Ashvin

Ashvin or Ashwin (Bengali: আশ্বিন Ashbin; Sanskrit: अश्विन् /əˈʃhwɪn/; Malay/Indonesian: Aswin; Thai: Asawin), also known as Aswayuja, is the seventh month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, the solar calendar where it is known as Aipassi and the solar India's national civil calendar. It is the sixth month of the solar Bengali calendar. It falls in the season of Shôrot, (Sharad in Hindi) or Autumn. In solar religious calendar, Ashvin begins with the Sun's exit from Virgo.

It overlaps September and October of the Gregorian calendar and is the month preceding Diwali, the festival of lights. The month is here named Ashshin, Bengali script: আশ্বিন). In lunar religious calendars, Ashvin begins on the new moon after the autumn equinox.

Etymology

Ashvin means light in the Sanskrit language, and Ashvini is the first star that appears in the evening sky. In Indian astrology it is the head of Aries, or the first of the 27 Nakshatra. Ashvin also stands for the divine twins, the Ashvins, the gods of vision in Hindu mythology. Asawin is the Thai variant of Ashvin and stands for warrior. The term is often translated into English as "knight".

Ashvini

Ashvini is the first nakshatra (lunar mansion) in Hindu astrology having a spread from 0°-0'-0" to 13°-20', corresponding to the head of Aries, including the stars β and γ Arietis. The name aśvinī is used by Varahamihira (6th century). The older name of the asterism, found in the Atharvaveda (AVS 19.7; in the dual) and in Panini (4.3.36), was aśvayúj "harnessing horses".

Ashvini is ruled by Ketu, the descending lunar node. In electional astrology, Asvini is classified as a small constellation, meaning that it is believed to be advantageous to begin works of a precise or delicate nature while the moon is in Ashvini. Asvini is ruled by the Ashvins, the heavenly twins who served as physicians to the gods. Personified, Asvini is considered to be the wife of the Asvini Kumaras. Ashvini is represented either by the head of a horse, or by honey and the bee hive.

Traditional Hindu given names are determined by which pada (quarter) of a nakshatra the moon was in at the time of birth. In the case of Ashvini, the given name would begin with the following syllables: Chu, Che, Cho, La