Rahu
The head of the shadow: desire, foreign lands and illusion. Rules no sign and has no weekday.
- 4-minute lesson
- Basic course: Jyotish Shishya
- Vedic astrology
- A shadow graha
- Always opposite Ketu
- Acts like Saturn
A first look at the lesson
Rahu is a chhaya graha, a shadow graha: a point in the sky, not a body. In the story of the churning of the ocean, the asura Svarbhanu drank the nectar and Vishnu cut him in two. The head became Rahu, the body Ketu. Rahu signifies desire and ambition, foreign lands, illusion, and sudden events.
Rahu rules no sign in this scheme and has no weekday. It moves backwards through the signs, about 1½ years in each, and Ketu is always the 7th sign from it.
Words in this lesson
More lessons on this subject
- The nine grahasMeet the nine grahas, and Rahu and Ketu, the two points.
- The Sun (Surya)The king among the grahas: the soul, the father and authority. Rules Leo; its day is Sunday.
- The Moon (Chandra)The queen: the mind, the mother and feelings. Rules Cancer; its day is Monday.
- Mars (Mangal)The commander: courage, energy, siblings and land. Rules Aries and Scorpio; its day is Tuesday.
Your first lesson takes about five minutes
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