ASHWINI NAKSHATRA

ASHWINI NAKSHATRA

o   ASHWINI (Horse Woman): THE STAR OF TRANSPORT

o   Western star name: β and γArietis (Beta Arietis)

o   Lord: Ketu (South lunar node)

o   Symbol : Horse's head Deity: Ashwini Kumaras, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods

o   Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Mesha ; Western zodiac 26° Aries - 9°20' Taurus Horse Head

o   Ashwini Translation: Horseman

o   Deities : Ashwini Kumar’s (Health), Shiva, Surya, Asvins, gods of the dawn, bringers of health & well being

o   Symbol: Horse’s Head

o   Animal Symbol: Male  Horse

o   Greek equivalent: Asklepios, the father of healing in ancient times A good Nakshatra for administering medicines or performing healing work and at times miracles are experienced in this Nakshatra. Shidhra Vyapani Shakti: the power to quickly heal and reach things.

o   Body part: Top of Foot of Kalapurushaa

o   Sage Mahatapa in the Varah Puranas tells us how both the Ashwini kumaras manifested themselves.

o   The Ashvins or Ashwini   Kumaras (Sanskrit aśvin-, dual aśvinau),

in Hindu mythology, are divine twin horsemen in the Rigveda, sons of Saranya (daughter of Vishwakarma), a goddess of the clouds and wife of Surya in his form as Vivasvat. The Ashvins are Vedic gods symbolizing 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. 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 older name of the asterism, found in the Atharvaveda (AVS 19.7; in the dual) and in Panini(4.3.36), was aśvayúj "harnessing horses". Ashvini Kumaras, the golden armored horse-headed twins of ancient Vedic lore, performed many miracles as physicians of the celestial gods.

According to Indian astrology, Ashwini nakshatra falls in the category of Gandamoola nakshatra. Ketu is the ruling planet of this nakshatra. Astrology says that the natives of Ashwini are very energetic, mysterious, inaccessible to common people, can surprise others by their sudden and innovative performance, are people who will experience the extremes to accomplish their goals. The biggest drawback of their character is their vacillating mind short temper

                    ASHWINI NAKSHATRA

Etymologically implying birth from a female horse, the representational meaning of horse with regard to Ashwini nakshatra lies in its power, strength, vitality, courage and ability at speedy action. With 'ketu' or south lunar phase being its lord, Ashwini Nakshatra reflects the enthusiasm of its planetary lord 'ketu'.

Aśva is the Sanskrit word for a horse, one of the significant animals finding

References in the Vedas as well as later Hindu scriptures. The legend states that the first horse emerged from the depth of the ocean during the churning of the oceans. It was a horse with white color and had two wings. It was known by the name of Uchchaihshravas. The Puranic legend continues that Indra, king of the devas, took away the mythical horse to his celestial abode, the svarga (heaven). Subsequently, Indra severed the wings of the horse and presented the same to the mankind. The wings were severed to ensure that the horse would remain on the earth (prithvi) and not fly back to Indra’s Swarga. There are repeated references to the horse the Vedas (c. 1500 - 500 BC). In particular the Rigveda has many equestrian scenes, often associated with chariots. The Ashvins are divine twins named for their horsemanship. Horses in Vedas are always associated to the Sun, carrying the Sun to a new dawn indicating a relation to light. - The strong solar connection of Ashwini and the Vedic symbolism of dawn. The horses will draw the chariots of the Sun god, carry a warrior. Again, the Sun, while searching for his wife he takes the form of a horse. This gives importance to Ashwini nakshatra.- symbolizing the qualities of independence, beauty, and wildness.

ASHVINI  NAKSHATRA

One of the earliest mentions of “ Kalki ” is in the Vishnu Purana. Avatar of Vishnu with the Sword or Asi (By Brahma to destroy evil). Kalki is depicted as riding a white horse with wings, known as 'Devadatta' or God-given. In these images, Kalki is brandishing a brilliant sword in his left hand, eradicating the decadence of Kali Yuga. Lord Kalki will remove the darkness of kali yuga and establish a new yuga (age) called Satya yuga on the earth. It has also been said that Lord Kalki will obtain the Vedic knowledge from Parasurama and the military science from Lord Siva. The horse on which He will ride while destroying the wicked will be white in color. In the 1st Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, He has been described as the twenty-second avatara. Vishnu wearing the horse's head also represents an aspect of his incarnation as Kalki, the tenth avatar. The name Kalki is a metaphor for eternity or time. The Sanskrit root, “Kalka” means mud or foulness and so Kalki means “destroyer of foulness or destroyer of darkness, “as well as“annihilator of ignorance.”

In the Rigveda, horses (prana) are yoked to the chariot of Indra, king of the gods (higher self). The chariot represents our body as a vehicle and the horses, our sensory organs through which prana is gathered. The mind (ego) is the driver who holds the reins (yamas and niyamas) and next to the mind sits the true observer (higher self), Indra. We refine our senses and “driving” skills through Raja yoga (yoga is a skill in action), cultivating the higher self as the mind mediates and navigates worldly phenomena.

The Aswinis are luminal, twin Vedic deities giving spiritual strength. One twin fills the universe with light while the other twin with flexibility. The Aswini symbolize the dawn, the first breaking of light. They guide our awe-inspiring quest for reality and truth. In Vedic science, ashva (the horse) is prana, the energy that propels the zodiac as a single wheeled-chariot yoked by seven planets. It is the wheel of time on which all beings are placed. The Vedic horse (ashva) is a symbol of the life energy (prana) and indicates perfect control over the breath (Pranayama) as well as miraculous speed.

ASHWINI NAKSHATRA

Barbara PijaLama: The First Nakshatra - 00:00 - 13:20 Mesha (Aries) "Possessing Horses" - "The Horsewoman" Asvaryuj = "She Who Yokes Horses".

Many names for Ashwini: Ashvini – Dasra - Aswathy - Azvakinee - Ashvattha - Azvattha - Asvaryuj - Aswija - Dasradevataa - Vaajibha - Shrona - Dhata - Suta - Nasatya - Ta-Kar (Tibetan). azvin

•              possessed of horses , consisting of horses; richness in horses mounted on horseback; a cavalier ; horse-tamer

•              The two charioteers; name of two divinities who appear in the sky before the dawn in a golden carriage drawn

               by horses or birds

•              They bring treasures to men & avert misfortune & sickness ; they are considered as the physicians of heaven

•              name of the Nakshatra presided over by the Ashvins

•              the number two

•              the head of Aries or the first of the 28 Nakshatras

•              from azvini, shortened for the sake of meter

•              Valerie J. Roebuck, in The Circle of Stars” state about Ashwini -  "...horses...breath...bring wonderful help...truthfulness..."

• David Frawley in “Fruits of Worshipping Each Nakshatra” writes : "The Ashwin's desired, "May we be possessed of good hearing and not be deaf. "One who makes the appropriate offering to the Ashwins and to Ashwini becomes possessed of good hearing and will not become deaf. Ashwini Nakshatra grants the power of hearing on both outer and inner levels. That is why this Nakshatra relates to secret knowledge and to miraculous powers."

Ashvini (aśvinī) is the name of a Hindu constellation (the head of Aries, or the first of the

27 Nakshatras). Personified, Ashvini is the wife of the Ashvins (Rigveda 5.46.8), later also considered their mother. The Ashvin are young twins. They are the embodiment of the great power that ushers in the dawn. They represent the movement from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge. They are the physicians to the devas, the Gods, and their sacred energy alone is enough to destroy disease and bring about good health. The symbol of the Ashvin is honey. Honey has many miraculous properties, a fact that was known

to the peoples of ancient days. Honey is the medicine of the Gods. It has the power to cure many illnesses, it purifies the body of all kinds of taints. It has a beneficial physical, mental and spiritual effect. The sweetness too is a quality of the Ashvin. Ashwini is the first nakshatra of the zodiac having a spread from 0°-0'-0" to 13°-20' and is ruled by the node Ketu. Ashwini is governed by the Ashwins, the twin horsemen. The Sun is Exalted here

and the horse is the preferred transport of the Sun God. Sun's exaltation in Ashwini is a reminder to the soul of their eternal connection.