A demon belonging to Viprachitti’s dynasty. He meditated for a thousand years, chanting the Gayatri mantra to please Brahma, and asked for a boon which would prevent him from being killed in battle. Once he got the boon, he became arrogant, left patala, and challenged Indra. There wa sa divine proclamation that Aruan could not be killed so long as he chanted the gayatri mantra regularly. The devas sent Brihaspati to get Aruna to stop chanting the mantra. When Aruna saw Brihaspati, he asked him why Brihaspati was meeting him, since he was on the opposite side. Brihaspati told him that they were not different, since they both prayed to Gayatri. On hearing that, Aruna decided to abandon the mantra. Gayatri devi was not pleased and sent a swarm of bees towards Aruna and his army. Thus they were killed without a battle, as per Devibhagavata.

A sage, who, as per Taitariya Aranyaka, was foemed from Brahma’s flesh.

A snake, as per Mahabharata Mausaparva Chapter 4 verse 15.

Members of a clan of sages were called Arunas, as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 26 verse 7.

As per Devibhagavata Saptamaskanda, a Suryavanshi king, and father of Trishanku.

Also known as Suryasuta, Anuru, Kashyapi and Garudagraja.

Born to Vinata and Kashyapa. Kashyapa married Vinata and Kadru. He was pleased by their care and granted them a boon each. Kadru asked for a thousand snakes as children and Vinata asked for two children who would be stronger than Kadru’s. Kashyapa blessed them and went into the forests to meditate. A few months later, Kadru laid a thousand eggs and Vinata, two. They kept the eggs in pots for incubation. 500 years later, Kadru’s pot broke and a thousand snakes emerged. Vinata was concerned by this, and broke one egg to see how her child was faring. A half developed baby came out and this was Aruna, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 16 verses 5-17, and Agnipurana Chapter 19. After another 500 years, the other egg hatched and from it emerged Garuda.

When Rama and Lakshmana were roaming in the forests in search of Sita, they came across the injured Jatayu. He told them his antecedents – Brahma – Kashyapa – Aruna. Aruna’s elder son was Sampati and the younger one was Jatayu, as per Ramayana Aranyakanda Sarga 14.

When Aruna came out of the egg half developed he was angry at his mother Vinata for being impatient. He cursed that Vinata would remain a slave to her sister Kadru for 500 years, and it would be broken by his brother Garuda. He also asked his mother to be patient for another 500 years for Garuda, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 16 verses 18-23.

When Rahu came to steal from theamrit from the devas, Surya and Chandra, who were the gatekeepers, pointed him out to the devas. Since then, Rahu gobbles them up regularly, and those are the grahans. Surya became angered by this and started burning himself furiously, complaining that the devas ignored him after using him for their gain. The devas panicked and asked Brahma for help. He asked Aruna to become Surya’s charioteer and act as a shield to Surya’s intensity. Aruna agreed and from then on became Surya’s charioteer, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 24 verses 15-20.

Aruna’s wife Shyeni gave birth to Sampati and Jatayu as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 63 verse 71.

Once Shilavati , wife of Ugrashravas began meditating to save her husband from dying due to a curse. Her aim was to prevent the sun from rising, and due to her meditation, it happened. Thanks to that, Aruna got a day’s respite. He also got to know that festivities were happening in devaloka to which only women were invited. Aruna transformed himself into a woman and gained entry. Indra, who was also present there, was infatuated with Aruna and they spent the night together. They had a son and as per Indra’s instructions Aruna gave the baby to Ahalya and resumed his duties. Aruna is also mentioned as Arunidevi during this time. Aruna was delayed because of this. Surya asked him the reason. Aruna explained everything to Surya, who then wanted to see Aruna’s female form. On seeing it, Surya too was infatuated and they had a son, who too was left with Ahalya. Ahalya raised both the children happily, but her husband Gautama was not too pleased. He cursed them and transformed them into vanaras. Later, Indra came to see his son, and Ahalya told him what had happened. Indra searched the forests and finally found them. Since the elder one had a long tail he was called Bali (vali) and since the younger one’s neck was very beautiful, he was called Sugriva. Raksharajas, who was the vanara king at that time, was childless, and got to know about Bali and Sugriva. He requested Indra to give them to him. Indra agreed. He blessed Bali that if anyone ever challenged him, he would get half of his enemy’s strength in addition to his own.

A Chandravanshi king. He was born to Arvachina, who belonged to the Puru dynasty, and Maryada, the princess of Vidarbha. He married the princess of Anga and had a son called Mahabhauma, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 85 verses 18-19.

A kind of rakshasa, as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 285 verse 2.

A king who fought on the Kaurava side, as per Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 6 verse 3.

A king who understood the transient nature of the world, gave up his kingdom and started meditating in the Gandhamadana mountains. Indra was pleased with him and sent a messenger to bring him to the heavens. But when the king heard that evil things happened in heaven too, he gave up the desire to go there. Indra then asked the messenger to send the king to Valmiki’s hermitage. As per Yogavasishta, Valmiki told the king that listening to the Ramayana could help him attain moksha.