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Ashvins (Rig Veda 1.3) - Madhuchanda Vaisvamitra:


The Yagna Cycle



Ashvins (Rig Veda - Mandala 1 - Sukta 3 - Mantra 1):

अश्विना यज्वरीरिषो द्रवत्पाणी शुभस्पती ।
पुरुभुजा चनस्यतम् ॥१.३.१॥

Ashvinaa Yajvariir-Isso Dravat-Paannii Shubhas-Patii |
Puru-Bhujaa Canasyatam ||1.3.1||

द्रवत्पाणी (Dravat-Paannii): Who has swift hands.
शुभस्पती (Shubhas-Patii): Who brings welfare.
पुरुभुजा (Puru-Bhujaa): Who has many hands.
Comments:

- In this mantra, the different qualities of Ashvins are being mentioned. The Ashvins have swift hands, many hands, and they bring welfare to the people.

- The Ashvins (two in number) are the healing powers of Nature. When we cut our hand, a clot forms naturally after sometime and heals the wound. When a branch of a tree is cut, the healing powers of Nature again grows the branch. Without this healing power, physical survival would have become impossible.

- However this healing power extends much beyond the physical, because Rita works both externally and internally. When we feel sad due to the demise of a person dear to us, this healing power will heal the sadness overtime. When we feel guilt due to a wrong act of ours, this healing power can overcome that sense also if we properly seek its refuge.

- This healing power has swift hands, acting immediately to heal the wound (as we see in the example of the formation of blood clot). This healing power acts with many hands, simultaneously healing many wounds. Finally, this healing power brings welfare, as is the characteristic of Rita.

- The nature of awakening in Yagna differs according to the divine force in operation. In the case of Ashvins the divine force is of the nature of healing. (Compare this with Sarasvati where the nature of the divine force is that of intelligence and awakening will be of the nature of intelligence)


Ashvins (Rig Veda - Mandala 1 - Sukta 3 - Mantra 2):

अश्विना पुरुदंससा नरा शवीरया धिया ।
धिष्ण्या वनतं गिरः ॥१.३.२॥

Ashvinaa Puru-Damsasaa Naraa Shaviirayaa Dhiyaa |
Dhissnnyaa Vanatam Girah ||1.3.2||

पुरुदंससा (Puru-Damsasaa): Who does many wonderful deeds.
Comments:

- In this mantra it is being mentioned that the Ashvins do many wonderful deeds.

- The role of Ashvins in Rig Veda extends beyond healing to rescuing some persons from difficult situations of life. These are their wonderful deeds. An example is restoring the eyesight of sage Cyavana, the incident which is also mentioned in the Puranas. This aspect make us think whether the healing powers of Nature can also rescue persons from difficult situations, if the rescue means healing a greater unseen wound. The wisdom of the Vedas often give news of an interconnected world, which is unseen, and cannot be captured even by normal scientific analysis.


Ashvins (Rig Veda - Mandala 1 - Sukta 3 - Mantra 3):

दस्रा युवाकवः सुता नासत्या वृक्तबर्हिषः ।
आ यातं रुद्रवर्तनी ॥१.३.३॥

Dasraa Yuvaakavah Sutaa Naasatyaa Vrkta-Barhissah |
Aa Yaatam Rudra-Vartanii ||1.3.3||

दस्रा (Dasraa): Who is the destroyer of foes.
नासत्या (Na-Asatyaa): In whom no untruth exist.
रुद्रवर्तनी (Rudra-Vartanii): Who goes by the path of the Rudra.
Comments:

- In this mantra, the qualities of Ashvins are being mentioned. They are the destroyer of foes, in whom no untruth exist, and who go by the path of Rudra.

- In Rig Veda, different Devas have different roles and the foe corresponds to the impediments to that role. In the case of Mitra-Varuna, the role is to establish Rita, so the foe is any impediment in the establishment of Rita. In an earlier sukta, Mitra was mentioned as having dexterity to purify and Varuna as the destroyer of foes. This dual aspect of destroying the foes and carrying on the welfare activities is an integral part of any role. The two Ashvins might also be dividing their functions internally: one is destroying the impediments to healing and the other carrying on the function of healing.

- Every Deva or divine power is associated with truth. The Ashvins have been mentioned as Naasatya, in whom no untruth exist. That is why they are able to heal, which is part of the greater function of taking one from untruth to truth. If we meditate on the truth aspect of the Devas, simplicity and truth gradually awaken within us.

- The Ashvins are also connected with Rudra, who breaks the bondage (as mentioned in the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra of Rig Veda).




Vedic Vision of Nature:

  1. Introduction:
    • Summary
    • Relevance
    • The three outer Dimensions (Education, Environment and Economy)
    • The three inner Dimensions (Vedic Vision as Heart, Science as Head and Technology as Hand)
    • The Goal (Unifying the outer Dimensions with the help of the inner Dimensions)

  2. Core Concepts:
    1. Rishis (Seers of Vedic Mantras)
    2. Rita (Cosmic Order)
    3. Devas (Divine forces upholding Rita)
    4. Yagna (Our participation in Rita)

  3. Unification: Aligning Vedic Vision with the three outer Dimensions:
    • Education (Bringing inner illumination through the study of Vedic mantras)
    • Environment (Seeing Environment from the perspective of Rita)
    • Economy (Designing Economy from the perspective of Yagna)

  4. Yagna Cycle: Journey through the Vedic mantras through the Yagna Cycle

  5. Vedic mantras [Education]: Bringing inner illumination through the study of Vedic mantras
    1. Rig Veda - Mandala 1

  6. Rita [Environment]: Seeing Environment from the perspective of Rita

  7. Yagna [Economy]: Designing Economy from the perspective of Yagna


- Author: greenmesg


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Last updated on Mar-2024

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