Rahu & Ketu - Invisible celestial bodies

Rahu & Ketu:

Rahu and Ketu are one of navagrahs in Indian astrology. Rahu separated head of demon and ketu is the body of demon. Rahu kaal is powerful inauspicious time in a day which is ruled by Rahu. Yamaganda is also an inauspicious time in a day ruled by ketu.

Cultural beliefs:

At the time of Samudra Mathan(churning of milky ocean ), Upon signaling of Sun and Moon, Vishnu in the form Mohini avatar separated the head of Asura ‘Swarbhanu’  when he wisely tried to drank the immortal nectar. Due to the power of nectar, head remained immortal and turned as Rahu and body turned as Ketu. Due to enmity against the Sun and the Moon, Rahu used swallow sun and ketu used to swallow moon causing eclipse.

Interesting facts:

• According to the Ancient texts Rahu was born to demon Vipracitthi and Simhika who was daughter of Hiranyakashyap.
• Rahu was the lord of Ardra, Swati and Shatabisha stars and ketu was the lord of Ashvini, Magha and Moola stars.
• Rahu is exalted in Taurus and Virgo is his own house. Ketu exalted in Scorpio and Sagittarius and Pisces are his own houses. Rahu debilitated in Scorpio while ketu in Taurus.
• Kala sarpadosha is a powerful dosha in astrology caused by Rahu and Ketu.
• Rahu and ketu are not only planets they are two astronomical points in the Zodiac which are imaginary.
• As per Astrology, Rahu is feminine (significator of spiritual knowledge) and ketu is no gender (significator of Moksha).
• As per applied astrology, Rahu and ketu do not have any own characteristics; they only act as per the signs and planets related by the position.
• People donate Black gram and Horse gram to please the lords Rahu-Ketu. Tuesday was dedicated to Rahu along with Mars and Saturday was dedicated to ketu along with Saturn.
• Lord Hanuman released Navagrahas from the prison of demon Ravan. So the bad influences of Rahu - Ketu will be suppressed by worshipping Hanuman.
• Ketu belongs to Jaimini Gotra, whereas Rahu is form Paiteenasa gotra.
• Rahu and Ketu ill effects can be reduced by worshipping Lord Ganesha (preferably on Wednesday, Saturday for Ketu) and  Goddess Durga (preferably on Tuesday) in the Rahu kal time.
• At Chidambaram temple (Tamilnadu) when milk is poured on rahu idol the milk color changes to blue in color and changes again to white when leaving the body. It is believed that doing milk abishekam at this place during the rahu kalam will neutralize the ill effects of marriage obstacles, progeny, troubles in martial life and kala sarpa dosham.

Scientific reasons:

• Rahu and ketu are two mathematical points are called as lunar nodes which explain the Lunar and Solar Eclipse astronomical phenomena.
• The places where Sun and moon paths intersect by considering view from earth are called lunar nodes. The north and south nodes of interactions are called as Rahu and Ketu in Hindu mythology.
• Sun completes his single revolution in one year while moon in one month. When moon is above the sun’s path full moon occurs when moon is below the sun’s path new moon occurs. When they intersect in their paths solar and lunar eclipse occurs.
• These lunar nodes are mixture of magnetic and gravitational forces of two celestial objects hence they show powerful impact on human beings. They directly impact on neural transmission process of brain which carries signals to all parts of body and also reflects blood circulation and heart functionality.
• In rahu kaal and yamaganda time in a day increases stress levels of mind so people avoid important tasks at that time.
• Rahu and ketu are the intersection points of moons orbit around the earth and are separated at an angle of 180 degress in the zodiac of opposite directions.