Ashwini Nakshatra and the Ashwini Kumaras: The Divine Healers of the Devas

The Ashwini Kumaras are the twin physicians of the Devas, honoured in the Rigveda as divine healers who arrive with the first light of dawn. Ashwini is the first nakshatra of Vedic astrology, ruled by Ketu and presided over by these twin Devas, and it stands for swiftness, new beginnings and the spirit of healing. This is a tradition for reflection and prayer, and it is never a medical diagnosis.

Long before there were hospitals, the people of ancient India turned to the Devas of healing. At the very beginning of the zodiac, in the first star group of the sky, sits a nakshatra named after two such Devas, the Ashwini Kumaras. They are among the oldest healers in Indian tradition, and their stories are told in the Rigveda, the Mahabharata and the Puranas.

In this post, we will meet the Ashwini Kumaras and explore the best loved stories about them. We will see how they are linked with Ayurveda and with Bhagwan Dhanvantari, and look at what Ashwini Nakshatra means in Vedic astrology. We will also share simple ways to honour them with prayer and gratitude. If you wish to know more about Bhagwan Dhanvantari, you can read our post on who Bhagwan Dhanvantari is.

Who Are the Ashwini Kumaras?

The Ashwini Kumaras, also called the Ashvins, are twin Devas known as Nasatya and Dasra. They are described as young, handsome and radiant, and they ride a golden chariot that is drawn by swift horses. They are always together, and they are the Devas of healing, of rescue and of the morning twilight.

In the Puranic stories, they are the sons of Surya Deva and Saranyu, who is also called Samjna. According to the story, Saranyu took the form of a mare for a time, and Surya followed her in the form of a horse, and the twins were born from this meeting. The name Ashwini is connected with the word ashva, which means horse, and the horse is the symbol of the nakshatra.

The Rigveda has many hymns in praise of the Ashvins. They are called the physicians of the Devas, and they are asked to bring health, safety and the sweetness of honey, called madhu. They are also asked to arrive early in the morning, when the first light touches the earth.

What Are Some Famous Stories of the Divine Healers?

The tradition has many stories of the Ashwini Kumaras. These are some of the best known, told in a simple way.

• Chyavana and the return of youth. The great sage Chyavana had become old and weak after a long penance. The Ashvins, moved by his sincerity and by the devotion of his wife Sukanya, are said to have given him a new and youthful form. In return, Chyavana arranged for the Ashvins to receive a share of the Soma offerings in the yajna, which had been denied to them earlier. This story appears in the Mahabharata and the Brahmanas.
• Dadhichi and the horse head. The sage Dadhichi had learned the secret teaching called Madhu Vidya, the knowledge of honey. Indra had warned him not to share it with anyone, or his head would be cut off. To protect the sage, the Ashvins are said to have replaced his head with that of a horse so that he could teach them safely. After the teaching, they restored his original head. The story is told in the Rigveda and the Brahmanas.
• Vishpala and her new leg. The Rigveda tells of Vishpala, a brave queen who lost her leg in battle. The Ashvins are said to have fitted her with an iron leg, so that she could walk and fight again. This is one of the best known stories, and it is often remembered as one of the earliest mentions of an artificial limb in world literature.
• Nakula and Sahadeva. In the Mahabharata, the twin Pandavas, Nakula and Sahadeva, were born to Madri through the blessing of the Ashwini Kumaras. Sahadeva is known for his wisdom, and Nakula for his skill and care with horses, and both are seen as carrying some of the qualities of their divine fathers.

These stories show the Ashvins as Devas who restore, rescue and help, and who are present for both the old and the young, the weak and the brave.

What Is the Link Between the Ashwini Kumaras, Indra and Dhanvantari?

The Ashwini Kumaras have a special place in the story of Ayurveda. In the tradition of the Sushruta Samhita, the knowledge of medicine flows from Brahma, the creator, to Daksha Prajapati, and then to the Ashwini Kumaras. They teach it to Indra, who passes it on to Dhanvantari. Dhanvantari then teaches it to Sushruta and the other students, and through them it reaches humankind. The Charaka tradition tells a related story, in which the knowledge goes from the Ashwini Kumaras to Indra and then to the sages.

In this view, the Ashwini Kumaras are the first physicians of the Devas and the first link in the chain of Ayurveda. Bhagwan Dhanvantari, who rose from the ocean with the Amrit Kalash, is the Bhagwan of Ayurveda who carried the knowledge on. Both are honoured as divine healers, and they form one stream of the healing tradition.

You can read more about the next link in this chain in our post on Dhanvantari and Sushruta.

What Is Ashwini Nakshatra?

In Vedic astrology, the zodiac is divided into twenty seven nakshatras, or lunar stars. Ashwini is the first of them. It spans the first thirteen degrees and twenty minutes of the sign Mesha, or Aries, and it is ruled by Ketu in the Vimshottari dasha system. Its presiding deities are the Ashwini Kumaras. Its symbol is the head of a horse. It is called a Kshipra nakshatra, which means a swift one, and it is linked with speed and quick action.

In the tradition, Ashwini stands for new beginnings, energy, courage, initiative and the power to heal and to set things in motion. Since it is the first nakshatra, it is seen as the spark that starts the cycle.

The month Ashwayuja, also called Ashwin, takes its name from this nakshatra, as the full Moon falls near it in that month.

What Traits and Health Themes Are Linked With Ashwini?

Jyotish teachers describe people whose Moon is in Ashwini at birth with certain traits. These are general traditional themes, and every person is different, so please read them with a light touch.

Such people are often described as energetic, quick, pioneering, helpful and drawn to the work of healing and service. They tend to act fast and take the initiative. On the other side, they may also be impatient, restless and a little hasty, so they may need to pay attention to rest and to safety. Since the nakshatra falls in the sign Mesha, which is linked with the head in the natural zodiac, some teachers connect it with themes of the head and mind.

Ketu, the lord of the nakshatra, adds a note of inwardness and detachment, and a tendency to seek something deeper. This is why many Ashwini people have a spiritual side as well.

Please remember that these are themes for reflection, and not health predictions. Astrology cannot diagnose any condition. If you or a loved one have a health concern, please see a doctor, whatever your nakshatra may be.

Is Ashwini a Good Time to Start Healing Efforts?

In the Muhurta tradition, which is the study of auspicious timing, Ashwini is one of the swift nakshatras, along with Pushya and Hasta, and it is traditionally seen as good for beginning new efforts such as study, travel, trade, and also the practice of healing and care. Some families like to begin a new health routine or a course of learning on such a day.

We must be very clear here. Medical needs always come first. If a doctor has advised treatment, a test or a surgery, please do not wait for an Ashwini day. A delay can cause harm. You can use an auspicious time to begin a prayer, a healthy daily habit or a new exercise routine, but you should never use it to delay medical care.

How Can We Honour the Ashwini Kumaras?

The Ashwini Kumaras are loved as the friends of the sick and the helpers of those in need. Here are some simple ways to honour them.

• A dawn prayer. Since they come with the morning light, many people remember them at sunrise. A few minutes of quiet prayer, with a lamp and a thankful heart, is a lovely way to begin the day.
• A simple mantra. “Om Ashwini Kumarabhyam Namah” is a simple salutation to the twin Devas. There are also hymns to the Ashvins in the Rigveda and in later collections. Please let your priest or Guru advise on the right form.
• Gratitude to doctors and caregivers. One of the most meaningful ways to honour the divine healers is to thank the human healers around us. A kind word to a doctor, a nurse or a caregiver is a real offering.
• Seva. Helping the sick, supporting a hospital, donating blood if you are eligible, or caring for an elder at home is service in the spirit of the Ashvins.
• Ganesha and Ketu prayers. For those born under Ashwini, prayers to Bhagwan Ganesha, who is the traditional deity of Ketu, are also common.

How Does the Dhanvantari Homam Connect With the Ashwini Kumaras?

The Dhanvantari Homam is a Vedic fire ritual that honours Bhagwan Dhanvantari, the divine physician and the Bhagwan of Ayurveda. Since the Ashwini Kumaras are the first physicians of the Devas in the chain of the healing tradition, many families remember them, along with Bhagwan Dhanvantari, when they pray for health and wellbeing.

In the Homam, the priests take a Sankalpa in the name of the person, with their gotra and nakshatra, chant the Dhanvantari mantras and offer ghee and sacred herbs into the fire. It is traditionally performed to seek blessings for health, strength and peace of mind. Some families like to perform it on or around the day of their birth nakshatra, which for a person born under Ashwini is the day when the Moon is in Ashwini. The Homam can also be booked online, so you can join the prayer in your heart from anywhere. You can read more on our Dhanvantari Homam page.

How Should We See Astrology and Medical Care Together?

Astrology and the Homam are forms of spiritual guidance and support. They are not a replacement for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. They do not promise any result, and they should never delay or replace the care of a doctor.

The best way to see them is as companions to good care. The doctor treats the body, the family looks after the person, and Jyotish and prayer give reflection, hope and calm to the mind. Please continue to follow your doctor’s guidance, and never stop or change a treatment because of an astrological remedy.

Key Takeaways

• The Ashwini Kumaras are the twin physicians of the Devas, honoured in the Rigveda as divine healers who arrive at dawn.
• Famous stories include the renewal of Chyavana, the horse head of Dadhichi, the iron leg of Vishpala and the birth of Nakula and Sahadeva.
• In the tradition of the Sushruta Samhita, Ayurveda flows from Brahma to the Ashwini Kumaras, then to Indra and Dhanvantari, and then to Sushruta.
• Ashwini is the first nakshatra, ruled by Ketu, with the horse head as its symbol, and it stands for swiftness, new beginnings and healing.
• Ashwini may be seen as a good time to start new healthy habits, but treatment advised by a doctor should never wait for a nakshatra.
• A Homam is spiritual support and works alongside medical care, never in place of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who are the Ashwini Kumaras?

They are twin Devas, also called the Ashvins, Nasatya and Dasra, who are the physicians of the Devas. The Rigveda praises them as healers and rescuers who come with the dawn.

Q. What is the link between the Ashwini Kumaras and Dhanvantari?

In the tradition of the Sushruta Samhita, Ayurveda flows from Brahma to the Ashwini Kumaras, then to Indra and Dhanvantari. Both are honoured as divine healers of the tradition.

Q. What is Ashwini Nakshatra?

It is the first of the twenty seven nakshatras in Vedic astrology. It is ruled by Ketu, presided over by the Ashwini Kumaras, and symbolised by a horse’s head. It stands for swiftness, new beginnings and healing.

Q. What are the traits of people born in Ashwini Nakshatra?

Traditionally, they are described as energetic, quick, helpful and pioneering, and sometimes hasty or restless. These are general themes for reflection, and every person is different.

Q. Is Ashwini Nakshatra good for starting treatment?

Ashwini is traditionally seen as good for starting new efforts, but medical treatment advised by a doctor should never wait for a nakshatra. Please follow your doctor’s advice on timing.

Q. Can I perform a Homam on my birth nakshatra?

Many families like to perform a Dhanvantari Homam on or around their birth nakshatra day. It is spiritual support and does not replace medical care.

A Note on Health and Faith

Astrology, prayer and the Dhanvantari Homam are forms of spiritual guidance and support. They are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please continue to follow your doctor’s guidance and take care of your health along with your prayers.

Seek the Blessings of Bhagwan Dhanvantari

If you wish to pray for the health and wellbeing of your family with the full Vedic method, you can book the Dhanvantari Homam with Jyotirgamaya from anywhere in the world. Visit the Dhanvantari Homam page.