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V K Shridhar

Rahu Kaal - Truth & Mith

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RAHU KAAL – TRUTH & MYTH

 

Vedic electional astrology has no reference of Rahu Kaal. Yet it is feared the most in elections resulting colossal waste of time. Its duration on weekdays is incorrectly conveyed by newspapers & Indian ephemerides.

 

In Indian astrology the most misused & misguided is certainly “Rahu Kaal”. It is specific 1/8th daytime part of the weekdays which is assumed to be ruled by Rahu – the Lunar Node. It is not effective during nighttime.

 

In southern part of India it is assumed to be highly malefic that people residing in that part do not initiate any activity even it may be most trifling, what to talk about the important life activity. They do not initiate any activity during this period, & wait for its expiry. Thus colossal time is wasted in this superstition.

 

Most of the news papers published in southern India do mention duration covered by Rahu Kaal along with Yamghanta Kaal, on the top of their front page for guidance of their readers. The people do follow the said time blindly without knowing about the same - this is opined as the worst misguidance by the astrologers to their followers.

 

Three aspects of Hindu / Vedic astrology the most exploited / misused are :

 

a) Marriage compatibility (matching of horoscopes of prospective couple)

b) Kaal Sarp Yoga – its interpretation in nativity and its propitiation, &

c) Rahu Kaal (Rahu Kaalam) in electional astrology.

 

On examination of compatibility in marriage of aspirant couples, exponents have dilated in lengths in their treatises. Yet of late astrologers have infused an element called “ Kuja Dosha”- (affliction due to Mars; on which there are divergent opinions). However, this is not the topic under discussion in this paper. Those readers who desire to study the subject in length may refer to author’s book titled “ Hindu Electional Astrology”. They may also log on to website “ http://www.besttime-election.com/“, & can have free down load of 52 pages of the book, dilating on “Matching of horoscopes”.

 

Regarding “Kaal Sarp Yoga” there has been illuminating discussions on the subject now-a-days on the Indian TV channels. Shri K N Rao, an authority on Indian Astrology & author of over three dozen books on Indian astrology, has made laudable efforts in dispelling doubts of the millions of the innocent believers of Indian astrology, that there is no reference of the so called “Kaal Sarp Yoga” in treatises on the subject. Of late some astrologers have culled out this yoga from remote references in the treatises. He has explicitly pointed out that there is no authoritative treatise / book on Indian / Vedic astrology having made a reference to this yoga, & one may not fear if he is having this Yoga in his horoscope. Despite this some astrologers have been propagating ill effects of this Yoga perhaps to seek huge sum of money for its propitiation.

 

Such a debate not only dispels doubts in the minds of innocent followers of astrology but renders applaudable service to the mankind, as myths & superstitions / mischievousness propagated by exploiters / novices are brought to the light; & astrology which has withstood test of time, is saved from disrepute.

 

Any how, the said Kaal Sarp Yoga has been found having indirect reference in our electional treatises like Narpatijacharya, Jyotirvidhabharnam, Samarsaar, - where it has been referred that the planets in 13 asterisms (from the asterism occupied by Rahu, to Ketu) yet to be transited by Rahu, in His retrograde motion, as in “Mrit Paksha” (dead side), & when both the luminaries are in the said Mrit Pakhsa, yield adverse results in war, travel & litigation & the like elections. When luminaries loose their efficacy being in the said Mrit Pakhsa, then, why not when all the planets in the said Paksha should loose their potency – can be an argument in its favour. But please note the said aspect has been referred to in the electional astrology, & not in interpretation of nativity.

 

In Indian astrology, nativity, horary & electional are separate subjects, & have separate treatises on each subject & distinct exponents on each subject. And not like western astrology where electional astrology is basically derived from horary astrology.

 

The third, aspect, Rahu Kaal, is the most misunderstood aspect in the electional astrology. How many millions of hours are wasted in fear of the time covered by this electional aspect every day is rather beyond imagination. The author has found on numerous occasions that followers of this myth withhold initiation of ceremonies, writing letters, start meetings, travel, purchase / sale etc etc; you name anything. Rather one enters into state of no action during this duration.

 

DURATION OF RAHU KAAL

 

Length of Rahu Kaal (as being followed) is 1/8th part (Yamardha) of daytime length. Daytime at the specific place of consideration is length of time from local Sunrise to Sunset. On different weekdays different portions of the daytime are allocated to Rahu Kaal. 2nd Yamardha on Monday, 3rd on Satrurday, 4th on Friday, 5th on Wednesday, 6th on Thursday, 7th on Tuesday, & 8th (last) on Sunday are called Rahu Kaal.

 

2nd Yamardha on Monday means that after expiry of the first 1/8th part of the daytime, after the local Sunrise, Rahu Kaal starts, & ends at expiry of the second 1/8th part of the local daytime.

 

Thus if duration of daytime is 12 hours on a specific day at specific locality, & local Sunrise time is at 6.00 S.T. & the Sunset time is 18.00 S.T; duration of the daytime shall be 12 hours. Thus on different weekdays the Rahu Kaal shall be prevailing as following :

 

Monday : from 07.30 to 09.00 S.T

Saturday : from 09.00 to 10.30 S.T

Friday : from 10.30 to 12.00 S.T

Wednesday : from 12.00 to 13.30 S.T

Thursday : from 13.30 to 15.00 S.T

Tuesday : from 15.00 to 16.30 S.T

Sunday : from 16.30 to 18.00 S.T

 

The above system is followed by the newspapers & duration of the Rahu Kaal is published for guidance of the users. Local ephemrides also refer the same.

 

MISTAKE IN CALCULATIONS

The advisors do take fixed duration of the Rahu Kaal as 1 hour & 30 minutes irrespective of the daytime length. They do not calculate this time based on local daytime length. Thus error creeps in & people are misguided. Why proportional length of the daytime length is to be taken, is argued as below :

 

a) In all the malefic durations due to Gulika, Kulika, Mandi, Muhurt, Vish Ghati etc. with reference to weekdays; calculations are based on length of daytime.

 

b) Rahu Kaal does not have any effect after the local Sunset time; it is primarily a phenomenon during daytime (even if one has to assume its adverse effects).

 

c) If duration of daytime on a specific place & weekday is less than 12 hours then, the Rahu Kaal shall extend beyond the local Sunset time. Kindly note that malefic durations of an element of an a daytime nowhere ingresses into nighttime, as their effect ceases to exist after the Sunset; & different set of malefic durations prevail after the Sunset time.

 

d) Each of the seven planets have their own Upagrahas (sub planets). Kaal, Paridhi, Kantaka (Dhooma), Ardhayama, Yamaghanta, Kodanda & Gulika are Upagrahas of planets counted from the Sun to Saturn. They rule different parts of Yamardhas (1/8th part) of daytime & nighttime. Classical books on electional astrology give their ruling durations during daytime & nighttime. Further during nighttime different Upgrahas rule & during daytime different Upgrahas rule. None of these durations during daytime ingresses nighttime.

 

AMENDMENT REQUIRED IN RAHU KAAL CALCULATIONS

 

From the above arguments its clear that the present mode of reckoning Rahu Kaal needs amendment & proportional time based on length of local daytime should be considered, if one has to consider Rahu Kaal.

 

Example: Rahu Kaal on a Friday having length of daytime as 11h 20m at a place where the Sun rise is at 05h 20m S.T. shall be:

Duration of the Rahu Kaal = (11h 20m) ÷ 8 = 1h 25m

(1/8th part of the day )

Staring moment = (Sun rise time) + (time of expired Yamardhas )

of Rahu Kaal

= ( 05h 20m ) + {( 11h 20m ) × ( 4 –1) ÷ 8}

= ( 05h 20m )+ ( 4h 15m ) = 09h 35m S.T.

 

Ending moment = (09h 35m )+(1h 25m ) = 11h 00m S.T.

 

Thus Rahu Kaal shall prevail from 09.35 S.T. to 11.00 S.T. & not from 09.50 to 11.20 S.T.

(as advised in local newspapers & almanacs).

 

WHY RAHU KAAL

 

In the electional treatises each of the seven planets viz. the Sun to Saturn have their Upgrahas (sub planets), & have been allocated their durations during daytime & nighttime separately. But Paat & Upketu which are Upagrahas of Rahu & Ketu (Lunar Nodes) respectively, are not allocated any time during daytime or nighttime. Then why Rahu Kaal – a malefic duration has been subsequently felt to be inducted in electional astrology – which has no reference in treatises.

 

Mandi & Gulika, both are sons of Saturn & are considered as highly malefic, & their maleficence is compared to that of the Saturn. They are given due importance in natal, horary & electional astrology. Their rising times are considered as highly malefic. Electional treatises do recognise them. Their durations are different from the duration given to Rahu Kaal. They are effective during daytime as well as during nighttime also, but the new element of Rahu Kaal is effective during daytime only – with ruling durations distinct from Mandi & Gulika.

 

Rahu is given significant importance in the elections of travel, war, litigations, & the like activities. But they are considered in altogether different mode like Jeeva & Mrit Paksha (positions of luminaries in between Rahu & Ketu), Maas Rahu (directions ruled based on Lunar month), Pathik Rahu (dispositions of the luminaries in four sets of asterisms), Khanda Rahu (residence of Rahu in different directions based on the Tithi – Lunar day), Vaar Rahu (directions ruled by Rahu on different weekdays), Yamardha Rahu (directions ruled by Rahu during daytime & nighttime), & Muhurt Rahu (directions ruled by Rahu during different Muhurtas). But nowhere reference of Rahu Kaal has been found in the treatises.

 

From the above, readers shall draw their own conclusions as to how much misguidance has been provided to them by induction of so called Rahu Kaal. Why to fear from such an element. Why to stop routine & special activities during its currency; & if some self styled innovative astrologers have to be followed then, why not follow its proportional length during daytime.

 

Aspirants may seek malefic time in Muhurtas (elections) somewhere else & not as attribution of Rahu Kaal.

... V K Shridhar

------------------

http://www.besttime-election.com

 

"Hindu Electional Astrology"-- the largest compendium on Vedic Muhurt (electional) astrology.

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