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Articles: Devotion | The Ashvins
- Mr. Venkata Ramanamurty Mallajosyula
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The Ashvins are divine twins, distinguished for their beauty, and masters of medicines. They were at first refused a place amongst the gods on account of their lowly birth; but the rishi Chyavana, who received from them perpetual youth, secured from Indra that they should participate in the offerings.
The tale is told of Chyavana’s attainment of eternal youth; The aged rishi Chyavana had a beautiful wife, Sukanya that is to say, Fair-maid. One day the Ashvins beheld her at her bath, bare of any garment. They came to her and asked: ”O fair- limbed girl, whose daughter art thou and what hast thou to do here in these woods?” and she answered shyly: ”Know that I am Saryati’s daughter and the wife of Chyavana, ”The Ashvins answered “Why has thy father given thee to one so aged and near to death, for thou art radiant as summer lightning? We have not seen thy like even in Heaven, bare of adornment as thou tst thou appear in gorgeous robes and splendid jewels! Do thou leave thy aged husband and take one of us, for youth will not endure.”
She said; I am devoted to my husband Chyavana. ”Again they prayed her. saying: We are the physicians of Heaven. We will make thy husband young and fair; then choose from is three-ourselves and him-whom thou wilt for lord. ”Then Fair-maid told to Chyavana what had been said, and he consented.
Then the Ashvins commanded Chyavan, who was eager to regain his youth, to enter water, and they, too, sank into the waters of the pool. Then came forth all three in radiant youthful forms, wearing burnished ear-rings. All were of same appearance, delightful to behold, and they said to Fair –maid: ”Choose one of us to be thy husband. Choose whom thou dost most desire. ”But Fair-maid found that one appearance was upon them all, and she hesitated long; only when at last she recognized her husband did she choose, and chose no other than himself.
Then Chyavana, well pleased to have both youth and beauty and to have his wife again, promised in return to win for the Ashvins the right to share in the offerings of soma-juice given to the gods. The twins ,no less glad, went their way to Heaven, and Chyavavana and Fair-maid dwelt together in great joy, even as the gods themselves.
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