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The Ashvins (' "possessor of horses", "horse tamer", "cavalier", dual ') are divine twin horsemen in the Rigveda, sons of Saranya, a goddess of the dawn and wife of either Surya or Vivasvat. They are Vedic gods symbolising 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 can be compared with the Dioscuri (the twins Castor and Pollux) of Greco-Roman mythology.
They are the doctors of gods and are devas of Ayurvedic medicine. They are called Nasatya (dual ' "kind, helpful" in the Rigveda; later, Nasatya is the name of one twin, while the other is called Dasra. By popular etymology, the name ' was analysed as na+asatya "not untrue"="true".
To each one of them is assigned the number 7 and to the pair the number 14.
Ashvini is the name of a constellation, later identified with the mother of the Ashvins.
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, 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
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna L. Dallapiccola
See also
"Ashvins"