Rahu and Ketu are powerful and mysterious planets that are associated with eclipses and can obscure the Sun and Moon.
Rahu is often depicted as the head of a serpent or dragon and is revered for his ability to break through the illusions created by Lord Vishnu. Ketu is depicted as the tail of the dragon and a repository of our past life deeds.
The apparent paths of planets are contained within a celestial belt called the Zodiac. The apparent path of the Sun is called the ecliptic which is the Centre Line of the Zodiac. When the Moon revolves around the Earth during its motion through the zodiac, it cuts the ecliptic at two points, which are called nodal points. The North Nodal point is called Northern Node or Dragon’s head which, in Vedic Astrology is known as ‘Rahu’, while the South Nodal point is called Southern Node or Dragon’s tail which, is called ‘Ketu’. Over these points, the shadow of our earth falls and produces peculiar malefic effects. Hence these are accepted as planets in Astrology.
Rahu and Ketu are celestial bodies in Hindu astrology that are believed to cause eclipses and are associated with meteors. It is not a physical object but is considered a planet due to its importance in astrology. Rahu (North node) is believed to represent the birth into the material world. Ketu (South node) is believed to represent the return to the spiritual realm after leaving the material world.
Rahu and Ketu are considered to have a powerful influence on the individual’s consciousness and are associated with transformation and regeneration. Eclipses are believed to occur when the Sun or the Moon are at one of these points and are thought to be caused by Rahu or Ketu “swallowing” the Sun or the Moon. Rahu is also associated with the time of day known as Rahu kaal, which is considered inauspicious in Hindu astrology. During eclipses, the light of the Sun (conscious) and Moon (mind) is temporarily darkened, and the energies created during this time are powerful and full of new information and occult power. The period after an eclipse is seen as a time of rebirth for the Sun and Moon. Rahu and Ketu are believed to play a significant role in this alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, and are thought to be the ultimate controllers of destiny.
No zodiac sign is allotted to these Grahas (Rahu and Ketu) in the zodiac; however, Aquarius is considered Rahu’s Sign and Scorpio is considered Ketu’s sign. The exalted sign for the Rahu is Taurus and for Ketu is Scorpio. The Mooltrikona for Rahu is Gemini and for Ketu is Sagittarius. Rahu and Ketu give the effect of the lord of the sign they are placed in and also of those planets which are placed with them in the same sign. These have retrograde motion in the zodiac at the rate of 19-20′ per year. Rahu is a friend to Venus and Saturn, an enemy to the Sun, Moon, Mars, and Ketu and neutral to Jupiter and Mercury. Ketu is a friend to Mars and Venus, an enemy to the Sun, Moon, Saturn, and Rahu and neutral to Jupiter and Mercury.
In Vedic Astrology, the concept of the Soul’s journey through different lifetimes is central to it. The final goal of the soul is to break this cycle of life and death. Like the beads on a necklace, various lifetimes are joined together to form a necklace, each life being different but interconnected by an invisible thread. The invisible thread is Rahu and Ketu. The purpose of the soul in this life is to act as per the deeds of our previous births, clear the karmic debts, fulfil the pending desires of past life, destroy the illusions of the materialistic life, and move towards the pursuit of self-realisation. The soul’s journey in a particular lifetime and its connection with eternal life is indicated by the position of Rahu and Ketu. Ketu deals with the past Karma and Rahu with the future.
Rahu and Ketu represent the process of birth and death, or the cycle of manifestation and return to the spiritual realm, as they hold the secret of the enfolding of individual consciousness. Rahu is seen as representing the aspirations and duties that a person must fulfil in this life, while Ketu is seen as representing the karmic accounts of the past. They are believed to be the ultimate controllers of destiny and play a role in the powerful alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth.
Rahu and Ketu are the sensitive points in the chart that can indicate areas of transformation and challenge. They can also show areas where we may have past life karmic debts to work out. By understanding the placement and influence of Rahu and Ketu in our chart, we can gain insights into our karmic journey and work towards overcoming any challenges and obstacles on our path to spiritual growth.
Rahu and Ketu are said to work in unison, 180 degrees apart from each other, as two opposite points in the zodiac. They are known for their ability to surprise and shock, and their effects are often difficult to predict because they are mainly concerned with a person’s emotional makeup and work on an internal level. They are believed to deliver results based on karmic accounts, and their actions can have a major impact on an individual’s life.
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ASTRO GIVA 