Aruna

Aruna literally means "red, ruddy, tawny", and is the name of the charioteer of Surya. He is the personification of the reddish glow of the rising Sun.

Aruna is the brother of Garuda, born of Rishi Kashyapa and Vinata. He was born prematurely and partially developed from an egg. Kashyapa's wives - Vinata and Kadru - wanted to have children. Kashyapa granted each of them a boon. Kadru asked for one thousand Naga sons, while Vinata wanted two. Kashyapa blessed them, and then went away to a forest. Later, Kadru gave birth to one thousand eggs, while Vinata gave birth to two eggs. These incubated for five hundred years, upon which Kadru's eggs broke and out came her 1,000 Naga sons. Vinata, eager for her sons, broke one of the eggs and saw partially formed Aruna. From the broken egg, a flash of light, Aruna, sprang forth. He was as radiant and reddish as the morning sun. But, due to the premature breaking of the egg, Aruna was not as bright as the noon sun as he was promised to be. Because of his mother's impatience, Aruna cursed his mother Vinata to slavery. He was ordained by Brahma to be a charioteer to Surya.

Vinata waited, and later the fully developed brother of Aruna named Garuda (vehicle of Vishnu) was born.