ACK-E-319-Ashwins To The Rescue

ASHWINS TO THE RESCUE
In the Rigveda there are several hymns addressed to the Ashwins who are the divine physicians. Judging from the number of these hymns, the twin deities seem to be next in importance only to Indra, Agni and Soma. Most of the riks or hymns invoking the Ashwins are either an appeal to them for help or panegyrics for the help rendered to men in distress. We also learn from the hymns that the twins are inseparable. They are extremely fond of honey and even carry it wherever they go, distributing it to bees and mortals. This book contains two stories adapted directly from the Rigveda, which are developed solely from Vedic literature.

🌊 Story 1: Prince Bhujyu and the High Seas

The first story follows Prince Bhujyu, the brave son of Raja Tugra of the land of Sindhu. When peaceful traders are ruthlessly ambushed and robbed of their cargo by wicked island pirates , Prince Bhujyu steps up to lead a naval expedition to bring justice and secure the trade routes. After three days and nights at sea, a terrifying storm decimates his fleet. Stranded completely alone in the middle of the massive ocean, an exhausted and thirsty Bhujyu is suddenly hunted by a menacing killer fish. The Miraculous Rescue: With his final breath, Bhujyu cries out to the sky for the Ashwin twins. After cleverly outsmarting the sea monster with a stray log of wood , he falls unconscious. The Ashwins manifest their divine ship, rescue him from the high seas, revive him with milk and honey, and safely bring him back to his family. Empowered by his faith, Bhujyu returns to crush the pirate threat once and for all.

🌲 Story 2: Sage Atri and the Hollow Tree

The second tale introduces us to the serene world of Sage Atri, who lives peacefully on the edge of a deep forest with his family. Despite warnings that a group of dangerous forest bandits called the Dasyus have invaded the woods , Atri ventures into the thickest part of the jungle to meditate. The Trap: The savage Dasyus capture the gentle sage and his sons. In a cruel twist, they trap the family inside the deep hollow trunk of a massive tree and prepare to set it on fire. The Chariot of Light: Facing a terrifying, fiery end, Atri and his boys pray to the Ashwins with absolute faith. Instantly responding to the call, the twins slide into the clearing on a chariot drawn by two asses. They swiftly defeat the bandits, neutralize the fire, and pull the sage and his family to safety, proving that true faith is never left unanswered.

🎨 Bonus feature: Ancient Indian Shipping

As a wonderful educational bonus, the comic features a mini-section titled "Boats, Ships and Ports of Ancient India". It highlights fascinating historical facts, such as how advanced shipping in India dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization's dockyard at Lothal , alongside representations of ancient ship motifs found on historical coins, seals, and the famous paintings of the Ajanta caves.

• Amar Chitra Katha
• Title : ASHWINS TO THE RESCUE
• Category : Never Republished
• Volume/Serial : 319
• Total Pages : 36
• Script : English
• First Published : 1 October 1984
• Publisher :  India Book House