Who is the charioteer of the sun god Surya?

The charioteer of the sun god Surya is Aruna.

In Hindu mythology, Aruna drives Surya’s celestial chariot across the sky. His name is associated with the reddish glow of dawn, linking him symbolically with the light that appears before sunrise. Some traditions describe Surya’s chariot as being drawn by seven horses, or by one horse with seven heads.

Aruna is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata, and the elder brother of Garuda, Vishnu’s famous eagle mount. One legend says Vinata opened Aruna’s egg prematurely, leaving him only partially developed. Later, Aruna became Surya’s charioteer and, in some accounts, helped shield the world from the sun god’s overwhelming heat.

A common mix-up is Garuda, because he is Aruna’s brother and another prominent bird-associated figure. Garuda, however, serves as Vishnu’s mount, while Aruna is specifically connected with Surya. Aruna is also the father of the vulture heroes Jatayu and Sampati in the Ramayana.