---
title: Ashvins
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Ashvins/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Ashvins
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
The Ashvins (aka Asvins, Asvinau, or Asvini Kumaras) are two twin brothers of [Hindu](https://www.worldhistory.org/hinduism/) [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/), sons of the sun [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) [Surya](https://www.worldhistory.org/Surya/). They may also be referred to as the 'Horsemen' and are forever young, handsome, and athletic. They are considered the physicians of the gods. As twins, they represent a cosmic duality of ideas such as light and dark, healing and destruction. In many ways they are similar to the [Dioskouroi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castor_and_Pollux/) ([Castor and Pollux](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castor_and_Pollux/)) of [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) and [Roman mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Mythology/) and may well have been based on historical figures, perhaps two rulers famous for their skills in [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) and good deeds.
### Surya & Samjna
The Ashvins appear in Vedic [literature](https://www.worldhistory.org/literature/) (1500 – 1000 BCE) as the twin sons of Surya the sun god or of the sky. Their mother is Samjna (Conscience), the daughter of Visvakarma. Unfortunately, Samjna became so tired of Surya's brilliant light that she one day gave him a handmaid, Chaya (Shade), and left him to live a life of reflection in the forests, transformed into a mare. Surya was not to be so easily deprived though and disguised as a stallion mated with Samjna. The resulting offspring were Revanta (chief of the Guhyakas) and the two twins. The twins are also considered the parents of Nakula and Sahadeva, the Pandu princes.
### Associations
The two brothers are forever youthful, handsome, brilliant, golden, fast, and athletic. Compassionate, they help those in need from old [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/) to soldiers left behind by a retreating army. They also represent duality, can change their form at will, and possess the power to cure. Indeed, this latter ability meant that they are the subject of many Hindu hymns as they are considered the official doctors of *svarga*, one of the intermediary heavens and realm of [Indra](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indra/). In this guise, they are known individually as Dasra and Nasatya or collectively as Dasras, Nasatyas, Gadagadau, or Svarvaidyau.
The Ashvins' name derives from the [Sanskrit](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sanskrit/) *asva* or 'horse' and they are closely associated with that animal, sometimes even considered to have the bodies of men and the head of a horse, but as with many other Hindu deities, they have several alternative names too. These include Abdhijau ('ocean born'), Badaveyau (after their father in some texts, Badava, underground fire), and Puskarasrajau ('wreathed in lotuses'). The Ashvins are very rarely depicted in ancient Hindu art, but they do appear as figure sculptures on the 12th-century CE *gopurams* (monumental gates) at [Chidambaram](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chidambaram/).
### Ashvins & Cyavana
The Ashvins' medical skills famously helped the sage Cyavana who, when he reached a very old age, they returned to a state of youth. This apparently selfless act was in fact motivated by a promise from Cyavana's wife Sukanya that should they restore good health to her husband then she would reveal to the Ashvins the one thing which they lacked to become complete gods. The twins obliged and told Cyavana to bathe in a pond, and on immersing himself in its waters, he emerged as a sprightly youth. Good on her promise, Sukanya then told the Ashvins that they were not complete because they did not drink the elixir [soma](https://www.worldhistory.org/Soma/), like the other gods.
[  Indra Redtigerxyz (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1374/indra/ "Indra")The twins then set about acquiring some soma and eventually succeeded in persuading Dadhyanc, son of the Atharvan priest, to teach them the sacrificial ceremony which involved the sacred drink. There had been the problem that Indra did not want the Ashvins to drink soma as they were, he felt, contaminated by their spending too much time with humans. The great god threatened terrible revenge if the twins were to find out about the ceremony and get their hands on soma. The Ashvins got around this by giving Dadhyanc a new head so that when Indra did find out he had taught them of soma, he lopped off Dadhyanc's new head but then, having carefully stored it, the Ashvin's were able to give back to Dadhyanc his original head.
### Bringers of the Sun
The Ashvins have another important duty, which is to ride with their father in his golden [chariot](https://www.worldhistory.org/chariot/) across the sky each day as he brings warmth and sunlight to the earth. Sometimes they have their own golden chariot which has three wheels and is pulled by either horses or birds, on other occasions they ride only their horses. Specifically, they precede their father and so have become the personification of the morning twilight. As they strike their horses with their whips, they dispel the morning dew.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Anonymous. *Hindu Myths.* Penguin Classics, 2004.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140449906/)
- [Dowson, J. *Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion; Geography, History.* DK Print World, 2000.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/8124601089/)
- [Hackin, J. *Asiatic Mythology.* Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1963.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B000HTLNIC/)
- [Harle, J.C. *The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent.* Yale University Press, 1994.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0300062176/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 1500 BCE - c. 500 BCE**: The Vedic Period in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) after a greater migration of the Indo-[Aryans](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aryan/) from Central Asia
- **c. 1500 BCE - c. 500 BCE**: Indian scholars of the so-called Vedic Period commit [the Vedas](https://www.worldhistory.org/The_Vedas/) to written form; basic tenets of [Hinduism](https://www.worldhistory.org/hinduism/) are established.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2016, June 30). Ashvins. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Ashvins." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 30, 2016. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Ashvins." *World History Encyclopedia*, 30 Jun 2016, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 30 June 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.