Rahu and Ketu – Significance Of Shadow Planets In Astrology

Talking about Vedic astrology, we have a physical resemblance to each of the planets and stars. Their presence is physical and obvious. But Hindu astrology names two planetary objects which are actually not present physically. They are Rahu and Ketu. Rahu and Ketu in astrology are generally considered as malefic planetary objects. Rahu is otherwise called an abstract entity and responsible for causing an eclipse. According to Hindu mythology, Rahu and Ketu are two shadow entities. They are considered as malefic planets, and the term Rahu Kala is considered inauspicious for starting any good work.

Rahu and Ketu complete their journey in 18 years and are always 180 degrees from each other. This can coincide with the lunar ascending and descending nodes on the earth’s ecliptic plane. Technically Rahu and Ketu represent the point of intersection of the Sun and The Moon’s path. They are also called the north and the south lunar nodes. According to mythology, the eclipse occurs when the sun and the moon are at one of these nodes. This gives a picture of the sun and the moon getting swallowed by the snake. It is believed that Rahu is responsible for causing the solar eclipse.

According to Vedic Astrology, Rahu in kundali is the ruler of fear, disappointment, confusion and obsession. Rahu is also related to occult science, and like Ketu, Rahu is also the enemy of the sun and the moon. It is considered a malefic planet in astrology. Let us know about Rahu and Ketu in detail.

Rahu And Ketu Planet In Astrology: General Characteristics

Though Rahu and Ketu in astrology are considered as one entity, we will take them as different parts. Let us first talk about Rahu. Rahu is associated with the tamasic infatuation of a human being. It is associated with materialistic pleasure and worldly desire. It makes the soul surrender to materialisation. It is often called the Karak of fame, greed, obsession, manipulation, disease, inertia. Rahu belongs to the Vata nature. A person influenced by Rahu will be an outcast, have harsh speech, he will be engrossed in lies, treachery and will be suffering from thorax and abdomen infestations. However, it is considered very powerful and has the capacity of turning friends into enemies and vice versa. In Buddhist culture, Rahu is considered as one of the Krodh Devatas that terrifies the native.

Rahu is a malefic planet. However, a favourable Rahu will benefit the politicians and criminals. It gives them the power and authority to rise in the ranks through unfair means. Rahu rules the thieves, jail, snake, poison and haunted place. It is so hypnotic that people tend to fall for misdeeds easily if they are influenced by Rahu. However, it can also bestow the native with sudden wealth.

If Rahu is considered as the planet of worldly desires, then Ketu can be related to spirituality. It represents the spiritual process of evolution and refinement of materialisation to spirit. Ketu is worldly malefic but spiritually benefic. Ketu is the Karaks of spiritualism, wisdom, fantasy, invincibility and psychic abilities. Ketu belongs to the Pitta element. Ketu generally will mature at the age of 48, when the souls start to turn towards salvation.

Ketu is the thorax and lower torso of Rahu. Ketu planet is sometimes called the half planet that is responsible for wisdom and knowledge of self. It gives the native psychic abilities, and the native generally masters the art of healing. Ketu’s sign is Pisces, and that of Rahu is Virgo. Ketu is often seen with a gem or star on his head that emits some mysterious light. The legends of Rahu and Ketu are interesting. Let us find out more.

Mythology Of Rahu And Ketu

According to the ancient texts, the mythology behind the origin of Rahu and Ketu takes us to the story of Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean. While churning, a pot of Amrit (elixir of immortality) emerged from the mantle of the ocean. While Mohini, the female avatar of Lord Vishnu, took the Amrit and started to distribute it to the devas, there was a demon named Swarbhanu who stood among the devas. The Sun and Moon, however, noticed and informed Mohini, but, by that time, Svarbhanu had already drunk the Amrit. Vishnu then, with his Sudarshan chakra, cut the demon’s head. As the demon was not immortal, he could not die, but the head and rest of the body were separated. The head was known to be Rahu, while the rest of the body was called Ketu. They both were given an important position in astrology. They affect the solar and lunar eclipse.

Role of Rahu And Ketu In Astrology

So how do Rahu and Ketu influence your natal chart? Rahu is a master of treachery and showers his blessings on thieves, politicians and culprits. It is also considered a planet of sorrow and grief. Malefic Rahu will give the native suicidal tendencies, fear, phobia, and he might suffer from snake bites. There will be murder or theft in your locality. They are likely to suffer from diseases like cholera, dysentery and constipation.

Rahu can be friends with Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Pisces and Sagittarius zodiac signs. In contrast, Cancer and Leo are considered as the enemy signs. Coming to planetary combinations, they combine well with Mercury, Saturn and Venus. But according to the legend, they are staunch enemies of the Sun, Moon and Mars. Rahu gives good results for the native of Taurus and Libra. If Rahu is strong in the birth chart, then it gives fame, money and success.

Rahu, in his behaviour, is similar to Saturn. Rahu is the planet of pleasure, and it makes the native attracted to worldly pleasures. Although it is not a ruler of any zodiac sign, it is sometimes related to Virgo. Gomed honey-coloured hessonite is the gemstone of Rahu. As it is a Vata element, its direction is southwest. It reaches maturity at the age of 42. 

While Ketu is a friend to Mercury, Venus and Saturn, Jupiter is considered neutral while it is an enemy to the Sun, Moon and Mars. Coming to the nakshatras, Ketu has three stars, namely Ashvini, Mul and Magha. Ketu is friendly towards Virgo, Sagittarius, Capricorn and Pisces, while it is an enemy to Cancer and Leo. Ketu is responsible for spirituality, and it brings the devotee’s family prosperity. It grants wealth, good health and all around prosperity to the native. There is a deeper meaning to Ketu’s spirituality, and it is considered the most spiritual planet of all. It is considered the planet of enlightenment and liberation. So we should know the dashas of Rahu and Ketu.

What Are The Related Dasha Of Rahu And Ketu?

As we all know, the Rahu planet in astrology is a malefic planet. But at times it can give good results also. During the mahadasha of Rahu, if the planet is exalted in the Taurus and Gemini, it will bring good results. The person will be immersed in wealth, knowledge, gain social status, receive unexpected gains, high in self-confidence. He will enjoy the luxuries of life. It will bring all the beneficial results if the Rahu is placed in the 3,6, and the 10th house of the birth chart. The dasha of Rahu stays for 18years.

If Rahu is malefic, then during the mahadasha of Rahu, then it can harm the native. It will create a Shrapit Yoga in the chart if it combines with Saturn in any house. They will bring bad results to the native. The person is cursed by Chandra dosh. The planet sun and Rahu also create Grahan dosh by sitting together in any house.

During mahadasha, it creates Angarak yoga by combining with Mars in any house. The person is likely to face many troubles in his life. It is highly hazardous for life, career and health.

Ketu mahadasha lasts for seven years. If the Ketu in horoscope is malefic, then the life of the person may be in danger. The person will be occupied by rage and become quarrelsome. There will be unnecessary rifts between him and his loved ones. The Ketu influencing Saturn, Mars and the sun will aggravate the fraternal disputes. There might be the demise of siblings. You will face defeat and humiliation in every sphere of life.

While a well-placed Ketu can bring positivity, happiness, money and wealth, benefic Ketu is placed in 3,6 and 11th natal houses. Ketu gives beneficial results when it combines with Guru, Venus, Mars and Mercury. It combines with Jupiter and gives a beneficial Ganesh Yog. A powerful Ketu makes the person rich by many folds. Let us see how it conjunct with other planets. Consult our experts for Ketu Graha shanti puja .

Conjunction With Different Planets

Rahu with Sun gives rise to Grahan Dosha. It happens once a year. This conjunction is generally considered as bad and inauspicious. Rahu with Moon also gives rise to Grahan Dosha. The conjunction is not good in the kundali with 1,3, and 9th house. The person may suffer from mental illness.

Rahu with Mars conjuncts once in 18 months. Being an enemy to Rahu, it creates Angaarak Grahan yog. The conjunction will have a debilitating effect in 1,3,6, and 10th houses of Kundali. The person is likely to go through several problems and face many accidents and death in the family.

Ketu is the enemy of the sun, and if both are posted together. It gives bad results to the native’s child, uncle and other relatives. Mars with Ketu will make the person aggressive, filled with rage and cunning nature. However, Ketu with Jupiter is considered a favourable conjunction, and it bestows the native with wisdom, knowledge and wealth.

However, when all the other planets sit between Rahu and Ketu in kundali; it gives rise to Kalsarpa yoga. This is considered to be a very bad sign for the native. 

Remedies To Enhance A Weak Rahu And Ketu

Remedies For Rahu: Donate water and coconut in the temple during Amavasya. Jupiter is the planet that controls Rahu, so it is advisable to worship Jupiter. Wearing 8 faced rudraksha reduces the malefic effect of Rahu.

Remedies For Ketu: Apply saffron tilak after the prayer. Donate two colour blankets to the poor and needy. Worship Lord Ganesha, as it will take all the negative energy of Ketu. Donate black mustard seed on Thursday.

These are some of the remedies mentioned to reduce the malefic effects of Rahu and Ketu in Astrology. Now you know more about Rahu and Ketu and their effects on your astrology.

Planet in Vedic Astrology

Sun Planet	Moon Planet	Mars Planet
Mercury Planet	Venus Planet	Jupiter Planet
Saturn Planet	Nodes (Rahu and Ketu)