![Aries constellation map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Aries_constellation_map.svg)
Ashvini (अश्विनी ''aśvinī'') is the first
nakshatra
Nakshatra ( sa, नक्षत्रम्, translit=Nakṣatram) is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology and Indian Astronomy. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a ...
(
lunar mansion Often called lunar mansion, a lunar station or lunar house is a segment of the ecliptic through which the Moon passes in its orbit around the Earth. The concept was used by several ancient cultures as part of their calendrical system.
Stations in ...
) in
Hindu astronomy
Astronomy has long history in Indian subcontinent stretching from pre-historic to modern times. Some of the earliest roots of Indian astronomy can be dated to the period of Indus Valley civilisation or earlier. Astronomy later developed as a dis ...
having a spread from 0°-0'-0" to 13°-20', corresponding to the
head of Aries, including the stars
β and
γ Arietis. The name ''aśvinī'' is used by
Varahamihira (6th century). The older name of the asterism, found in the
Atharvaveda
The Atharva Veda (, ' from ' and ''veda'', meaning "knowledge") is the "knowledge storehouse of ''atharvāṇas'', the procedures for everyday life".Laurie Patton (2004), Veda and Upanishad, in ''The Hindu World'' (Editors: Sushil Mittal and G ...
(AVS 19.7; in the dual) and in
Panini (4.3.36), was ''aśvayúj'', "harnessing horses".
Astrology
The word Ashvini means horsewoman or born from a female horse. It is said to be a "Maha-nakshatra". The mother of Ashwini Kumars is Sanjana, and the father is Sun but in horse form known as Vivaswat. Ashvini is also known as the star of transport. The Chariot of Sun God is pulled by seven horses or the seven colors of the rainbow. Therefore, energy or power is associated with horses and we call it horse-power in literal terms. Ashwini thus relates to speed and agility. Ashvini is ruled by
Ketu
KETU (1120 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve Catoosa, Oklahoma. The station is owned by Antonio Perez, through licensee Radio Las Americas Arkansas, LLC.
The station was licensed originally to Atoka, Oklahoma, and operated for many years ...
, the descending lunar node. In
electional astrology, Asvini is classified as a small constellation, meaning that it is believed to be advantageous to begin works of a precise or delicate nature while the moon is in Ashvini. Asvini is ruled by the
Ashvins
The Ashvins ( sa, अश्विन्, Aśvin, horse possessors), also known as Ashwini Kumara and Asvinau,, §1.42. are Hindu deities, Hindu twin gods associated with medicine, health, dawn and sciences. In the ''Rigveda'', they are described ...
, the heavenly twins who served as physicians to the gods. Personified, Asvini is considered to be the wife of the Asvini Kumaras. Ashvini is represented either by the head of a
horse
The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million y ...
, or by
honey
Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
and the
bee hive
A beehive is an enclosed structure in which some honey bee species of the subgenus '' Apis'' live and raise their young. Though the word ''beehive'' is commonly used to describe the nest of any bee colony, scientific and professional literature ...
.
Traditional
Hindu given names
Indian names are based on a variety of systems and naming conventions, which vary from region to region. Names are also influenced by religion and caste and may come from epics. India's population speaks a wide variety of languages and nearly ...
are determined by which pada (quarter) of a nakshatra the Ascendant/Lagna was in at the time of birth. In the case of Ashvini, the given name would begin with the following syllables: Chu, Che, Cho, La.
See also
*
List of Nakshatras
In Hindu astronomy, there are 27 ''nakshatras'' , or sectors along the ecliptic. A list of them is first found in the ''Vedanga Jyotisha'', a text dated to the final centuries BCE. The ''Nakṣatra'' system predates the influence of Hellenistic ast ...
References
{{Jyotish Vidya
Nakshatrabr>
Ashvini Nakshatra- vedshastra.com