Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Ashvins
The Ashvins are introduced as beautiful divine twins and masters of medicine, initially denied participation among the gods because of their lowly birth. Their relation to the sage Chyavana changes that exclusion. They enter a pool with the aged Chyavana and emerge as three indistinguishable youthful figures. His wife Sukanya recognises her husband, and Chyavana then promises to secure the twins’ right to the soma offerings.
Also known as Aśvins · Ashwini twins
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalThe Ashvins are introduced as beautiful divine twins and masters of medicine, initially denied participation among the gods because of their lowly birth. Their relation to the sage Chyavana changes that exclusion.
Further detail
TraditionalThey enter a pool with the aged Chyavana and emerge as three indistinguishable youthful figures. His wife Sukanya recognises her husband, and Chyavana then promises to secure the twins’ right to the soma offerings.
Context & interpretation
The Ashvins’ medical mastery and Chyavana’s rejuvenation are traditional accounts in this collection. They are not presented as evidence for a medical treatment or a historical demonstration of age reversal. The entry selects the recognition and reciprocity of the episode.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
divine twinsOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 455
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0455
- Original scan leaf
- 455
- Recorded leaf number
- 455
- Current Reader position
- 446
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
win for the Ashvins the right to share in the offeringsOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 456
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0456
- Original scan leaf
- 456
- Recorded leaf number
- 456
- Current Reader position
- 447
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
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