Rahu Effects-1

[Guest guest]

Hello people,

 

My name is Naveen and i am a relatively new member here.But I am

pretty much obsessed with astrology.I would like to present a couple

of mails on this Rahu-Ketu topic.

 

In Hindu mythology there is a story that describes how the gods and

the demons once formed an alliance to produce nectar that could give

them immortality. This is the story of the churning of the milk-ocean

and the descent of Lord Vishnu as the Kurma avatar, the divine

tortoise as well as that of Mohini avatar, the most beautiful damsel.

When the nectar that was churned from this ocean was being served to

the gods, a demon, disguised as a god, sat between the Sun and the

Moon in an attempt to procure the nectar. This demon was Rahu, son of

Simhika. He was detected by the Sun and the Moon (who according to

ancient texts are witnesses to each and every deed of all living

beings); Lord Vishnu immediately severed his head from his body using

his Sudarshana chakra. Unfortunately the demon had already tasted a

small quantity of the nectar and had become immortal. The two severed

pieces had independent existences. The head portion developed a

snake's body while the body developed a snakes head. The head portion

is what we know today as Rahu and the body portion as Ketu. Ever

since, this demon wreaks vengeance on the Sun and Moon whenever they

come near him either conjunct or in opposition.

 

In Hindu astrology Rahu and Ketu are known as two invisible planets,

or chaaya or aprakaasha grahas. They are enemies of the Sun and the

Moon, who at certain times of the year (during conjunction or

opposition) swallow the Sun or the Moon causing either a solar or a

lunar eclipse. In Sanskrit this is known as grahanam or seizing.

 

What perhaps sounds like a childish story is an extremely competent

witness to our ancestors' in-depth knowledge of astronomy, astrology

and mathematics.

What actually happens when an eclipse takes place? Rahu and Ketu are

the astronomical points in the sky respectively called the north and

south lunar nodes. These are what we call apogee and the perigee (the

points of the intersections of the orbits which are the farthest and

nearest points with the earth as the center which are diametrically

opposite points). Now the revolution periods of the moon, earth and

the sun are always fixed .Hence these two points also appear to be

equidistant and always diametrically opposite. In astrology it is

called samasaphtaka. To the observer on earth, the paths of the sun

and the moon appear to be two great ellipses projected on the

celestial sphere. The sun's path, the solar ecliptic, makes a complete

revolution in one year. At the same time, the moon's circular path is

completed in about one month. Every month the moon will overtake the

sun which moves more slowly. This is called no moon or in Sanskrit,

amavasya. Usually the moon's path passes above or below the sun's path

and no eclipse occurs. But, periodically the moon overtakes the sun at

the place where their paths intersect. This causes the sun or the moon

to be hidden from the earth's view and is thus called a solar or lunar

eclipse. These places of intersection are the north and south lunar

nodes, or as they are referred to in Hindu mythology, Rahu and Ketu.

Therefore, in the symbolic language of mythology, Rahu and Ketu are

said to "swallow up" the Sun and the Moon. However as they do not have

their whole bodies the sun and the moon escape unscathed after a while.

 

 

Now the scientific question arises as to why eclipses do not occur on

every full and no moon days?

 

We all know that the planet earth and the satellite moon have orbits

bent at around 23 1\2 degrees and 6 1\2 degrees respectively. As

mentioned previously it is necessary for the sun, moon to coincide at

the apogee or perigee. This happens every amavasya or pournami as the

case may be. But for an eclipse to take place the luminary must be

hidden from the earth and not vice versa. Also the orbits must be bent

at least within the umbra and penumbral regions for the light to be

cut off. OOPS I FORGOT IN AN ECLIPSE ONLY THE LIGHT FROM THE LUMINARY

IS HIDDEN AND NOT THE LUMINARY ITSELF. Hence an eclipse takes place

only when Rahu and Ketu, the sun and the moon are either conjunct with

either within a 10 degree orb for the eclipse to be total. Else the

eclipse will be partial and if the distance between the nodes and sun,

moon exceeds 18 degrees it is almost impossible to have an eclipse.

 

Next part will deal with the nakhshatras and friends and exaltation,

debilitations of Rahu and Ketu.

 

 

 

Your response,addenda,criticism etc are always welcome.

Naveen.

 

vedic astrology, "aamit112" <aamit112> wrote:

>

> Dear Learned Astrologers,

>

> I would like to request all learned astrologers to start a discussion

> on the Good and Bad effects of RAHU and KETU.

> What are the effects of RAHU and KETU's in their Majour Dasa in

> Diffrent Houses .?

> The placement of RAHU and KETU in which houses give positive efects

> and negetive effects in their Dasas.

>

> Thanks

> Amit

>