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Rahu is the lunar node located at the northern side of planet Moon (Chandra) and is considered as the eighth among the Navagrahas, the nine planets of Hindu astrology. Goddess Durga is the presiding deity of Rahu. Rahu doesn’t have any physical existence and it is an imaginary point in the sky and considered as shadowy planet. Since the lunar node is powerful, they are accorded a status of planet. Rahu always moves in a retrograde motion. Rahu takes approximately 1.5 years to travel a sign and hence completes the round of the zodiac in 18 years.
According to Vedic astrology, Rahu governs one’s ego, anger, mentality, lust, and alcoholism. It also governs many awry activities of life. Rahu is often related with the unconscious desires, dissatisfactions, fears, obsessions, ambitions, illusion, hallucination, trance, and unresolved issues from previous lives.
Saturday is considered the best day for worshipping Rahu. Black grams, coconuts are offered to Rahu. According to Vedic astrology, black and blue colors are associated with Rahu. Gomedhagam (Hessonite) is the gemstone of Rahu.
Many scriptures describe Rahu having just head without torso and limbs. Sometimes, Rahu is depicted with four hands holding a sword, a javelin and a shield in his three hands, while his fourth hand gestures delivering boon. He is often portrayed as riding a dark Lion.
According to mythology, during the Samudra manthan, the churning of ocean, when the amrita the immortal potion emerged, there was a fight between Devas and Asura. Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Mohini, a dancer and took the responsibility of distributing the Amrita among Devas and Asuras who helped in the Manthan process. For convenience of distribution, Mohini kept Asuras in one line and Devas in the other line.
Asura named Swarbhanu disguised as one of the devas sat among the devas. When Mohini was offering amrita to Swarnbhanu, devas recognised as trick and complained to Mohini who in turn, severed Swarnbhanu’s head with his Sudarshan Chakra. As Swarnbhanu had already consumed the Amrita, his head and torso became immortal. The head of Swarnbhanu is known as Rahu and the torso of Swarnabhanu is known as Ketu.
According to Vedic astrology, If Rahu is well placed, the native will get immense wealth and prosperity. It also gives authority, administrative position, high diplomatic skills. Powerful Rahu can also bring success in Politics. However a weakly placed Rahu can make the natives prone to treacheries and deceptions. They would be facing many hurdles in their career and life. Rahu impacted people are also prone to be impacted by diseases, legal actions and imprisonment.
In the sacred text Rahu Kavacham, Rahu is praised as God of serpents. Devotees believe regular chanting of the hymn will bestow money, fame, healthy life and spiritual knowledge.
There are various temples dedicated to Rahu. The most powerful ones are Rahu temples at Thirupaamboor and Thirunageswaram in Tamilnadu. Lord Srikalahasteeswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh and Kukkuke Subramaniya Temple in Karnataka are important temples dedicated for remedies for Sarpa dosha, the Serpent related afflictions.
The sacred scriptures prescribe fire ceremony, Abishekam (hydration ceremony), Pooja/Archana (Light and Sound ceremony), Yantra and Mantra (special sounds) as the ways to offer your prayer to the divine. Out of these, fire ceremony is the most evolved spiritual technology on earth to connect with the divine beings. Participate in the remedial services to clear your karma and receive the blessings.
