than the divine Saraṇyū, we may perhaps understand. Vivasvant begets Manu with the Savarṇā, and thus Manu comes into possession both of a father and mother. Ultimately Vivasvant finds out the deception practised upon him, follows Saraṇyū in the shape of a horse,¹ and thus gaining her favor, begets with her the Açvins, "the Horsemen" or Dioscuri. Saraṇyū abandons them also, just as she has previously abandoned the twins Yama and Yamī, and resumes, we may understand, her independent station as a divinity.