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Ashvini Kumaras (अश्विनीकुमारौ) (view source)
Revision as of 14:42, 1 June 2016
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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.
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".
Indian 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>
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.
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>
==See also==
*[[Ashvini]], an [[Asterism (astronomy)|asterism]] in Indian astronomy
*[[Dhanvantari]]
*[[Ashva]]
*[[Castor and Pollux]]
*[[Thirty-three gods]]
*[[Aditya]]
*[[Rudras]]
*[[Vasu]]
*[[Indra]]
*[[Prajapati]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[[Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend]] (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna L. Dallapiccola
;Bibliography
*{{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}}
{{Rigveda}}
{{HinduMythology}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]
[[Category:Health gods]]
[[Category:Solar gods]]
[[Category:Divine twins]]
{{Hindu-myth-stub}}
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".
Indian 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>
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.
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>
==See also==
*[[Ashvini]], an [[Asterism (astronomy)|asterism]] in Indian astronomy
*[[Dhanvantari]]
*[[Ashva]]
*[[Castor and Pollux]]
*[[Thirty-three gods]]
*[[Aditya]]
*[[Rudras]]
*[[Vasu]]
*[[Indra]]
*[[Prajapati]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[[Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend]] (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna L. Dallapiccola
;Bibliography
*{{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}}
{{Rigveda}}
{{HinduMythology}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]
[[Category:Health gods]]
[[Category:Solar gods]]
[[Category:Divine twins]]
{{Hindu-myth-stub}}