Description

Key Themes:

1. The Nature and Role of the Ashvins: The primary theme is the benevolent and active role of the Ashvins as divine twin deities. They are consistently depicted as powerful, generous, and swift in their actions, intervening to aid and benefit humanity.
2. Healing, Rejuvenation, and Restoration: A dominant theme is the Ashvins' ability to heal, restore, and rejuvenate. This is shown through specific examples of them bringing people back to health or youth.
3. Protection and Rescue: The Ashvins are portrayed as protectors and rescuers, saving individuals and groups from danger, suffering, and darkness.
4. Bestowal of Gifts and Prosperity: The Ashvins are seen as givers of various boons, including health, joy, peace, prosperity, knowledge, energy, and even material wealth.
5. Association with Light, Speed, and Knowledge: They are linked with concepts of light, swift movement (often via their chariot), and the promotion of knowledge and truth.

Most Important Ideas/Facts and Supporting Quotes:

• The Ashvins as Benevolent and Responsive Deities: The text frequently highlights the Ashvins' willingness to respond to invocations and provide aid.
• "Ashvins, lovers and defenders of truth, givers of health and joy, the veteran yajaka, high-priest of knowledge, invokes you for the honey sweets of soma’s joy for the health and ecstasy of living." (Sukta 1, lines 1-2)
• The repeated invocation of the Ashvins across the verses reinforces this point.
• Their Swiftness and Accessibility via Chariot: Their chariot is a key motif, symbolising their rapid movement and ability to reach those who call upon them.
• "Ashvins, leaders of the people, faster than thought is your chariot which reaches the people with you. Wondrously made it is, drawn by horses fast as sun beams and lightning, by which you go home to the man of noble deeds. Riding that same chariot come home for us too (and bless us with light and speed)." (Sukta 2)
• "transport it without trouble by the chariot meticulously driven at the speed of thought for the good of all." (Sukta 15)
• Rescue from Suffering and Darkness: The Ashvins are credited with rescuing individuals from dire situations, including imprisonment and darkness.
• They "save Atri, visionary scholar free from the three bonds of physical, mental and spiritual ailments... and you deliver him along with his band of teachers and scholars from the evil of prison in utter darkness, against the light of reason, knowledge and rectitude..." (Sukta 3)
• They redeem Rebha, an eminent scholar, who is "obscured among the lesser stars and kept back, by manipulators of evil design, straying around lost like a horse in the jungle." (Sukta 4)

Summary:

The Atharvaveda's Mandala 1/Sukta 117 presents the Ashvins as highly benevolent and powerful twin deities. They are celebrated for their swift intervention to heal, rescue, and rejuvenate both individuals and society. Their actions range from restoring sight and youth to inspiring knowledge, providing prosperity, and defending against evil. They are invoked as givers of light, life, energy, and wisdom, essential for the well-being and advancement of humanity. The verses emphasise their accessibility, their unwavering commitment to aiding those in need, and the lasting positive impact of their deeds.