- published: 26 Aug 2011
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Saranya (Saraṇyū) or Saraniya (also known as Saranya, Sanjna, or Sangya) is the wife of Surya, and a goddess of the dawn and the clouds in Hindu mythology, and is sometimes associated with Demeter, Greek goddess of agriculture. According to Max Müller 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 Revanta and the twin Asvins, the Indian Dioscuri (the Indian and Greek myths being regarded as identical). She is also the mother of Manu, the twins Yama and Yami. 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 (compare also Sarayu).
Etymologically, Saranyu may be related to Helen. In Rigveda 10.17, Saranyu is the daughter of Tvastar, and, like Helen, is abducted, and Vivasvat is given a replacement bride instead.
The Other Side
There's a light and a darkened road
There's a night and a fading hope
There was a dream that once was mine
But now it seems it has passed with time
Sail away my little sister
Sail away to the other side
Sail away my little sister
Sail away far into the night
Where times seems much better
Than this void called life
There's a voice inside my head
There was a hope, now now long since dead
It's all a wonder, will I abide