ASHWINI
NAKSHATRA
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ASHWINI
(Horse Woman): THE STAR OF TRANSPORT
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Western
star name: β and γArietis (Beta Arietis)
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Lord:
Ketu (South lunar node)
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Symbol
: Horse's head Deity: Ashwini Kumaras, the horse-headed twins who are
physicians to the gods
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Indian
zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Mesha ; Western zodiac 26° Aries - 9°20' Taurus Horse Head
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Ashwini
Translation: Horseman
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Deities
: Ashwini Kumar’s (Health), Shiva, Surya, Asvins, gods of the dawn, bringers of
health & well being
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Symbol:
Horse’s Head
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Animal
Symbol: Male Horse
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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.
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Body
part: Top of Foot of Kalapurushaa
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Sage
Mahatapa in the Varah Puranas tells us how both the Ashwini kumaras manifested themselves.
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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.
