Rahu and Ketu are considered as two strong planets as per the principles of Vedic Astrology. But astronomically, they do not exist. Since Rahu and Ketu are believed to have a strong impact on our lives, they are denoted as mathematical points while making calculations in Vedic Astrology.

When Moon moves from South to North in its orbit and crosses Sun’s path – the incision point is called Rahu or Dragon’s Head. When Moon transits towards South and crosses the Sun’s path – the incision point is called Ketu or Dragon’s Tail. This point is at 180 degree distance from the previously mentioned incision point (Rahu). Plenty of information about Rahu is available in Brahma Purana, Maha Bhagavata, Mahabharata, Matsya Puran, Vishnu Puran and Rigved.

 

Mythology – The Story of Rahu and Ketu

Rahu was born to Simhika and Viprachitti. Rahu’s mother Simhika (also known as Simhita) was the daughter of Hiranyakashipu (Bhakta Prahlada father). There are several brothers to Rahu and they are Salya, Nabha, Vaataapi, Ilvala and Namuchi. It is also believed that Rahu is the eldest of the 100 brothers. He also has a sister by name Maahishmati.

There were constant wars between the Devas and the Asuras. The Asuras always won, due to their guru Shukracharya Mritha Sanjivini power, which the guru had obtained as a fruit of his penance, propitiating Lord Shiva. The power of this Mritha Sanjivini is, it can resurrect the dead, back to life. In this way, each Asura who was killed in the war by the Devas, was brought back to life by this mantra. Thus, this ensured constant defeat for the Devas and the Asuras continued to rule the heavens.

It so happened that Shukracharya (Venus) was blessed with the knowledge of “Sanjivini Mantra” also known as the Maha Mrityunjay Mantra after great Tapasya for the benefit of all people (universal benefit). Armed with this knowledge, Shukracharya could now revive all the dead people. However, Asuraguru as he was, he chose to use the knowledge for the benefit of the Asuras Contrary to the purpose for which he was blessed with this mantra. Armed with the powers of Shukracharya, the Asuras attacked Devas. Shukracharya would revive all the dead Asura soldiers while those on the other hand the Devas were getting killed. Eventually, being hugely outnumbered, Indra lost his kingdom. When the defeated Devas approached Lord Vishnu for his protection, he advised them to perform “Samudra Manthan” to attain Amrit (Nectar) consuming which would make them immortal

Also, Lord Indra, the king of the Devas, went to the abode of Lord Vishnu, with all the Devas, and, prayed to the Lord, asking him for a solution. Lord Vishnu, asked the Devas to churn the milk ocean (Sagar Manthan), and, consume the amrit that emerges out of this ocean. For this, they would need to take the help of the Asuras.

Lord Indra, went to heavens, and, sought for peace, and, said that henceforth, the Devas and Asuras should never wage war against each other, and, told them the need for churning the ocean of milk and the power of consuming the Amrit. The Asuras, agreed, and inside their evil minds, they thought, once the churning is over and the Amrit is obtained, we will steal the Amrit.

Thus, the great churning the ocean of milk began, with Mount Meru as the churner and the King of Serpents, the Lord Vishnu’s bed, the Great Naga, Vaasuki, was requested to be used as a rope.

From, advising the Good Devas to churn the ocean, the Divine Lord Vishnu, sided the Devas and protected them on time from every danger, proving that God is always with the Good, and he does not destroy evil, but, controls the evil, so that, both Good and the Evil, co-exist, and one can learn to distinguish the Good from the Evil.

Samudra Manthan - The Churning of the Ocean of Milk
Lord Vishnu, had told the Devas to remain by the tail side of Vaasuki, so as to avoid the poison emerging   out of Vaasuki’s mouth, and, the Asuras, stood by the head side of the Vaasuki, not knowing the poisonous power of the Great Vaasuki.

As the great churning was taking place, the huge Mount Meru, began to slip through the Vaasuki ropes and slide into the ocean, Lord Vishnu, took the form of a Tortoise (Korma Avatar) and went down the ocean bed and lifted up the Mount Meru and balanced it.

After churning the ocean of milk (Kshir sagar) for several years, first came the Halahala (poison), this poison  can destroy all the creations, so, without even thinking about himself, Lord Shiva, saw this poison emerging  out of the ocean and immediately began drinking it, Goddess Parvati saw this extreme compassion of her  divine lord for the Good beings of the world, and, blocked his neck, by pressing it, so, the poison did not  enter Lord Shiva’s stomach, instead stayed in his throat, and, his neck began turning blue, thus, he came to  be known as Neelakantha, the one with a blue throat.

The results of churning ocean, gave rise to various things that came out of the ocean: Surabhi, the Kamadhenu or divine cow, apsaras (angels), divine horse  (Uchhaishravas), divine elephant (Airavata), Varuni (half-angel half-demoness), Kaustubha (divine necklace), Parijata (divine blossom tree with flowers), kalpaka vrikshah (another divine tree), Shankh  (Vishnu’s conch), Tulsi plant (Basil) etc.

Finally, Goddess Lakshmi emerged out of the ocean, and, the divine Lord Vishnu got enticed by her beauty and offered to accept her as his consort to his divine abode Vaikunthah, Goddess Lakshmi accepted Vishnu as her Lord.

The churning took place for several years and one fine day, it was Ashwayuja Month, Krishna Paksha  Dwaadhashi (dark fortnight 12th day), when, Lord Vishnu himself incarnated as Lord Dhanvantari (the divine  physician) emerging out of the milk ocean with a Golden Amrit pot in his front right hand, Ayurveda texts in  his front left hand, shankh (conch) in his back left hand and discus (sudarshanah chakra) in his back right hand,  wearing a bright yellow cloth, wrapped around his waist, the lord was seen as a bright light emerging out of  a dark ocean, blue in color, his eyes looking merciful and compassionate.

The Asuras got greedy and went to snatch the Amrit (Nectar of Immortality) from Lord Dhanvantari, fierce  fighting began between the Devas and the Asuras, Lord Garuda (transport vehicle of Lord Vishnu) appeared  in all his majestic form, the divine and most powerful bird, took the Amrit from the Lord and flew away to  keep it safely. As, Lord Garuda flew with the nectar, 4 drops fell on the earth and these turned into holy  places of worship.

Lord Dhanvantari, disguised himself as Mohini, the enchanting women, and, began dancing in front of the  Asuras and the Devas who were fighting, the Asuras got lured by her beauty and left the fight and began  dancing along with Mohini and following her, the Devas were stunned by her beauty and soon realized that  Mohini is their Lord Vishnu himself, and hence, sat in a row and sooner the Asuras too began sitting in a row  opposite the Devas, still looking at Mohini, Mohini was now seen holding the Amrit pot and she began distributing the nectar to the Devas, the Asuras were waiting patiently for their turn, when one of the asura  named SvarBhanu realized that something is going wrong and that the nectar may get over, and, silently,  slipped sides and sat in between Surya(Sun) and Chandra(Moon) disguised as a Deva. The Devas did not realize it, nor the Mohini who went about distributing amrit, SvarBhanu received his dose of the Amrit and drank it quickly, Surya and Chandra suddenly looked on their side and were able to make out that it is an asura in disguise and informed Mohini.

Mohini, quickly changed her form into Lord Vishnu and threw Sudarshana chakra that cut off SvarBhanu’s neck, but, since he had already drank the nectar, he did not die, Lord Brahma made SvarBhanu’s head and body join with a snake, thus, the head joined a snake’s body, came to be known as Rahu and the snake’s head joined with SvarBhanu’s body, came to be known as Ketu.

Lord Brahma, granted Rahu and Ketu a boon for accepting this new form, a place amidst the planets, the Navagraha. Rahu and Ketu, even to this day, hold the grudge against surya and Chandra, and cause solar and lunar eclipse to affect them.

The Story of Rahu and Ketu and their Effects on LifeRahu and Ketu’s power increases between sunset to sunrise, their power of vengeance is so strong that they cause an astrological moment called the RAHU KAAL that stays every day during the day for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Rahu Kaal represents the inauspicious hours of a day. As per Hindu Astrology, Rahu Kaal occurs between sunrise and sunset for about one and half hours. Rahu Kaal for each day in a week is different and is calculated at sunrise and sunset. No auspicious work is to be initiated or journey undertaken during this time since it will not yield a positive or constructive result. It is believed that Rahu Kaal will not affect the work, journey or trade already in progress. The sale or purchase of any assets is also discouraged during Rahu Kaal.

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One thought on “The Story of Rahu & Ketu, Their Impact on Life

  1. ad.vanderven says:

    I am very curious where you got the text of the chapter Mythology – The story of Rahu and Ketu. If you created the text yourself, what original texts did you rely on? What scriptures did you use?

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