Ashwini Nakshatra: “The Star of Transport”-The Divine Physicians and the Shadow of Betrayal

by Katya Faris, MA, MA

www.hindustanastrology.com

*Note: this is not Western astrology, this is Vedic sidereal astrology. To find out your Vedic sidereal signs, please use my FREE chart calculator, where you will get your birth chart (D1), navamsa (D9), planetary signs and nakshatras, and Vimshottari planetary cycles.

In Vedic astrology, the nakshatras (lunar mansions) hold deep mythological significance, often reflecting the archetypal stories that play out in our lives. Ashwini, the first nakshatra, is ruled by the Ashwini Kumaras, the celestial twin physicians of the gods. Yet, intertwined with their healing prowess is a myth of betrayal, swift movement, and transformation—themes that frequently manifest in the lives of those with strong Ashwini placements. Fixed star El Sheratan rules this lunar mansion, and also carries the theme of swift transformation.

Aries & Ashwini: The Cosmic Furnace of Beginnings

As the first nakshatra nestled within the first zodiac sign, Ashwini carries the primal essence of Aries (Mesha) – that initial spark of cosmic fire from which all creation springs. Ruled by Mars (Mangal), Aries represents the unfiltered life force: impulsive, courageous, and fiercely self-directed. This is the energy of the warrior charging into battle, the entrepreneur launching a venture, the infant’s first cry announcing its arrival. In the zodiac’s wheel, Aries teaches the fundamental lesson of “I am” before “we are” – a necessary selfishness that later matures into leadership.

Ashwini amplifies Aries’ raw energy through its specific qualities. Where Aries is the fire, Ashwini is the first flickering flame – quick, bright, and needing constant movement to survive. The nakshatra’s planetary ruler Ketu adds profound depth to Aries’ surface-level impulsivity, connecting present-life actions to past karma. This explains why Ashwini natives often experience sudden betrayals (like Sanjana) or healing callings (like the Ashwini Kumaras) – their soul contracts demand rapid evolution through crisis.

The horse symbolism bridges both energies beautifully. Aries charges ahead like a warhorse, while Ashwini’s divine twins ride celestial stallions that outpace thought itself. Both share that inability to remain stagnant – whether it’s changing relationships, careers, or spiritual paths. Yet where Aries may bulldoze obstacles, Ashwini (through Ketu’s wisdom) learns to transform them into medicine.

This combination makes Ashwini natives the zodiac’s ultimate first responders – whether as surgeons saving lives, engineers building futures, or spiritual healers mending hearts. Their gift is turning Aries’ selfish fire into sacred service, just as the Ashwini Kumaras used their divine speed for others’ healing rather than personal glory. The shadow emerges when this energy remains untempered – the serial monogamist who never sits with their pain, the workaholic who confuses motion with growth. ADHD and the consequent “racing brain syndrome” can be seen here if the planet in Ashwini is poorly aspected. These students need a kinesthetic type of learning, show them “how” to do something by doing, don’t “tell them” by sitting them in a classroom for 6 hours and giving them instructions, as their mind won’t be able to focus that long. While this may seem a detriment in our modern world, which often results in clinical anxiety, in antiquity these were the scouts, the runners, and also the quick-minded protectors who could sense an enemy coming from miles away, much needed skills during a time in human evolution where you were either the hunter, or the prey.

Ultimately, Aries provides the courage to begin, while Ashwini offers the grace to begin again – and again – until the lesson is learned. Their combined mythology suggests that all true healing originates from that brave first step into the unknown, just as Sanjana’s flight eventually led to reconciliation, and her suffering birthed the divine physicians themselves.

The Myth of Ashwini: A Story of Betrayal, Shadows, and Divine Healing

Long ago, when the cosmos was still young, Surya Dev, the Sun God, blazed with such fierce radiance that even the gods had to shield their eyes. His light was life itself—but for his wife, Sanjana, daughter of the divine architect Vishwakarma, it became unbearable.

The Flight of Sanjana

Day after day, Sanjana suffered under her husband’s scorching brilliance. Her skin burned, her heart ached, and though she loved him, she could no longer endure his fire. Desperate, she made a fateful decision.

Summoning her powers, she created Chaya, a perfect shadow-replica of herself. “Stay in my place,” she whispered, “and no one must know.” Then, in the dead of night, Sanjana fled to her father’s home, seeking refuge in the cool, quiet darkness.

The Deception

Surya, unsuspecting, returned to his palace and embraced Chaya, believing her to be his true wife. Years passed. Chaya bore him children—Shani (Saturn), stern and dark, and Tapati, a daughter of fire. Yet something was… different. Chaya was colder, sharper, her love laced with something unspoken.

Meanwhile, far away, Sanjana grieved. She had thought distance would ease her pain, but instead, loneliness consumed her.

The Return and the Betrayal Revealed

One day, unable to bear the separation any longer, Sanjana returned—only to find another woman in her home, raising her children. Worse, she saw the truth: Surya had loved another in her absence, even if that other was her own shadow.

Heartbroken, she confronted him. “How could you not know?” she wept.

Surya, stunned, realized the deception. Rage and sorrow warred within him—but so did understanding. He had failed to see his wife’s suffering, and so she had slipped away.

The Compromise and the Birth of the Ashwini Kumaras

Vishwakarma, seeking peace, intervened. He persuaded Surya to dim his radiance, shaving away just enough of his brilliance so Sanjana could bear his presence. From this softened light, their reunion bore new fruit—the Ashwini Kumaras, twin gods of healing, swift as thought and radiant with renewal.

Yet the scars remained. Shani (Saturn), born of the shadow-wife, would forever bear the weight of this betrayal, his gaze heavy with karma. And Sanjana, though she returned, would always remember the pain of being replaced.

The Legacy of Ashwini

The Ashwini Kumaras, born from both sorrow and reconciliation, became the divine physicians, racing across the heavens on their golden chariot to mend what was broken. But their origin carried a warning:

Where there is blinding light, shadows gather.
Where there is love without seeing, betrayal waits.

And so, even now, those touched by Ashwini live this story—

• The healer who knows the deepest wounds.
• The lover who flees, only to return transformed.
• The one who is betrayed, yet learns to restore.

For in Ashwini, the first nakshatra, lies the oldest truth: Every beginning is born from an ending.

How This Myth Plays Out in Modern Life

This story is not just ancient lore—it repeats itself in the lives of those with strong Ashwini energy.

• The Betrayal Theme:
  • I’ve seen countless clients with Moon, Lagna, or Sun in Ashwini who have experienced infidelity.
  • One client (“Client A”) had an eerily similar story to Sanjana: she traveled overseas to visit her father, hired a nanny, and returned to find her husband had cheated with the nanny.
  • She divorced him but went on to have three marriages—each time seeking renewal, much like Sanjana’s eventual reunion with Surya.
  • Interestingly, she worked as an engineer for a space flight company—fitting for Ashwini’s connection to speed, travel, and innovation.
• The Healing Theme:
  • The Ashwini Kumaras are known as divine physicians, and many with this nakshatra prominent are drawn to medicine, healing, or emergency fields.
  • I’ve met surgeons, nurses, energy healers, and even veterinarians with strong Ashwini placements—quick, precise, and gifted at restoring life.

Why Does Ashwini Carry This Dual Energy?

Ashwini is ruled by Ketu, the planet of karma, sudden events, and past-life wisdom. Its symbol is the horse’s head, representing speed, instinct, and forward motion.

• Those with Ashwini strong in their chart often experience rapid changes, sudden betrayals, or the need to “heal and move on” quickly.
• They may also have a restless, pioneering spirit—always seeking the next challenge, much like Sanjana fleeing and returning, or the Ashwini Kumaras racing across the heavens to cure ailments.

If you have Ashwini prominent in your chart, you may recognize these themes:

• A history of betrayal, but also an innate ability to heal and renew.
• A fast-paced life, whether through career, travel, or multiple relationships.
• A calling to medicine or service, whether as a doctor, therapist, or innovator in technology.

Ashwini reminds us that even in betrayal, there is the potential for rebirth—and that the swiftest healers often emerge from the deepest wounds.

Planetary Conjunctions & Their Effects

The way Ashwini plays out depends heavily on planetary influences:

Famous Examples of Moon in Ashwini

• Pamela Anderson, celebrity
• US Former President, Joe Biden
• “Jelly Roll”, Jason DeFord, singer
• Celine Dion, singer
• F. Scott Fitzgerald, writer
• US Former VP, Kamala Harris
• King Charles III of Great Britain
• Naomi Judd, singer
• Bernie Madoff, financier
• Jimmy Page, musician
• Dr. Jill Stein, former medical doctor, and now political activist and politician
• Natalie Wood, actor
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain

In General:

• Surgeons & ER Doctors – The “quick-fix” energy of the Ashwini Kumaras.
• People Who Need Healing – Emotional hardships can literally make people sick; if there has been a pattern of betrayal, it can often show up in diseases.
• People Who Always Move – Whether changing jobs, cities, or partners, Ashwini natives can’t stay still. This includes engineers, and any part of the automotive or space travel industry, etc.

Final Thoughts: The Gift in the Wound

Ashwini’s lesson is this: Betrayal forces movement, and movement leads to healing.

• If you have Ashwini strong in your chart, you may have experienced sudden losses, but you also have the power to restore.
• You might change directions rapidly (jobs, relationships, homes), but this keeps you aligned with destiny.
• You are here to heal—whether through medicine, innovation, or your own lived wisdom.

Next in the series: Bharani Nakshatra—The Fire of Transformation.