Aśvin

By Jit Majumdar

possessing horses; mounted on a horse
cavalry; swift; wealthy (since the possession of many horses or cattle was considered a sign of wealth in the ancient period)
the collective name (also spelled: aśvini) for the physicians of the race of Devas or celestial beings; the twin sons of Sūrya and Sañjanā, named Satya and Dasra, and the bilogical fathers of Nakula and Sahadeva by Mādrī (M. Bh.); the god of agriculture; (Ŗ. Veda); the number 2 (Ŗ. Veda); the zodiac sign of Gemini (fem: aśvinī):
the first of the 27 lunar mansions or Nakşatras (V. B. Sańhitā); the nymph who was the mother of the Aśvins (Ŗ. Veda).

Contributors to this article