Ashwini Kumars are twin Vedic deities who are considered to be physicians or healers

of Devas or Demi gods and they are also extremely handsome. There are numerous
references about them in Vedas. In the Bhagavad Gita, Arujuna sees them on the Virat
Purusha, shown to him by Krishna. In Mahabhatara, the Pandava brothers Nakula and
Sahadeva are the sons of Asvini Kumars born to Madri.
Ashwini Kumars are the sons of Lord Surya and Sangya. Asvini is the "she-horse", and
Kumars means "young boys". This is because they were given birth when Lord Surya
took the form of a horse and Sangya took the form of a mare. On advice from their
father, the Asvini Kumars worshiped Lord Brahma and performed intense austerities
and Tapasya. Pleased with them, Lord Brahma granted the boon that they will be
extremely handsome and will have knowledge of Ayurveda.
There is an incident mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam which indicates that
Ashwini Kumars are responsible for the sense of smell in living creatures.
There are numerous stories associated with Ashwini Kumars, which is often the
struggle of the two brothers to be accepted along with the Devas and in which they
succeed through patience, intelligence and dedication.
Ashwini Kumars are worshipped on the Dwitiya or the second day in a lunar fortnight.
The Ashwini twins are the physicians of the Gods. They are said to have sprung from
the sea-of-milk in Vaikunta, when it was churned by the Devas and Asuras. Some time
after this, they earned the displeasure of Indra, who forbade them from
partaking Havis, the sacrificial oblations.
In the Rig Veda, the are prominently featured, and are said to be the sons of Saranyu
(the daughter of Tvashta) and Vivasvant. They are also said to be the sons of heaven
(Dyaus). Pusan is said to be their son. According to the wedding hymn [R.V.10.85], they
are the husbands of Surya, the daughter of the sun. They are fond of honey, and their
car is honey-hued and honey-bearing. Their car is sun-like and is golden. It is swifter
than thought and was fashioned by the three divine artificers, the Rbhus. It is either
drawn by horses or by winged steeds or by buffaloes, or by a Rishabha (ox). They are
associated with Usha (dawn), and are said to follow her in their car. Reference is also
often made to their great speed.
According to B.P., Samjna, the wife of Surya, was unable to bear his heat. She went to
a place called Uttara Kuru and lived there in the form of a mare. Her husband found

her there and joined her in the form of a horse. They had two children named Nasatya
and Dasra. These two became the Ashwini twins.
Once, the Ashwini's were filled with desire for Sukanya, the wife of the
sage Chyavana. She was very beautiful and much younger than her husband, who was
ugly, old and blind. They tried to trick her by offering to restore her husband's youth.
She accepted their offer, but when her husband was turned into a young man, he was
turned into a spitting image of the Ashwinis! Three identical men were there
before Sukanya, and she had to pick her husband from them. It was a knotty problem
all right, but she was able to successfully pick out her husband, distinguishing him by
the peaceful expression in his eyes. The two Ashwini's were very much chagrined.
Their ploy had failed.
Although their motives were dishonorable, the sage decided that they should receive a
reward for restoring his youth. He taught them a long forgotten incantation from
the Vedas, and told them that not even Brihaspati knew these verses. They were able
to use this to good effect, getting the right to have portion of Havis, in exchange for
their knowledge. This story is told in greater detail here.
They are also the fathers of the Pandava twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, whom they
begat on Madri, King Pandu's wife. Since the Ashwinis are associated with horses,
the Pandava twins were excellent horsemen.
The great sage Ayodhyaumya had many disciples, but a young boy called Upamanyu was his favourite.
One day, the sage decided to test Upmanyu's devotion and asked him, "You look very healthy, what do
you eat?" In those days, sages and their disciples used to beg for food and alms. Upmanyu calmly
replied, "I eat the food that I get by begging. " On hearing this, The sage instructed Upmanyu not to
consume any food that he received as alms without asking for his permission first. Upmanyu was very
obedient and from the next day itself, he offered everything that he received to the sage. The sage took
away all the food and gave nothing to Upmanyu.
After a few days, the sage noticed that Upmanyu still looked very healthy. The sage then asked him, "I
take away all the food that you get, so what do you eat?" Upmanyu explained that he offered the sage
everything, and that he ate what he got the second time he went begging. The sage scolded Upmanyu
and ordered, "You shouldn't beg twice, because then there will be nothing left for other students. you
should not be greedy. " Upmanyu obediently followed what his teacher said.
After some days, the saint noticed that Upmanyu still looked hale and hearty and asked him, you still
look healthy, what do you eat these days?" Upmanyu replied saying, "when I take the cows out to graze,
I drink some of the milk that they give. " The sage immediately forbade Upmanyu from having milk from
the cows. As usual, Upmanyu followed his teacher's instructions.

However Upmanyu's health still did not suffer. The sage approached him again after a few days and
asked him what he ate. Upamanyu promptly replied that he ate the foam that the calves produced after
having milk from the cows. The sage told Upmanyu that this would affect the health of the calves and he
should not do so. Upmanyu followed Ayodhdhaymya's advice.
The next day, when Upmanyu took the cows for grazing as usual, he felt very hungry. When he couldn't
control his hunger anymore, he ate the leaves of a plant called Aak. The leaves of this plant were very
poisonous and Upmanyu became blind. He kept wandering in the forest and then fell into a dry well.
When Upamanyu did not return in the evening, the sage was worried and went with disciples to look for
Upmanyu. They found Upmanyu in the well and pulled him out. When the sage heard how Upmanyu
had been blinded, he asked him to pray to the Ashwin Kumars, the doctors of the gods, and request
them to restore his eyesight. Soon, the Ashwini Kumars appeared and gave Upmanyu a medicine. and
said that he would not eat anything without Ayodhdhaumya's permission. The Ashwini Kumars tried
their best to convince Upmanyu to have the medicine but Upmanyu said that he would rather stay blind
forever than disobey the orders of the sage.
The gods were impressed by Upmanyu's love, respect, and devotion for his teacher and blessed him.
They restored his eyesight. Ayodhdhaumya was also very pleased with Upamanyu and told him that he
had passed the test. The sage blessed Upmanyu and gave him a boon that he wouldn't need to learn
religious texts but would know them automatically.
Read more at
http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_mythology_stories/upamanyu.htm#qiHT9RatQU
IF77yV.99

The Story of Ashwini Kumar(s) twin sons of Surya Part I

Sanjana was the daughter of Vishwakarma (the celestial engineer and architect). As Sanjana
grew to a marriageable age, Vishwakarma sought out for a suitable groom, and approached
Surya, the Sun God to accept his daughters hand in marriage. Surya accepts and the marriage is
solemnized.
A little while into the marriage and Sanjana is troubled, she can take it no more, the glare and
heat emitted from Suryas golden aura have darkened her complexion and sapped her energy; she
no longer feels any love for her husband. Her color now resembles the energies of evening/dusk
and the Gods bestow her with a new name Sandhya.
Sanjana plots a plan for her escape. She creates a clone (perhaps one of the first documented
instances of cloning). She calls her clone Chhaya (shadow). She installs Chhaya in her place

and instructs her not to leave Suryas presence under any circumstances, and to dutifully remain
there till her return. Sanjana then returns to her fathers house for some respite. Surya does not
notice the difference. He takes Chhaya to be his wife; he initiates marital relations; Chhaya
conceives and delivers a son Shani (Saturn). Shani is born of dark complexion like his mother,
and also inherits Chhayas serious and somber countenance.
Vishwakarma hears news of Shanis birth and he is deeply troubled. He confronts Sanjana and
ask for the truth. Sanjana confesses having left behind a clone. Vishwakarma immediately orders
his daughter to return to her rightful position in Suryas house. Sanjana returns to Suryas house
but is livid with Chhaya for having violated the scope of her orders. Sanjana destroys Chhayas
tangible body and reduces her to a mere illusion in Suryas light and glare.
Surya once again does not notice the exchange of wives. Sanjana gives birth to 2 children from
Surya son Yama and daughter Yamuna. As the children grow older, Sanjanas animosity
towards Shani grows stronger and she does everything in her power to distance him from Surya.
Devoid of motherly love and fatherly attention, Shani is distraught, depressed, lazy and utterly
directionless.
The 3 children come of age, and time comes to bestow them with responsibilities. Surya
announces the same to his children; hearing this, Sanjana quickly poisons Suryas mind against
the capabilities of Shani and requests him to divide his responsibilities between Yama and
Yamuna. Surya relents.
So on the appointed day, Shani (the elder son) is ignored and Yama (the younger son) is given
the title of Dharmaraj or king of dharma and is given the responsibility of upholding truth in
humanity. Yama though popularly known as God of death is not literally so; he merely appears
at the appointed time of death so that he can cart away the soul and present the updated karmic
balance sheet of the life just gone by, to the soul; and explain with compassion, righteousness
and an unwavering approach the good and bad deeds of the soul and the likely implications of
same in this after-life.
Yamuna is given the status of a holy river, and is given the responsibility of washing away the
sins of those who bathe in her or partake of her waters. She is also given the responsibility of
generating a spark of good thought in all those who touch her waters.

Yama and Yamuna accept their responsibilities and leave. Shani is left standing all alone. As a
son and older brother, he feels humiliated and insulted. Unable to break the barriers of
communication with his father; unable to invoke love from his mother; unable to express
authority over his younger brother and sister, and unable to prove the capability that he believes
he has a rage builds up in Shani.
To vent his anger, he seeks out mother Sanjana and delivers a well aimed kick in her womb
believing that she is an insult to the womb that she birthed him from. Shocked at this act, Sanjana
retaliates by cursing Shani to lose the leg that he kicked her with. Maimed and helpless, Shani
lies on the ground. The scene is witnessed by Surya. Though he can forgive Shanis behavior as
he act of an unruly son, he is unable to understand the curse of mother Sanjana. Surya then
confronts Sanjana for the truth.
Sanjana confesses to her folly, apologises, and narrates about her clone Chhaya and the birth of
Shani before her return to Suryas home. Surya is livid with rage and glows brighter and hotter
than before. He accepts Shani as his legitimate older son, restores his lost leg though a limp still
remains to honor the word of his mothers curse, and then makes amends by bestowing upon him
the honor of a place in the solar system. Shani is installed as the planet that will govern karma
and dharma in a horoscope. He will enter your horoscope as your karmic guru, your harshest
teacher, and will ensure that you learn your lessons and pass your tests, so that you can rise
higher up the karmic ladder. Like his brother Yama, Shani will brook no concessions in the
house that he will appear in, and will force you like a hard taskmaster to confront and deal with
your toughest karmic issues and bestow you with his own traits of patience, seriousness and
diligence to help you learn your lessons in the appointed house.
True to his own life experiences, the house that Shani appears in, will first experience insults,
depression, prejudice, laziness and a sense of being directionless before you can invoke his
powers of patience, perseverance and hard-work to deal with your tests.
Astrologically also, the placement of Shani and Surya in the same house is not considered good.
The old Vedic animosity will resurface and the native will always feel the pressure of wanting
to glow with the pride of Surya but being subdued with the restrictions of Shani. It is a
balance that the native will seek to find in his life. (Incidentally, my own horoscope has this
conjunction, but more when I write about the significance of Saturn in a Vedic horoscope chart.)

After Shanis installation into the solar system as a planet, the Gods gathered around him and
chanted an invocation to restore his lost honor; that chant is used even today used as a prayer to
propitiate Shani:Neelaanjana samaabhaasam (To the color of brilliant dark blue)
Ravi-putram Yama-agrajam (Son of Surya, elder brother, agraj, of Yama)
Chhaya-Maartanda sambhootam (Son of Chhaya and Surya)
Tam namaami Shanaishcharam (We offer our obeisance)
The Story of Ashwini Kumar(s) twin sons of Surya Part II
Sanjana, after being admonished by Surya in the presence of Shani, and being further unable to
bear the glow and heat of an angered Surya, leaves his abode once again. She now cannot return
to her fathers house, so she disappears into a Himalayan forest to cool herself; there she takes on
the disguise of a mare to prevent herself from being discovered and sent back home. She spends
many long years in the forest, as a mare.
When Suryas anger cools down, he begins to miss his wife and he goes in search of her to
Vishwakarmas house. Vishwakarma informs him of Sanjanas whereabouts but also has as
humble request he asks Surya to reduce his glare so that daughter Sanjana is not discomfited.
Surya says he is helpless as it is part of his nature; Vishwakarma then offers to help.
Vishwakarma, the celestial engineer and architect, puts his skills to use and scrapes the glow
away from Suryas face and body, thus giving him, what they would say in modern day parlance
a matt-finish. Surya in his new look ventures into the Himalayan forest in search of Sanjana.
He spots her grazing the grass in the form of a mare. To entice her, he takes the form of a young
stallion and approaches her. Sanjana recognizes her husband and is pleasantly surprised at his
efforts to woo her. She concedes, they mate, and out of this mating are born the Ashwini
Kumar(s) the twin sons of Surya. The name Ashwini is derived from the root ashwa
meaning horse.
The Ashwini Kumar(s) are given the responsibility of healing; keeping with this order, they
pursue the field of medicine and emerge as the celestial physicians/doctors of Gods. The
Ashwini Kumar(s) true to the horse form in which they were conceived, also hold the prime

reigns amongst the 7 horses that drive Suryas chariot. Every sunrise, they come forth as the first
rising rays of Sun, and are also known as Surya-kiran.
Being the celestial physicians/healers of Gods and humanity, facing their rays during sunrise
bestows good health. This is done, as per prescribed Vedic customs, by honoring their mother
Sanjana or Sandhya as the Gods called her hence we welcome the first rays of morning Sun
with Sandhya-vandanam or Sandhya-vandan by offering arghyam or water from our
palms to the rising Sun. The Sandhya-vandan is often accompanied by a chant of Gayatri
mantam.
There is another analogy which I read about the Gayatri mantram that the original Gayatri has
been hidden by Gods because of its potency. But more on that maybe next time.

Physical attributes: The Native born in Ashwini Nakshatra will have a beautiful
countenance. His/her eyes will be bright and large. Natives forehead would be broad
and nose a little bigger.
Character: The native may appear to be very calm and quite, but capable of getting his
work done un-noticed and is more predominant in the case of native born during the
period from April 14th to April 28th, when the sun will be transiting his exaltation place
in Ashwini and from October 14th to October 28th, when the sun will be transiting his
debilitation place in Swati. There is a saying that even Yama, the God of Death, cannot
change his/her adamant attitude. Those born in the Ashwini of other months will have
stubbornness in a lesser degree.
He/she will remain faithful to those who love him and will not hesitate to sacrifice
anything for such persons. Ashwini born is the best friend in need provided others
understand him. He/she keeps his patience even at the time of greatest perils. But it will
be a hurricane task to console the native when he goes berserk. He/she is the best
advisor to the persons in agony. But he deeply resents and fears criticism, see
suggestions from others, as a frightening attempt at manipulation.
He/she takes his own time to do any work. Even so, his actions may be slow but well
thought. He/she will not jump upon any matter without examining prose and corns of
each item of work. He cannot be easily influenced. Once he/she carries out an action or
work, whether it is good or bad, right or wrong, he/she will stick to what he/she has
done come what may.
He/she is a firm believer of God. But there is no room for religious or other sentiments.

He/she is orthodox but in new style i.e., he/she believes in modernization of orthodox
method and belief.
Even though he is quite intelligent, at times he makes mountain of even small matters.
This leads him in a state of lack of mental peace and will always be in desperate mood.
He/she is always interested in keeping the entire surroundings neat and clean.
Education, earnings / profession: He/she is jack of all arts. He is generally fond of music
and interested in literary pursuits. Period up to his/her 30th years of age will be full of
struggle. He/her has to face obstacles even for small matters. From the 30th year of age,
there will be steady and continuous progress which will continue up to 55 years of age.
One of the predominant features noticed is that he is very stingy, but his expenditure
will be more than his income due mainly to his pomp and show. He/she is inclined to
meet his desires and needs at any cost.

Domestic life: He/she loves his family in entire sincerity. However, he/she is subjected to hatred by his
own family members due to his/her adamant behavior. Affection that was expected and the care that
was required cannot be derived from the father of the native. In other words, the natives as also his coborns will be neglected by their father. Whatever help he may derive is only from the side of his
maternal uncle. Maximum possible help will come from those who are outside the family circle.

ASVINI
Aswini Nakshatra: Devata for Aswini Nakshatra is Aswi or the Duality known as Aswini
Kumar Twins, the physician of the Gods. Symbolthe head of a horse. So, by the influence
of this star the native is expected to be equestrian (horse-ride) or a soldier, also a physician
with marvelous power to heal. 'The result of physician's excellence or process. It is possible
in the horoscopes ,of these physicians, it. will be seen that planet for successful medical
practice is positioned in Aswini Nakshatra. From Aswi is supposed to be derived carriages for
animals for transport, everything related to transport and transport department. The
Puranas relate that the two Aswini Kumaras were born of mother Sanga and father Ravi
(sun). The mother held the solar semen in her nostrils, for otherwise she could not hold it, it
is so strong. They are the twins of Sanga and therefore this Nakshatra is supposed to
produce twins. Mangal in this Nakshatraspecially if the lagna is in Kumbha and Mangal in
bhratristhan (3rd hse) indicates twin brother and sister for the native. Or if Ravi, Vrhaspati
or Pitri Karaka or lord of the bhava signifying father or son in a similar way is in this
Nakshatra then the father or any of the uncles or any of the children may be one of the
twin.
No. 1. ASVINI (The Star of Transport) Symbol Horse's face. Devata
Asvini Kumara (Twin brothers),
In the zodiac at 0 in M.esha there is a reddish star" which the astronomers call Arietis. The
Indians named it Asvini. The Indians worshipped it in personification of the dawn more
plausibly, morning and evening star. They mentioned it to explain the life's journey; the
entrance to and exit from this material plane apparently the prana (breath), inhalation

and exhalation; and in the physical body its passage through the nose and speech. Every
year from this point of the cycle the yearly trek of the sun begins. Asva (The horse) is the
symbolic expression of journey. Asvini (from Asva) is the power that sets one in motion.
The mystic ideas of Asvini the ancients. told in many tales in mythology. The symbolical
expression of Asvini is 'Dawn' personified as the sons (in twin ideas) of Ravi (light) and
Chaya (shadow) day and night; once in the morning and again in the evening. It
represents twin ideas Jnana (wisdom) and Ajnana (ignorance); birth and death creation
and destruction; the visible world and the inv invisible space around.
In mythology, Asvini kumara the personified dawn, make their journey across the heaven
in three wheeled and spring bearing golden chariots drawn by birds or horses. Asvini is
predominantly Tamo Guna an attribute that is so essential for the destruction of evil
propensities and to turn to Suva karma. The stories describe that Asvini kumara procured
Madhu (honey) for Gods and together with Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge) introduced
Soma wine (spirit) into the cult. They were refused drinks and equal status with Gods but
they were reconciled to Indra (God of senses, Indriya) and had to be admitted to Yajna
(sacrifice, religious activities; Dharmic karma}. The stories aim to say that it has ability to
progress from wrong to right and can assert to secure a rightful position by the help of
knowledge.
There is an emphasis in their role as helpers and heroes who save and heal. They restored
the decrepit Chyavana's youth; saved Bhjyu, the son of Tugru from sinking into the sea and
rescued Atri whom the demon had put i.ito a burning pot. They are beautiful, young, quickmoving physicians. Their typical epithet is 'Miraculous'.
Ideas:
The passage of the nose, pertaining to nose, smell, nostril, nasal sound.
Breath, exhalation, inhalation.
Twins
indistinct utterances, stammering.
The horse, possessed of horses, pertaining to horses. horse-men, cavalier, horse-tamer,
any mea-ns of transport.
To hurry, go quickly, reach, come to arrive at, visit, get, gain, receive.
Accomplishing wonderful deeds.
Giving marvelous aid, bringing treasures to man, physician healer, avoiding misfortune
Portion of the human body the knees