Sanjana spends many years in some forest in the Himalayas disguised as a mare and with time Surya staying alone in his abode starts to yearn for a glimpse of his wife and so Surya decides to bring Sanjana back in his abode and goes in pursuit of her. Surya first visits Vishwakarma’s abode thinking Sanjana would have returned to her father’s abode, but Vishvakarma informs Surya that Sanjana hasn’t returned and requests him to find her and again accept her as his wife. Even though Vishvakarma did not know the exact place where his daughter currently is residing but he did suspect Sanjana to be somewhere in the Himalayas. Moreover, Vishvakarma, the architect and the engineer using his competence helps Surya lower his hot lustre so that Sanjana is not afflicted by the presence of her radiant husband. Surya than set outs in search of his wife and finally after a tedious forage over the vast Himalayas finds Sanjana in a forest disguised as a mare. Surya too disguises himself as a young stud and approaches her to woo her. Sanjana ably recognises her husband and admittedly yields to Surya’s efforts to tempt her and they mate and make love in the forest and of their mating are born the twins known as the Ashwini Kumaras or the Ashvins. Since they were conceived in the form of horses, so they were called the Ashvins or Ashwini Kumaras were the initials ‘Ashwa’ means horse.
As per Hindu Mythology, Ashwini Kumaras are the celestial physicians or doctors of the many Gods. The mention of the Ashvins or Ashwini Kumaras can be found in many ancient Hindu scriptures. As per Vedic literature, there are 33 Vedic deities grouped into 4 as 8-Vasu, 11-Rudra, 12-Aaditya and the 2 celestial twins ie Ashvins (Nasatya & Dasra). These celestial twins are described as forever youthful, handsome, strong and athletic, responsible for healing and cure. The twins are even associated with giving life to the dead or resurrecting mortals from death, also the making of many Ayurvedic medicines including the making of Chyawanprash formulation for Rishi Chyavana as mentioned in the Mahabharata. The Ashvins are also associated with dawn, the time of the day when they are invoked. Ushas the goddess of dawn awakens the celestial twins and then they follow her in their chariot and reach earth before her. Thus the twins are popularly called “The Bringers of the Sun” or “The Darkness Slayers”. Mentioned in some Hindu scriptures, the celestial twins are obligated to ride along with their father Surya, in their true horse form holding the prime reigns among the 7 horses of the golden chariot. Thus every dawn the first ray of the Sun reaching earth is the chariot of Lord Surya being ridden by his twin sons Nasatya and Dasra in their horse form along with the other 5 tied horses, bestowing humanity with warmth and good health. In some scriptures and texts, the celestial twins ride their own 3 wheels golden chariot pulled either by horses or birds, preceding their father’s chariot. The invoking of Lord Surya at dawn is done by offering ‘Arghyam’ ie pouring water from palms to the rising Sun. In certain Hindu communities (like the Dvija community) the practice of ‘Sandhya Vandanam’ is performed as a daily ritual following ancient Vedic customs at the break of dawn. Here ‘Sandhya Vandanam’ literally means honouring or giving salutation to Goddess Sandhya or Sanjana.
