In Hindu mythology, Rahu is a snake that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a dragon with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. According to legend, during the Samudra manthan, the asura Rahu drank some of the divine nectar. But before the nectar could pass his throat, Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu) cut off his head. The head, however, remained immortal. It is believed that this immortal head occasionally swallows the sun or the moon, causing eclipses. Then, the sun or moon passes through t ...

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Rahu: (Sanskrit) "The seizer."

In Hindu astrology, Rahu is one of the nine important planets (graha), but is an invisible or "astral" one, along with its counterpart, Ketu. Physically speaking, it is one of two points in the heavens where the moon crosses the ecliptic or path of the sun. The point where the moon crosses the ecliptic moving from south to north is Rahu, the north node. The south node is Ketu. Rahu and Ketu are depicted as a serpent demon who encircles the earth. Ketu is the dragon's tail and Rahu is the head. Both are believed to cause general consternation among people.

See: jyotisha, vedic astrology.

(See also: Rahu, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Rahu:

Rahu (Raahu). A demon (a-sura), step-brother of Kethu. Both are also inauspicious planets; An eclipse is the phenomenon of Rahu 'swallowing the moon'.

(See also: Rahu, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Gems and the Planets

The 9 planets considered by Vedic astrologers are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu (MoonÕs north node) and Ketu (MoonÕs south node). The outer planets of Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto are not used in ancient classical Vedic astrology and thus have no gemstones assigned to them. The main gems for these 9 planets are called the "navaratna", meaning 9 jewels, and the substitute gems are called "uparatna".

Read more here: » Gemstones Crystals: Gemstones Crystals - Gems and the Planets

Gems and the Planets

The 9 planets considered by Vedic astrologers are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu (MoonÕs north node) and Ketu (MoonÕs south node). The outer planets of Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto are not used in ancient classical Vedic astrology and thus have no gemstones assigned to them. The main gems for these 9 planets are called the "navaratna", meaning 9 jewels, and the substitute gems are called "uparatna".

Read more here: » Gemstones Crystals: Gemstones Crystals - Gems and the Planets

Hessonite

Hessonite is the gemstone for strengthening Rahu. It is a type of garnet. In best qualities it is of a reddish-orange-honey color. Honey color stones are also very effective. It is called "gomedak" in sanskrit, or "gomed" in Hindi, the language understood by most people living in India.

Read more here: » Gemstones Crystals: Gemstones Crystals - Hessonite

The year 2005 comes under the banner of 'Spirituality' and is ruled by the strongest God Force represented by number 7.

In Western Astrology, this number is associated with the watery planet Neptune and in Hindu Astrology it swings to the moods of the half-planet Ketu.

It is said that during our time, which is in 'kaliyug' (the era of darkness), Rahu, Ketu and Saturn have become more powerful and active than other planets and exert maximum influence on mankind and the earth as a whole.

(See also: Spiritual Awakening, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Planetary Ailments

The Planets and their Corresponding Ailments

Sun

Circulatory deficiencies, Anaemia Indigestion

Moon

Circulatory disorder, Lunacy

Mars

Constipation, Flatulence, Liver trouble, Blind piles, Skin Trouble

Mercury

Nervous Disease, Ulcers, Acidity, Blood Pressure, Restlessness, Irritation

Venus

Bronchial disorder, Whooping Cough, Asthma, Dyspepsia, Sexual ailments, Delirium, Obsessions

Saturn

Neurosis, Neuralgia ,Sciatica, Rheumatism, Excretory disorders

Jupiter

Jaundice, Biliousness, Colic Problems Palpitation, Toothache ,Insomnia

Rahu

Hyperacidity ,Burning Sensations, Brain Disorders, Sexual Excesses ,Drinking Problems

Ketu

Skin Disorders, Nervous Debility,Small Pox, Urinary Tract Infections

Herbs to the Rescue

To counter these negative planetary influences, Ayurveda suggests the use of multi-faceted herbs that not only provide curative relief to various physical afflictions but are also endowed with the preventive power to combat planetary interference.

Venus

Hydrocotyle asiatica (Mandukparni)

Jupiter

Swertia Chirata (Chirata)

Sun

Aegle Marmelus

Ketu

Withania Somnifera (Aswagandha)

Saturn

Nyetanthes arbortristis (Shefali)

Desmostachya bipinnata (Dhuva)

Mars

Hemidesmus indicum (Anantmool)

Rahu

Bacopa monierri (Brahmi)

Mercury

Bacopa monierri (Brahmi)

Moon

Cueumis Satirus

Cucumber (Khirika)

Gemology

In exactly the same manner precious gemstones such as rubies, diamonds, pearls, red corals, sapphires etc. can influence the effects of the planets substantially. Although they can minimise the impact of planetary afflictions, they should always be worn with care and on recommendation of an experienced astrologer. For the wrong stone can aggravate the condition and even cause fresh problems.

PLANET * DISEASE *GEM

Mars, Mercury, Moon

Rheumatism, musculo skeletal

Red coral, emerald, dark blue pearl,

Saturn, Sun

Problems and bone diseases

sapphire, ruby

Mars, Mercury

Digestive diseases, diabetes

Red coral, white coral,emerald

Saturn, Ketu

Diseases of the nervous system

Dark blue sapphire

Mercury, Mars, Ketu

Psychol0ogical diseases, including hysteria

Emerald in the night, red coral in the day

Mars, Saturn, Rahu

Skin diseases

White coral, yellow sapphire

Saturn, Mars, Moon,Venus, Mercury, Jupiter

Urinary and gynecological problems

Pearl, diamond, red coral, yellow sapphire, emerald, topaz

Saturn, Mars

Dental problems

Sapphire, red coral

Saturn, Mars

Ear nose, and throat problems

Yellow sapphire, white coral

Saturn, Mars

Blood-related problems

Dark blue sapphire, emerald, ruby

(See also: Planetary Ailments, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Rahu: north node of the Moon; dragon's head

(See also: Rahu, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

rahu:

north node of the moon; dragon's head

(See also: rahu, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Rahu (Sanskrit). A Daitya (demon) whose lower parts were like a dragon’s tail. He made himself immortal by robbing the gods of some Amrita -  the elixir of divine life - for which they were churning the ocean of milk. Unable to deprive him of his immortality, Vishnu exiled him from the earth and made of him the constellation Draco, his head being called Rahu and his tail Ketu - astronomically, the ascending and descending nodes. With the latter appendage he has ever since waged a destructive war on the denouncers of his robbery, the sun and the moon, and (during the eclipses) is said to swallow them. Of course the fable has a mystic and occult meaning.

(See also: Rahu, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Rahu (Sanskrit) The seizer; a daitya supposed to seize the sun and moon and thus cause eclipses. "A giant, a Demi-god, the lower part of whose body ended in a Dragon or Serpent's tail. During the churning of the Ocean, when the gods produced amrita -- the water of Immortality -- he stole some of it, and drinking, became immortal.

The Sun and Moon, who had detected him in his theft, denounced him to Vishnu, who placed him in the stellar spheres, the upper portion of his body representing the Dragon's head and the lower (Ketu) the Dragon's tail; the two being the ascending and descending nodes.

Since then, Rahu wreaks his vengeance on the Sun and Moon by occasionally swallowing them. But this fable had another mystic meaning, since Rahu, the Dragon's head, played a prominent part in the mysteries of the Sun's (Vikarttana's) initiation, when the candidate and the Dragon had a supreme fight" (SD 2:381).

(See also: Rahu, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Aja:

Aja. King of the Solar Dynasty; son of Rahu and father of Dasaratha.

(See also: Aja, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Kethu:

Kethu. A demon. Along with Rahu, an inauspicious planet.

(See also: Kethu, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Ahi (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root anh to press together, strangle)

A serpent; in the Rig-Veda, the serpent of the sky, also called Vritra, mythologically referred to as the demon of darkness and drought who absorbed the cosmic waters. Indra, god of the sky and rainmaker, battles with Ahi and finally slays him, releasing the waters across the land.

Ahi is likewise a name of the sun; also of Rahu, the ascending node of the moon and the daitya (demon) who periodically "swallows" (eclipses) the sun and moon.

(See also: Ahi, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Vikartana (Sanskrit) [from vi asunder + the verbal root krit to cut, divide]

The one cutting asunder or dividing; a title of the sun as the divider or distributor of solar life, and in a more restricted sense the sun as conqueror of Rahu, the Dragon's head (an eclipse). When taken in a passive sense, it signifies the sun when "shorn of his rays," and hence a name given to an initiated neophyte in a certain stage of his spiritual training, when he is laid on the cross and must make the supreme conquest of the dragon or the influence of the moon.

(See also: Vikartana, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Herbs to the Rescue

To counter negative planetary influences, Ayurveda suggests the use of multi-faceted herbs that not only provide curative relief to various physical afflictions but are also endowed with the preventive power to combat planetary interference.

Venus

Hydrocotyle asiatica (Mandukparni)

Jupiter

Swertia Chirata (Chirata)

Sun

Aegle Marmelus

Ketu

Withania Somnifera (Aswagandha)

Saturn

Nyetanthes arbortristis (Shefali)

Desmostachya bipinnata (Dhuva)

Mars

Hemidesmus indicum (Anantmool)

Rahu

Bacopa monierri (Brahmi)

Mercury

Bacopa monierri (Brahmi)

Moon

Cueumis Satirus

Cucumber (Khirika)

(See also: Herbs, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Astrology and Ayurveda

Eternally fascinated by the uncertainty of the future, man has been equally engrossed in various studies that allow a peek into the same. Amongst the more significant ones is Astrology, a significant branch of Ayurveda, that scientifically studies planetary movements and their effect on human constitutions and lives.

Astrology is based on the concept that each planet is intrinsically related to a specific body tissue and that the various planetary movements and their positions in relation to time exert powerful influences on your mind, body and consciousness, directly affecting your physical and mental health. It is to be noted that sun, rahu & ketu are nodal points exactly opposite each other and are given the status of planets according to the Indian system of Astrology. They are important indicators of spiritual and / or materialistic tendencies.

(See also: Astrology and Ayurveda, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Node [from Latin nodus knot]

Astronomically, the two points of intersection of the orbit of a planet with the ecliptic, or the two points of intersection of the orbit of a satellite with the plane of the orbit of its primary. The point at which the moving body is going north is called the north node or ascending node; the other is the south or descending node. These nodes have a motion opposite to that of the moving orb, and it is very slow in comparison with the speed of the moving orb. The spinning of a gyroscope illustrates the matter.

The moon's nodes revolve in 18.6 years; they are known in Hindu astrology as Rahu and Ketu, the Head and Tail of the dragon. They are also used in modern astrology. These nodes, and those of the planets with reference to the elliptic, mark important cycles of time. The period of the moon's nodes is not commensurate with the period of the moon's revolution; approximate coincidence of the two cycles marks eclipses.

(See also: Node, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Eclipses of the sun and moon take place when a new or full moon occurs near one of the lunar nodes.

These events were recognized by the ancients as spiritually and cyclically significant, for the universe was regarded as a corporate whole, and throughout by analogy outer events are keys to inner correspondences. According to many ancient legends, eclipses were caused by the sun's or moon's being swallowed by a cosmic dragon -- figurative language, as for instance in Sanskrit where the dragon's head and tail, Rahu and Katu are the moon's nodes.

In astrology, the moment of an eclipse is regarded as one of those epochs when the planetary configurations of the moment are significant of coming events -- the birth moment of a cycle, in fact; and eclipses are mentioned in The Secret Doctrine as being guideposts in fixing the dates of ancient epochs that mark the junction of long cycles.

(See also: Eclipses, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)