Understanding the Metaphor - Ashwini and Chitra Nakshatras - Sun Sandhya and Chhaya

As we know that Vedic Astrology is filled with mythological stories, representations and metaphors. Especially, if we go into Nakshatras or understanding Nakshatras, I always felt that understanding their mythological stories or metaphors is the key to understanding the Nakshatra in right sense. As I see, that metaphor or story is impregnate with all the hidden meanings of the Nakshatra. Now, it depends on how deep your insight is, that will decide how much you understand that Nakshatra in true sense.

One question can be asked that why these stories or metaphors were written in such a concealing way? Why ancient sages couldn’t write in simple language which everyone could understand?

It is because if true knowledge is served as easily as the water and air then we will never value it, just like we don’t value water or air, unless and until we feel scarcity of same. Likewise, if Gems of knowledge/wisdom is available with street vendor then most probably people will not even look at them as people think that real Gems can only be sold at Jewelry Showrooms.


Remember the words of The Holy Bible - “Jesus never shared Pearls with Swines”.


Hence, it is necessary that we have to use all our intellect and deep insight to understand the hidden meanings of these metaphors, so that we value them.


Also, process of understanding them will sharpen your intellect and your insights will be deeper after that. So, from the point of view of raising consciousness too, it is good that real knowledge and wisdom is never served easily or freely to people.


One such metaphor which always challenged me from past many years is the mythological story of the Nakshatras Ashwini and Chitra. Let’s see what it is -


Mythological Story of Ashwini – Very short version of the story as stated in ancient texts, the Sun-God had wife named Sandhya (Sanjnya). She was unable to cope-up with the heat and fire of Sun. So, she created her mirror image (twin-sister) Chhaya to replace herself and went away from Sun-God. When Sun-God realized it and he went after Sandhya to find her, she took the form of a Mare to escape. Seeing this, Sun-God took the form of a Horse and they made Horse-Love at that time. Ashwini Kumars were thus born as twin horsemen who are deity of this nakshatra.


Mythological Story of Chitra- God Sun is married to Sandhya. This is the time when Sandhya left the company of Sun. Sun followed her and to search her, Sun reached the home of Vishwakarma, who was father of Sandhya. Vishwakarma told Sun whereabouts of Sandhya but requested Sun to reduce his glare and heat as that was the main cause of Sandhya avoiding Sun throughout. Sun told that Heat & Fire is part of his nature and he can't do anything about it. Vishwakarma offers his help as divine architect and cuts off some of the Sun-rays to reduce Sun's heat.


As Ashwini and Chitra are 180 degree opposite to each other in Nakshatra Scheme, they have common mythological story.


Previously, I wrote an article on this story (https://www.astrosaxena.com/articles/UTMCN) and I interpreted it as the story of ego clashes in relationship and with message of letting-go of ego in matters of relationship as they both (ego and relationship) cannot go hand-in-hand.

But I still could not understand the meaning of “Sandhya creating her mirror image (twin-sister) Chhaya to replace herself and went away from Sun-God”.


In different versions of this story, same thing is mentioned as “Sandhya left her mirror image or shadow or clone with Sun”.


It was always a difficult metaphor to decode for me but when it clicked yesterday, every single word of the story made the perfect sense.


Now, let’s understand it -


I still go by the earlier interpretation (https://www.astrosaxena.com/articles/UTMCN) that this whole story is about letting-go of ego in relationship.

Now reflect back that what happens when we have regular ego clashes with someone and we don’t want to waste our time and energy with that person in having another ego clash?


We stop presenting our real-self to that person and we start pretending in front of that person. After that, whatever this person would say, our responses would be like - “yes, you are right”, “you are correct”. “you are great”. “go ahead, awesome”.


So, rather than giving any genuine views or honest opinions to this person, we start acting fake to him. Reason? Because this person is not yet ready to understand our real/honest side and showing him genuine self will only invite further ego clashes. Hence, to preserve our time, energy and peace, we stop showing the real self and start showing the “shadow image”.


This is what I intepret as might be the meaning of this Nakshatra.


Story - Sun and Sandhya got married and after sometime she couldn’t cope-up with heat and fire of Sun.


Interpretation - It means that she couldn’t cope-up with the ego of Sun.


Story - So, she created her mirror image (twin-sister) Chhaya to replace herself and went away from Sun-God


Interpretation - Now, she stopped showing her real or genuine self to Sun and started showing the fake or shadow side of her to avoid these ego clashes. So, by doing this, she distanced herself from Sun.


Story - “When Sun-God realized it and he went after Sandhya to find her. Sun reached the home of Vishwakarma, who was father of Sandhya. Vishwakarma told Sun whereabouts of Sandhya but requested Sun to reduce his glare and heat as that was the main cause of Sandhya avoiding Sun throughout. Sun told that Heat & Fire is part of his nature and he can't do anything about it. Vishwakarma offers his help as divine architect and cuts off some of the Sun-rays to reduce Sun's heat”.


Interpretation - When someone changes their behaviour towards us then we don’t realize it all of a sudden. It takes some time to realize that someone is distancing themselves from us. Hence, it took time for Sun to realize that Sandhya is now not showing her true-self and only behaving in a very fake manner.


To know the reason, Sun goes to place of Sandhya’s Father Lord Vishwakarma.


Why Sun goes to Sandhya’s Father Lord Vishwakarma?


Because it is expected that at least our parents would understand our true real self. Also, our childhood is the most real or honest time of our life. It is almost impossible to find a child who is fake or dishonest. If fakeness or dishonesty has creeped-in then understand that it is not a child anymore.


So, Sun goes to Lord Vishwakarma to tell him that Sandhya is no-more then woman he got married to and she has just become a shadow of herself. Sun wanted to know how he can bring the real Sandhya back in herself and in their marriage.


Lord Vishwakarma being the father of Sandhya knew his daughter better than anyone else and knew that she can’t be her true-self with an egoistic person. That is against her basic nature. Hence, he advised Sun to let-go of Fire and Heat. It means to let-go of your ego if you really want the real Sandhya to come back in your life, else be happy with this fake/shadow-self of Sandhya.


I think now the story makes the complete sense with the remaining part of the story already covered in earlier article - https://www.astrosaxena.com/articles/UTMCN


Also, one can say that if Sun and Sandhya are so different from each other or we should say opposite to each other then how come they liked each other and got married.


Well, there is attraction only in opposites. Opposites always attract each other. Also, there is possibility of growth only in opposition. If Sun needs to learn to let-go of Ego then he needs a sensitive wife like Sandhya and harsh Father-in-Law like Lord Vishwakarma who can cut-off some of his rays; i.e. who can thrash his ego when needed.


One can say that If Sun had this lesson to learn to let-go of Ego then what lesson Sandhya has to learn in this relationship?


I think she needs to learn the difference between Ego and Self-respect. Killing her real-self in order to protect the relationship, is not equivalent to killing your ego.


Ego is always comparative. In Ego, we are always comparing ourselves with other. In Ego, at least 2 people are involved or needed. Self-Respect is respect towards everything which Universe/God has given to you, yourself. So, Self-Respect is concerned with individual only whereas Ego is always in comparison with the other. If someone rolls over your self-respect then you are bound to respond and defend yourself. Defending your self-respect should not be misunderstood as defending your ego.


She also needs to learn that she needs to defend herself as her father will not be present all the time to defend/protect her and thrash the ego of her husband.

YouTube Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzRy5Sh-sdk

Hope this helps. Thanks,