In ancient times, a conflict arose within the divine family. Yama, son of the radiant Sun, Mārttaṇḍa, spoke harsh words about Chāyā, his stepmother. He declared that she was neither mother nor father to him, always acting as an adversary, like a co-wife, feigning affection yet showing true love only to her own children. Hearing this, Chāyā was filled with anger and, unable to contain it, cursed Yama: “You shall become the lord of the dead, and it shall happen swiftly.” Mārttaṇḍa, hearing Chāyā’s curse and wishing for his son’s welfare, spoke to Yama: “You shall be the mediator between righteousness and sin, a guardian of the worlds, shining in heaven.” Yet, Mārttaṇḍa himself, disturbed by Chāyā’s wrath, cursed Śani, his own son: “Because of your mother’s fault, you shall possess a cruel gaze.” After these events, Bhānu, another name for the Sun, rose up, determined to see Chāyā with the power of his yogic vision. But she eluded him, having taken the form of a mare and hidden herself among the northern Kurus. The Sun, longing for her, assumed the form of a horse and journeyed to the northern lands, following the path of the progenitors. There, he united with her in her mare-form. From this union, the intense radiance of Mārttaṇḍa discharged his seed, which blazed forth and split into two parts. In that moment, the vital breath and the downward breath, which had previously triumphed over themselves, became embodied once more, thanks to a boon. Thus, from the mare-form of Tvaṣṭṛ, two divine beings were born—the Aśvins, renowned as the best of men and sons of the Sun. The Sun himself was their progenitor, while Tvaṣṭrī, the supreme power, both manifest and unmanifest, gave them form within her body. The two formless ones thus took form as the Aśvins. These twin gods approached their father, Mārttaṇḍa, and asked, “O radiant one, what should we do now?” Mārttaṇḍa advised them: “Sons, worship Prajāpati with devotion. Narāyaṇa will surely grant you the boon you desire.” Following his guidance, the Aśvins undertook severe austerities, practicing the most difficult penance and reciting the supreme hymn to Brahman with focused minds. After a long period, Brahmā, whose essence is Nārāyaṇa, was greatly pleased by their devotion and granted them a boon. Prajāpāla, eager to learn, asked to hear the hymn to the unmanifest-born Brahman, as recited by the Aśvins. The great ascetic agreed and recounted the hymn: “Om, homage to you, who are actionless, beyond manifestation, without support, without dependence, without foundation, without qualities, without light, without basis, unconquered, formless; Brahman, great Brahman, beloved of the Brahmanas, Person, supreme among the great; god, greatest of the great gods, the firm, the establisher of the firm; being, greatest of beings, lord of beings, Yakṣa, greatest Yakṣa, lord of Yakṣas; secret, lord of the greatest secrets, gentle, lord of the greatest gentleness, lord of the gentle; bird, lord of the greatest birds, demon, lord of the greatest demons; Rudra, lord of the greatest Rudras, Viṣṇu, lord of the greatest Viṣṇus; supreme lord, Nārāyaṇa, homage to Prajāpati.” Thus praised, Prajāpati was delighted and said to the Aśvins, “Choose a boon, one most difficult for the gods to obtain, so that you may move happily among the three worlds.” The Aśvins replied, “Grant us a share in the sacrifice, the right to partake of Soma among the gods, and eternal equality with them.” Brahma granted their wish: “You shall have unparalleled form and beauty, healing power over all things, and the right to Soma in all worlds. All this shall indeed come to pass.” This boon was given long ago, and thus, among the lunar days, the day of the Aśvins is considered most excellent. On that day, those who desire beauty should offer flowers; maintaining purity throughout the year, they will always possess a pleasing form, and the virtues of the Aśvins will be theirs. Whoever listens daily to the account of the Aśvins’ supreme birth will be freed from all sin and blessed with sons. Mahātapā then spoke: “In the beginning, Prajapati, the divine Lord, wished to create various beings. He pondered but found no way. From his anger, Rudra was born, radiant and powerful; from his crying, he was named Rudra, the supreme Lord. For Rudra, Brahma created a beautiful daughter, born of form, as a wife. She was Gauri, the goddess herself, Bharati, given to him by her father. Rudra, whose body was unique, received her from Brahma and was filled with supreme joy. At the time of creation, Brahma addressed Rudra, urging him through austerity: ‘Create beings, Rudra.’ But Rudra replied, ‘I am unable,’ and plunged into the waters, mighty in strength. Reflecting that creation required the merit of austerity, Rudra, lacking ascetic power, immersed himself in the waters. While Rudra was submerged, Brahma made the beautiful Gauri enter his body as an internal form. Desiring to create again, Brahma produced seven mind-born sons, beginning with Daksha, and through them, creatures flourished. Among them, the sons of Daksha, the gods with Indra, the eight Vasus, the Rudras, the Adityas, and the Maruts were born. Gauri, with beautiful hips, was given by Brahma to Daksha as a daughter; she who was formerly married to Rudra. That goddess Dakshayani was born again, and Daksha, delighted, saw his grandsons increase and began a sacrifice for the joy of Prajapati. There, all the sons of Brahma, beginning with Marichi, performed the priestly duties, each established in his own path. Brahma himself, Marichi and others took their places; Atri was engaged in sacrificial rites, Agnidra became Angiras. Pulastya was the hotṛ priest, Pulaha the udgātṛ, Kratu the prastotṛ, and the great ascetic Kratu served as prastotṛ at the yajña. Pracetas was the pratihartṛ in that supreme sacrifice; Subrahmaṇya was Vasiṣṭha, and Sanaka and the others were the assembly members. There, Brahmā himself was the yajamāna, worshipped as the one to be honored. The grandsons of Dakṣa—Rudras, Ādityas, Aṅgiras and others—were to be worshipped as the visible ancestors; by pleasing them, the world is satisfied. The gods who sought their shares were the Ādityas, Vasus, Viśvadevas, Pitṛs, Gandharvas, and the hosts of Maruts. Thus unfolded the divine drama of creation, worship, and the granting of boons, establishing the order of gods, ancestors, and rituals that sustain the worlds.