Understanding Rahu-Kethu The Mysterious Nodes
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Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
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Vaasudevaaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama
Doothaaya Namaha!
Understanding Rahu – Kethu
The mysterious nodes
Basically Rahu and Kethu are
one single entity; the Rahu. According to Sri Bhaagavatha Purana (6th
canto) Rahu an asura was son of Viprachitti [(son of Sage Kaasyapa) and Danu (daughter
of Daksha)] and Simhika (daughter of Hiranyakasipu). During Ksheera Saagara
Madhanam (churning of milk ocean); when Amrutha the divine nectar was being
served by Lord Vishnu in the guise of a celestial damsel (Mohini Avathaara);
Rahu the demon in the guise of a deity managed to get a share to it. Surya
(Sun) and Chandra (Moon) detected this action of Rahu and informed the same to
Lord Vishnu who in turn chopped off the head of Rahu with His Sudarshana
Chakra. By that time Rahu had swallowed the divine nectar thereby became
immortal and was given a place in the universe and recognized as a Graha.
However, since his head
was severed by Lord Vishnu, he (Rahu) became two entities; one the disembodied
head (trunk less body) referred to as Rahu and the other decapitated (headless
trunk of the demon Rahu) body the Kethu recognized as two distinctive Grahas. This
action of Sun and Moon has lead to reprisal from Rahu (Rahu-Kethu) who every
now and then gobbles up Sun and Moon causing eclipses. In Hindu philosophy Rahu
is believed to be the one who causes eclipse and in Vedic astrology Rahu and
Kethu are very much recognized as Grahas along with the other seven.
Navagraha stothram
composed by Sage Sri Vedavyaasa; portrays Rahu and Kethu as follows…
Ardha Kaayam Mahaa Veeram
Chandraaditya Vimardhanam
Simhikagarbha-sambhootham
Tham Raahum Pranamaamyaham
(Rahu)
One who has half body; a
valor and possess great power; one who subdues or hides Sun (Aaditya) and Moon
(Chandra); Vimardhana (eclipse); who is a tormentor of Sun and Moon; one who is
born from the womb of Simhika;
Similarly Kethu is
described as…
Phalaasa pushpa sankaasam
Thaarakaa Graha Masthakam
Roudram Roudraatmakam Ghoram
Tham Kethum Pranamaamyaham
One whose
colour/looks/appearance is that of Phalasa flower (Phalasa is a tree known as
Moduga Vruksha); one who is at the summit of stars and planets; one who is
violent, cruel, fearsome, menacing and dreadful. Kethu literally means; Dhwaja
(flag), mukhanda (chief/leader), Vyri (enemy); Kethu is an embodiment of
cruelty.
Among Dasaavatharas of
Lord Vishnu; Rahu is considered as Paramaatma Amsa (Antharyaami roopa) of
Varaaha Avathara and Kethu as that of Matsyaavathara. Rahu’s complexion is
described as Neelaambara (dark blue in colour); Kethu is portrayed as Dhoomra
Varna (smoke coloured complexion). Rahu-Kethu are called Sarpa Grahas (snake
planets); with Rahu portrayed as the head of a dragon and Kethu as the tail,
typically with serpentine traits and features.
In Vedic astrology it is
said that Rahu is akin to Saturn (Shani) based on the dictum Shanivad Rahu and
Kethu is similar to Mars – Kujavad Kethu. They are said to give the results
akin to Saturn (Rahu) and Mars (Kethu) respectively. Along with Saturn; Rahu
and Kethu are known as Kaarmic planets; agent and dispenser of Karma;
messengers of Cosmic Law. They often give the most impactful and influencing
results both on individuals and also on mundane plane. Both Rahu and Kethu are
natural malefic planets (Kroora & Paapa Grahas) and they are taamasik in
nature. They are the evil forces and negative energies. They spoil the fruits
of the house in which they are posited.
Astronomically Rahu and
Kethu are nodes denoting two points of intersection of paths of Sun and Moon as
they move in the celestial sphere; responsible for creating shadow effect on
Sun and Moon during eclipse. They are called the north or ascending lunar node
the Rahu and south or descending lunar node the Kethu. The fact that eclipse
occurs when Sun and Moon are at one of these points gives rise to an impression
of swallowing of Sun and Moon. Since they are nodes, they have no mass and are
not visible to the human eye unlike the other Grahas.
Rahu and Kethu are called
shadow planets (Chaaya Grahas). They don’t own any sign in the zodiac, however
they acquire power from the house they occupy and gives results (virtues and
vices) of the lord of that sign or of the conjoined planets. If no planets are
conjoined, they give results of the lord of the constellation in which they are
posited and of course that of the sign dispositer.
Though they don’t own or
rule any sign in the zodiac, Taurus (Vrushabha raasi) is considered as the Rahu’s
sign of exaltation and Scorpio (Vruschika raasi) as his sign of debilitation
and is comfortable in Virgo (Kanya raasi). Opposite is the case of Kethu;
Taurus (Vrushabha) sign of debilitation and Scorpio (Vruschika) sign of
exaltation for Kethu and is comfortable in Pisces (Meena raasi). Some texts
have different opinion in this regard.
In stellar system; Rahu
rules over the constellations of Ardra; Swathi and Satabhisha; while Kethu
rules over the constellations of Aswini; Makha; and Moola. In Hindu electional
astrology, Rahu kaalam is a segment in a day’s time element that occurs every
day for a period of 1½ hrs (90 minutes); During that time demonic energy rises that
is known as Rahu Kaalam; ruled by the malefic planet Rahu; it is considered as
inauspicious time. This period of 90 minutes varies on each day of the week
between sunrise and sunset.
Among the grains Rahu
rules over Black gram (whole grain) and Kethu rules over Horse gram. Among the
gems Rahu rules over Gomedhika (Hessonite) and Kethu rules over Cat’s eye
(Vydoorya). Rahu rules over the metals and materials; while Kethu rules over
the living beings.
Rahu is a planet of illusion,
unconventionality, innovation, materialistic life, insatiable desires, ambition,
greed, wealth, success, fame, power, position, speculation etc He is known as a
foreign planet; one who can confer a career, education, stay abroad. But all
these are temporary. In reality we observe that whatever one has gained with
Rahu’s influence will fritter away; short lived and ultimately bring pain and
suffering. Rahu can also confer on an individual social and spiritual life depending
on its placement in the birth chart.
On the contrary, Kethu is
known as planet of material adversity, wisdom and spirituality. But wisdom will
turn up only after much grief and suffering in life. Experience come from
foolishness, knowledge comes from experience and wisdom comes from knowledge.
This is how Kethu bestows wisdom and spirituality. He is referred to as a Jnaana
kaaraka, provider of knowledge and also Moksha kaaraka, the one who leads an
individual towards the path for ultimate salvation.
Unlike the other Grahas, Rahu-Kethu
always moves in the zodiac in anti-clockwise direction (apasavya) maintaining
always a distance of 180 degrees from each other. In an astrological chart
their positions are always opposite to each other. Like Jupiter and Saturn; Rahu-Kethu
are slow moving planets transiting together from one sign to the other once in
18 months. It takes 18 years for them to complete one round of revolution
across the zodiac.
Though Rahu; Kethu are
shadow planets and do not own any sign in the zodiac, it is strongly believed
and practiced in Hindu astrology that they also have aspects like other Grahas.
Their aspects will be on the 5th, 7th, 9th,
and 12th houses from the sign they occupy.
In Ashtottari dasa system
of astrology only eight planets including Rahu are considered while in Vimshottari
dasa system nine planets are taken into account, the ninth being Kethu. In astrology, understanding Rahu and Kethu is always a puzzle,
as they are totally different and contradictory from the other seven recognized
planets (Grahas) - Surya; Chandra; Kuja; Budha; Guru; Sukra and Shani.
Sri Krushnaarpanamastu
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