The Ashvins (aśvin- "possessor of horses", "horse tamer", "cavalier", dual aśvinau) are divine twin horsemen in the Rigveda, sons of Saranya, a goddess of the dawn and wife of either Surya or Vivasvat. They are Vedic gods symbolising the shining of sunrise and sunset, appearing in the sky before the dawn in a golden chariot, bringing treasures to men and averting misfortune and sickness. They are the doctors of gods and are devas of Ayurvedic medicine. They are called Nasatya (dual nāsatyau "kind, helpful" in the Rigveda; later, Nasatya is the name of one twin, while the other is called Dasra. By popular etymology, the name nāsatya was analysed as na+asatya "not untrue"="true".

The Ashvins can be compared with the twins Castor and Pollux of the Greco-Roman mythology. To each one of them

Ashvini is the name of a constellation, later identified with the mother of the Ashvins.

There are 57 Rigvedic hymns dedicated to the Ashvins: 1.3, 1.22, 1.34, 1.46-47, 1.112, 1.116-120, 1.157-158, 1.180-184, 2.20, 3.58, 4.43-45, 5.73-78, 6.62-63, 7.67-748.5, 8.8-10, 8.22, 8.26, 8.35, 8.57, 8.73, 8.85-8710.24, 10.39-41, 10.143.

References

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna L. Dallapiccola