Unlock the Mystery of Rahu & Ketu!

Who is Rahu?

Rahu is the demon that has special reference to Hindu Mythology; and later in Vedic Science it got the role of karmic agent. To understand Rahu one needs to go back in times, when the Universe was newly born.

“The Devatas (referred to Gods) and Asuras (referred to Devils) fought wars for many years to prove their supremacy; but none could establish complete victory. So, Brahma the creator advised the Gods to churn out the nectar from the milk of Ocean. However, it was not possible for Gods alone to churn out the nectar that can give them immortality. Thus, the alliance with Asuras aka Devils were made.

All took place as planned by ‘Lord Vishnu – The Protector’; and Lord Vishnu managed to trick the Asuras by disguising as a Mohini (hypnotically beautiful maiden). The Devatas were served the nectar (known as amritam in Hindu Mythology – power to give immortality) by Vishnu, when an Asura realizing the trick of Vishnu made a valiant attempt to get the nectar by sitting in between God Sun & Moon. Both the Gods realized the Asura and informed Lord Vishnu; by the time Vishnu severed his head from his body he has already consumed the nectar. So, he was granted immortality; the head emerged as Rahu and the body left over was called Ketu.”

Rationality behind Rahu & Ketu:

Rahu is known as the North Node of Moon and Ketu is known as the South Node of the Moon. They are the positions between Moon’s circular path and Sun’s ecliptic path when calculated mathematically. So, they are astronomical points in the sky and therefore, known as invisible planets or shadow planets.

Guess: - Sorry! Mythology and Astronomy didn’t match… But, I remember as a child always the old folks discussing about Rahu and Ketu trying to swallow the Sun and Moon causing eclipse.

But, astronomically eclipse occurs when the Moon or Sun coincides with these calculative points and come between Earth; thus, completely covering one or the other from Earth’s view leading to full or partial eclipse. So, in that sense Mythology and Vedic Science as discuss by the old folks were true but from different perspective. Hence, astrologically the Nodes conjoining Sun or Moon is not desirable. (Sun Conjunction Rahu / Ketu; Moon Conjunction Ketu / Rahu = so the significations of these Stars suffer)

TO BE CONTINUED ON SECOND PART....