Significance of Rahu and Ketu – in Vedic or Indian Astrology
from the Astronomical point of view, the Rahu and Ketu are the points of intersection of the paths of the elliptical path around Sun and the path on which Moon revolves around the earth. Rahu is the ‘North lunar node’ or Ascending-Node, while Ketu is called the ‘South lunar node’ or Descending-node. Since Moon completes the cycle around earth in nearly a month, so it also crosses the elliptical path of earth (around which it revolves around sun) twice in a month period. But the eclipse doesn’t happen every month that is due to the reason that Moon intersects ecliptic at two points or nodes with an angle of 5°, so the actual eclipse occurs once in a while when the full moon or new moon sweeps appreciably close to one of these nodes, then an eclipse is becomes a certainty. Solar and Lunar eclipses always come in pairs, with one following the other in a period of one fortnight (approximately two weeks). For example, the descending node total lunar eclipse on May-26-2021, is followed by an ascending node annular solar eclipse on June-10-2021, with a total of 2 sun and 2 lunar eclipses in 2021.
Rahu and Ketu are considered very important for analysis in Indian or Vedic Astrology. They have been considered as planets but they don’t have any physical existence in reality like Mars or Venus etc, hence are called ‘shadow planets’. These conceptual imaginary planets are always considered as retrograde (moving in backward direction) and are always combust.
The religious and astrology concepts from Vedic are always told in a story for easy understanding and to remember easily. There is a famous story in Indian Mythology about Rahu & Ketu. Once long time back, Devtas (deities) needed the Amrit (liquid for immortality) so they can continue their function for the universe. Hence Devtas (Deities) and Asuras (Demons) both started the churning of milk to extract the Amrit or Nectar out of it , for the immortality. Since God needed to stop the Demons/Rakshasas from having Nectar and so be immortal, hence Lord vishnu took form of a lady Mohini and took away the nectar. He later started distributing the nectar to the Devtas in a secret place, however one Asura named Svarbhanu came to know about it and sat in the row of devtas hiding himself and drank the Amrit.
The Sun God and the Moon God noticed him and they informed the Vishnu as Mohini who cut off Svarbhanu’s head with his favorite weapon Sudarshan Chakra, but not before Svarbhanu had consumed the nectar and so his both separate parts of body (the head and rest of body) become immortal. Svarbhanu could not die but his head was separated from his body and his head came to be known as Rahu, while his body came to be known as Ketu. Following this event, Rahu and Ketu did long penance to please Lord Vishnu and later they were given the responsibility to influence the lives of the humans on Earth as planets. Since they are not real planets, so they are called Shadow planets. These Rahu & Ketu are always running after Surya (Sun) & Chandra (Moon) & many times eclipse them because Sun and Moon revealed about the drinking of elixir by the demon to Mohini, which resulted in cutting his head, causing Solar and Lunar eclipse but they can’t cling them for long so Sun and Moon rise again integral as they also had nectar and are immortal.
I’m giving here a very short idea on impacts of Rahu and Ketu. According to Hindu astrology both Rahu and Ketu are malefic. Rahu is considered as ‘giver’ and Ketu the ‘taker’ and since giving and taking are results of former action, they may be considered as planets of ‘gains’ and losses’. Rahu is more closer to Saturn in qualities and Ketu to Mars. Ketu is considered as a spiritual force causing salvation to human souls and Rahu is more earthly indicating mundane prosperity. Rahu is a good diplomat, represents strong mental tendencies, and unconventional things of life. Hence it signifies drugs, alcohol, foreigners and foreign lands, poisons that destroy and heal. Rahu is a karaka, or indicator, of worldly desire, fame, greed, high intelligence, manipulation, obsessive behavior.
Rahu caused Diseases: It gives suicidal tendencies, fears, phobias, poisonous bites, murder, theft, imprisonment, and diseases like cholera, dysentery, skin diseases, swelling of the uterus, and constipation.
Ketu caused Diseases: wounds, inflammations, fevers, intestinal disorders, aberrations, low blood pressure, deafness, defective speech and gives an emaciated body with prominent veins.
Remedy : One of good remedy for both Rahu and Ketu is to install Rahu-yantra and Ketu-yantra, as well as fast on Saturday. You can also recite the Rahu and Ketu beej Mantra for 18000 and 17000 times respectively.
Hope it gives some idea and help in a small place.
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