Ashvini

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann

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Ashvini nakshatra in Tirupperunthurai (Athmanathaswamy temple) near Aranthangi, India, 10th century CE. (SMH 2025).

Ashvini drawing in the stars, animated GIF (SMH 2025)

Aśvini (अश्विनी) is the name of an Indian twin deity that is asscoiated with the first nakshatra. As gods they initially represent physicians; as asterism they are associated with the star β and γ Arietis in Aries. However, the oldest reconstruction of the image shows a horse head with three stars, suggesting that α Arietis might also have belonged to the asterism.

Etymology and History

Name Variant:

• Adya,
• Asva,
• Asvi,
• Dasra,
• Hari,
• Haya,
• Turaga,
• Turanaga,
• Vaaji

The Ashwini kumaras twins, sons of the sun god Surya. Vedic gods representing the brightness of sunrise and sunset

Origin of Constellation

Asvini actually means "twin horse-man". It is mythologically associated with twin physicians of the Gods and as an astrism represented with a horse head. All alternative names of the nakshatra mean "horse" and so does the word “aśva” (अश्व) .

Identification

β, γ Arietis are certain,

(perhaps also α Ari in some variants, as sometimes three stars are drawn)

	Ashvini Vedic	Ashvini in Tirupperunthurai	Ashvini Chinese	Ashvini (Jones 1790)
	≥ 2 stars	6 stars	3 stars	3 stars

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	HIP	description	Vmag
1	Hamal	HIP 9884	Constellation lines (Vertex)	2.01
2	Sheratan	HIP 8903	Constellation lines (Vertex)	2.65
3	Mesarthim	HIP 8832	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.52
4	* gam01 Ari	HIP 8832	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.589
5	κ Arietis	HIP 9836	Inside the hull	5.019
6	ι Arietis	HIP 9110	Constellation lines (Vertex)	5.105
7	η Arietis	HIP 10306	Constellation lines	5.2
8	θ Arietis	HIP 10732	Constellation lines (Vertex)	5.572
9	15 Ari	HIP 10155	Inside the hull	5.688
10	-	HIP 9307	Inside the hull	5.892

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

• 
  Ashvini 10th century CE
• 
  Ashvini Tibetean
• 
  Ashvini (Chinese)
• 
  Ashvini reconstructed by Jones (1720).
• 
  Display of all 28th nakshatra in silver arch with candles in Tirupperunthurai (Athmanathaswamy temple) near Aranthangi, India, 10th century CE. (SMH 2025).
• 
  Display of all 28th nakshatra in a door frame in Tirupperunthurai (Athmanathaswamy temple) near Aranthangi, India, 10th century CE. (SMH 2025).

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

References

• References (general)