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अश्विनी
NAKSHATRA #1 OF 27aśvinī · Mesha 0°00' – 13°20'
Quick, restless, healing-inclined, pioneering. Independent and impulsive. Skilled in medicine and movement.
Ruling Planet
Ketu
Deity
Ashwini Kumaras (twin physicians)
Symbol
Horse's head
Gaṇa
Deva
Yoni
Ashva (horse) — male
Nāḍī
Adi (Vata)
Varṇa
Vaishya
Tattva
Earth
Body Part
Knees, top of feet
Tree
Kuchla / Strychnos nux-vomica
Bird
Saracaa
Naming Syllables
Chu, Che, Cho, La
ॐ अश्विनीकुमाराभ्यां नमः
Navāṃśa: Mesha
Aggressive, leadership-oriented, impulsive.
Navāṃśa: Vrishabha
Practical, sensual, focused on material life.
Navāṃśa: Mithuna
Communicative, intellectual, dual-natured.
Navāṃśa: Karka
Emotional, family-oriented, nurturing.
In Vedic astrology the Moon’s nakshatra at birth (the janma-nakṣatra) is the foundation of personal interpretation. Ashwini as a janma-nakshatra suggests the temperament and life-themes summarised above; the four padas refine this further by indicating which rāśi-section (the navāṃśa) the Moon occupied at birth.
The nakshatra is also the basis for the Vimśottarī Mahādaśā — the 120-year planetary period system unique to Vedic astrology. The dasha you are born into is determined by which planet rules your janma-nakshatra. Ashwini’s ruling planet is Ketu — meaning births in this nakshatra typically begin their lives in the Ketu mahādaśā.
The naming syllables (Chu, Che, Cho, La) are the traditional Sanskrit-Hindi syllables used to choose a name for a child born in this nakshatra, especially during the Nāmakaraṇa (naming-ceremony) sanskara. Many Hindu families still consult their kuldevta-pandit and the janma-nakshatra before settling on a name.
Ashwini is a Deva-gaṇa nakshatra — the divine class. Deva-gaṇa natives are temperamentally inclined toward harmony, dharma, and refined pursuits. They marry best with other Deva-gaṇa partners; Manuṣya-gaṇa is acceptable; Rākṣasa-gaṇa is generally avoided.
Sources: Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra · Bṛhat Saṃhitā · Atharva Veda 19.7. Awaiting scholar verification.