Nasatya is a Vedic god and the name literally means a negator
of truth. They are twin deities. According to Yasaka, “One is called Son of
Night, and the other Son of Dawn.”
Nasatya is another name of Ashwins who were born from the
nostrils of Saranyu who, as a mare, had smelt the semen of Vivasvat, which had
fallen on the ground. For this reason, in art, Nasatyas are generally
represented as horse headed human figures.
Nasatya corresponds to the ancient Iranian deity Nahalya and
Na-sa-at-ti-ia of the Boghaz-Koi (Asia Minor) inscription dating to about 1400
BC.
Nasatya are celebrated fully in more than fifty hymns in Rig
Veda and in parts of several other texts. They are addressed, implored, invited
and invoked together. The most constant feature is their duplicate nature. They
are young, beautiful, agile, strong, powerful, mighty and are compared with the
Greek Dioscuri. They promote fertility and in many legends they are closely
associated with madhu (honey).
Ushas is called their companion (Mother, according to
Sayana).
The twin gods Nasatya are regarded as divine physicians.
Numerous medical cures in Hindus scriptures are attributed to them. Some of
them include restoring the old sage Cyavana to youth, rescued Tugra’s son
Bhujyu who was abandoned in the midst of the ocean, revived Rebha who was abandoned
as dead, saved sage Atri from a burning pit, restored the eyesight of Paravrija
and Rijrasva, gave an iron-leg to Vispala who had lost one in the battle and so
on.
The twin gods Nasatya ride a golden, three-wheeled chariot,
driven by horses or birds, which move swifter than thought.
They are said to bring lovers together. Apart from their
character as helpers, healers and wonder workers, their general beneficence is
often praised. They give their worshipers a long, healthy, and rich life with
progeny.