Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c34.4

v4.c34.4

intercession of the father who made him even in this accursed state to be the god of Dharma and be also one of the Lōkapālas, guarding the southern quarter of the Universe; and Śani obtained powerfully evil eyes through the curse of Chhāyā. After all these events were over, Sūrya learnt that Samjñā was living as a mare in Uttarakuru, went there in the form of a stallion, joined her and begot the twin children named the Aśvins, who are, in this account, held to be the personifications of prāṇa and apāna, the two vital airs which sustain animal life. In the cosmic evolution, these gods came into existence on the dvitīyā tithi. With the help of their father Sūrya they obtained a place among the gods and became the custodians of the amrita and physicians to the celestials. The Aśvins are known by the name of Nāśatyas. Curiously enough these deities, little understood by even the Vēdic commentators, have received a great deal of consideration in the hands of the authors of the various Āgamas. In fact, a number of Āgamas contain a description of the images of the Aśvini-dēvatās. It is highly doubtful if ever they were sculptured and set up in temples, for at the present time we do not hear of the existence of such images anywhere in India, as svayampra-dhāna deities. No doubt they are carved on the same block of stone as was used for the sculpturing of the image of the sun, as attendants of this latter deity. The following description of the images of the Aśvins is found in the Amśumadbhēdāgama. These gods should be represented as horse-faced and be seated together upon a simhāsana. They should be adorned with a jaṭā-makuṭa on the head, the yajñōpavīta, garlands of yellow flowers, and with all other ornaments. The colour of their body is to be red, like the flower of the pomegranate tree. The Aśvins should have lotus-like beautiful eyes and each only a pair of arms; in the left hand they should keep each a book, while their right hands should be held in the abhaya pose. The right legs of the gods should be hanging below the seat, while the left one must be folded and rested upon it. The names of these gods are given as Nāśatya and Dasra. On either side of the Aśvins should be the figures of the females called Mṛita-sañjīvinī and Viśalyakaraṇī waving chauris (chāmaras). The colour of these goddesses is said to be brown.