Ghosha

Ghosha was an ancient Vedic period Indian philosopher and seer. From a young age, she suffered from a disfiguring skin ailment. According to legend, Ashvini Kumars cured her and restored her youthfulness, health and beauty. Consequently, she got married and had a son. She was proficient in the Vedas and had even scripted two hymns in the Rigveda. She was called as mantradrika, meaning well versed in mantras. She was also known as a Brahmavadini, a speaker or proclaimer of Brahman, and led a purposeful spiritual life. She was thus celibate for a long period. She fervently prayed to Ashvins, the divine physician twins of the time, who were proficient in rejuvenation. According to myth, they taught her Madhu Vidhya, knowledge to restore youth and acquire immense knowledge, to cure her skin ailment. Thus, allegedly, she was cured, and then married. She had a son, Suhstya, who also composed a hymn in the Rigveda.

Ghosha composed two hymns in praise of the Ashvini Kumars which are contained in two suktas (hymns) of the tenth Mandala (book) of Rigveda, chapter X hymns 39 and 40, each containing 14 verses. The first hymn praises the Ashvins. The second hymn is more intimate, expressing her intimate feelings and desires for married life. The two hymns are: