Surya deva once wanted to burn down the whole world.

Do you know about it?

A quick recap.

Vinata conceived two eggs from Kashyapa Prajapati.

They were kept for hatching.

Vinata became impatient.

She broke open one of the eggs.

The child inside was half developed.

Without legs.

That was Aruna, the charioteer of Suryadeva.

He cursed his mother for her impatience that she will become a slave of her sister, Kadru.

The second egg hatched at the right time and Garuda was born.

Garuda is a very prominent Devata.

But then why two eggs?

What was Aruna's role?

Why was aruna born?

At the time of churning of the ocean for obtaining amrita, after amrita was obtained, Rahu an Asura tried to drink amrita disguised as a Deva and Sri Hari beheaded him with his Sudarshana chakra.

It was Surya and Chandra who identified Rahu.

Rahu did not die.

His head rose up in the sky and stayed there looking out to take revenge.

The headless body became Ketu.

They both, Rahu and Ketu kept on attacking Surya and Chandra which continues even today in the form of eclipses.

There are a few eclipses every year you see.

One human year is a single day for Devas such as Surya and Chandra.

So it is an everyday attack for them.

Multiple attacks every day.

Surya and Chandra spoiled Rahu's plan for the benefit of all the Devas, of everyone.

But as a result of this, when they had to bear the brunt of Rahu's wrath, the other
Devas did nothing for them.

Suryadeva himself became angry and frustrated.

He decided; I will burn down the whole world.

So one day when time for sunset came he stayed on at the Astagiri, the mountain where the sun sets.

He did not withdraw his heat.

He was not visible but the heat of the day continued .

Devas and Maharshis knew what was going to happen.

At midnight, Suryadeva is going to flare up to such an extent that when he rises the next morning, all the worlds will burn down.

They went to Brahmadeva and told him what was going to happen.

He said this is already taken care of.

Kashyapa's son who has a huge body of enormous size will occupy the charioteer's seat of Suryadeva and shield the worlds from his intense heat.

Aruna protects the worlds from the intense heat of Suryadeva when he rises up.

Aruna is the color of the dawn.

That is his visible form.

He softens the sunrise.

Sudden appearance of Surya at sunrise, the world will not be able to bear the heat.

Even now, Suryadeva is still angry.

Rahu has not stopped his attacks.

Devas are still not doing anything about it.

It is because of Aruna that we all are surviving.

So, Garuda picked up his brother, kept him on his back, flew up to the Surya-mandala and kept him at the front of Surya's chariot as his charioteer, as the protector of the world from Surya's intense heat.

This duty Aruna continues even today.