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The '''Ashvins''' or '''Ashwini Kumaras''' ({{lang-sa|अश्विन}}, {{IAST|aśvin-}}, dual ''{{IAST|aśvinau}}''), in [[Hindu mythology]], are two [[Rigvedic deities|Vedic gods]], [[divine twin]] [[Equestrianism|horsemen]] in the ''[[Rigveda]]'', sons of [[Saranyu]], a goddess of the clouds and wife of [[Surya]] in his form as Vivasvant. They symbolise the shining of sunrise and sunset, appearing in the sky before the dawn in a golden chariot, bringing treasures to men and averting misfortune and sickness. They are the doctors of gods and are [[deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s of [[Ayurvedic]] medicine. They are represented as humans with the heads of horses. In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', King [[Pandu]]'s wife [[Madri]] is granted a son by each Ashvin and bears the twins [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] who, along with the sons of Kunti, are known as the [[Pandavas]]. Their marriage is an example of polyandry in the rigvedic period.
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They are also called '''Nasatya''' (dual ''{{IAST|nāsatyau}}'' "kind, helpful") in the ''Rigveda''; later, Nasatya is the name of one twin, while the other is called '''Dasra''' ("enlightened giving"). By popular etymology, the name ''{{IAST|nāsatya}}'' is often incorrectly analysed as ''na+asatya'' "not untrue".
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The '''Ashvins''' or '''Ashwini Kumaras''', in [[Hindu mythology]], are two [[Rigvedic deities|Vedic gods]], [[divine twin]] [[Equestrianism|horsemen]] in the ''[[Rigveda]]'', sons of [[Saranyu]], a goddess of the clouds and wife of [[Surya]] in his form as Vivasvant. They symbolise the shining of sunrise and sunset, appearing in the sky before the dawn in a golden chariot, bringing treasures to men and averting misfortune and sickness. They are the doctors of gods and are [[deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s of [[Ayurvedic]] medicine. They are represented as humans with the heads of horses. In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', King [[Pandu]]'s wife [[Madri]] is granted a son by each Ashvin and bears the twins [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] who, along with the sons of Kunti, are known as the [[Pandavas]].  
  
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Bharat's holy books like the [[Mahabharat]] and the [[Purana]]s, relate that the Ashwini Kumar brothers, the twins, who were [[Raja|Raj]][[Vaidhya|a-Vaidya]] (Royal Physicians) to [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s during [[Vedic]] times, first prepared the [[Chyawanprash]] formulation for [[Chyavana|Chyawan]] [[Rishi]] at his [[Ashram]] on [[Dhosi Hill]] near [[Narnaul]], [[Haryana]], [[India]], hence the name ''Chyawanprash''.<ref>[http://www.healthepic.com/ayurveda/rasayana/chyavanaprasha.htm Healthepic.com]</ref><ref>Panda, H; ''Handbook On Ayurvedic Medicines With Formulae, Processes And Their Uses'', 2004, p10 ISBN 978-81-86623-63-3</ref>
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The Mahabharat and the [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|Puranas]], relate that the Ashwini Kumar brothers, the twins, who were Raja-Vaidya (Royal Physicians) to Devas during Vedic times, first prepared the Chyawanprash formulation for Chyawan Rishi at his ashram, hence the name ''Chyawanprash''.<ref>Panda, H; ''Handbook On Ayurvedic Medicines With Formulae, Processes And Their Uses'', 2004, p10 ISBN 978-81-86623-63-3</ref>
  
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The Ashvins can be compared with the [[Dioscuri]] (the twins [[Castor and Polydeuces|Castor and Pollux]]) of [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]], and especially to the divine twins [[Ašvieniai]] of the ancient Baltic religion.
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The Ashvins are mentioned 376 times in the ''Rigveda'', with 57 hymns specifically dedicated to them: 1.3, 1.22, 1.34, 1.46-47, 1.112, 1.116-120 (c.f. [[Vishpala]]), 1.157-158, 1.180-184, 2.20, 3.58, 4.43-45, 5.73-78, 6.62-63, 7.67-74, 8.5, 8.8-10, 8.22, 8.26, 8.35, 8.57, 8.73, 8.85-87, 10.24, 10.39-41, 10.143.  
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The Ashvins are mentioned 376 times in the ''Rigveda'', with 57 hymns specifically dedicated to them: 1.3, 1.22, 1.34, 1.46-47, 1.112, 1.116-120 (c.f. [[Vishpala]]), 1.157-158, 1.180-184, 2.20, 3.58, 4.43-45, 5.73-78, 6.62-63, 7.67-74, 8.5, 8.8-10, 8.22, 8.26, 8.35, 8.57, 8.73, 8.85-87, 10.24, 10.39-41, 10.143. The Nasatya twins are invoked in a treaty between [[Suppiluliuma]] and [[Shattiwaza]], kings of the Hittites and the [[Mitanni]] respectively.<ref>KBo 1 1. {{cite book| title=Hittite Diplomatic Texts |author=Gary M. Beckman| publisher=Scholars Press| date= Jan 1, 1999| page=53}}. Excerpt http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/ranghaya/suppiluliuma_shattiwaza_treaty.htm</ref>
 
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==See also==
 
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*[[Ashvini]], an [[Asterism (astronomy)|asterism]] in Bharat's astronomy
 
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*[[Dhanvantari]]
 
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*[[Ashva]]
 
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*[[Castor and Pollux]]
 
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*[[Thirty-three gods]]
 
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*[[Aditya]]
 
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*[[Rudras]]
 
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*[[Vasu]]
 
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*[[Indra]]
 
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*[[Prajapati]]
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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{{Reflist}}
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<references />
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*[[Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend]] (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna L. Dallapiccola
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[[Category:Vedas]]
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;Bibliography
 
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*{{Cite web|last=Parva|first=Paushya|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01004.htm|title=SECTION III (Paushya Parva|pages=32–33|accessdate=1 November 2013|publisher=Sacred Texts|ref=harv}}
 
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{{Rigveda}}
 
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{{HinduMythology}}
 
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{{Authority control}}
 
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[[Category:Hindu gods]]
 
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[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]
 
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[[Category:Health gods]]
 
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[[Category:Solar gods]]
 
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[[Category:Divine twins]]
 
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{{Hindu-myth-stub}}
 

Revision as of 15:28, 10 December 2018

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The Ashvins or Ashwini Kumaras, in Hindu mythology, are two Vedic gods, divine twin horsemen in the Rigveda, sons of Saranyu, a goddess of the clouds and wife of Surya in his form as Vivasvant. They symbolise the shining of sunrise and sunset, appearing in the sky before the dawn in a golden chariot, bringing treasures to men and averting misfortune and sickness. They are the doctors of gods and are devas of Ayurvedic medicine. They are represented as humans with the heads of horses. In the epic Mahabharata, King Pandu's wife Madri is granted a son by each Ashvin and bears the twins Nakula and Sahadeva who, along with the sons of Kunti, are known as the Pandavas.

The Mahabharat and the Puranas, relate that the Ashwini Kumar brothers, the twins, who were Raja-Vaidya (Royal Physicians) to Devas during Vedic times, first prepared the Chyawanprash formulation for Chyawan Rishi at his ashram, hence the name Chyawanprash.[1]

The Ashvins are mentioned 376 times in the Rigveda, with 57 hymns specifically dedicated to them: 1.3, 1.22, 1.34, 1.46-47, 1.112, 1.116-120 (c.f. Vishpala), 1.157-158, 1.180-184, 2.20, 3.58, 4.43-45, 5.73-78, 6.62-63, 7.67-74, 8.5, 8.8-10, 8.22, 8.26, 8.35, 8.57, 8.73, 8.85-87, 10.24, 10.39-41, 10.143.

References

  1. ↑ Panda, H; Handbook On Ayurvedic Medicines With Formulae, Processes And Their Uses, 2004, p10 ISBN 978-81-86623-63-3
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