Not Just a Shadow: Chhaya and the Struggle for Recognition

Hello Everyone,

As part of the Blogchatter A to Z series, today we explore a figure often overlooked, her story hidden in the folds of mythology like a silhouette behind a brighter flame. She was not the first. She was not the chosen. But she remained, steadfast, silent, and strong.
Today, we reflect on Chhaya, the shadow-wife of Surya, a woman who lived not in light, but in her own quiet truth.

Chhaya’s story begins with absence. When Surya’s first wife, Sanjana, could no longer bear his blazing radiance, she left, creating a shadow in her place to tend to her duties. That shadow took form, breath, and soul. Chhaya was born not out of love, but from necessity. Yet what was meant to be a substitute became a woman of her own, full of emotion, devotion, and pain.

She was never asked if she wanted to stay
But she stayed
She was never promised love
But she gave it anyway

Chhaya became a mother. She bore Shani, the god of justice and discipline, and Savarni Manu, the future lawgiver of mankind. Yet her children were judged, much like her, through the lens of comparison and unfamiliarity. Shani was misunderstood, feared, and at times even rejected. His distance and darkness were seen as flaws, but they were simply reflections of the mother who raised him in stillness and dignity.

She did not rebel. She endured. She raised her children in the shadow of a god’s absence and another woman’s return. When Sanjana came back, Chhaya’s place became uncertain. Yet she did not try to replace anyone or plead for her worth. She chose instead to continue quietly, embracing the space that was given to her, even when it was laced with isolation.

She walked beside brilliance
And learned to shine quietly
Not to outshine
But to survive

Chhaya’s story is not filled with grandeur or power. It is filled with restraint, emotional labor, and unspoken strength. She represents those who are seen only partially, who are remembered only in footnotes, yet who hold entire worlds together with their silence. Her son Shani became the one who watched over karma. It is no coincidence that the one who suffered silently gave birth to the god who ensures no action goes unseen.

She is a reminder that not every legacy is built in the light. Some are formed in the quiet corners of existence, in lives lived for others, in love given without applause. Chhaya teaches us that dignity does not require recognition, and strength does not always arrive with a voice. Sometimes, it comes with stillness. Sometimes, it comes from simply staying.

I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z” and hyperlink it to https://www.theblogchatter.com

Anindita Rath
@scrambledwriter