Rahu

sanskrit: राहु (Rāhu)

Definition

Rahu is the Sanskrit name for the north (ascending) lunar node, the Dragon's Head — the point where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic from south to north. It is one of two shadow planets (chaya-grahas), and Jyotish, Indian astrology, counts it among its nine grahas even though it has no body and is itself a mathematical point. In an old myth it is the severed, nectar-fed head of a serpent-demon beheaded for stealing the gods' Soma. Several authors call it a malefic graha tied to worldly desire, foreign influences, toxicity, and deception.

In Tradition

Several modern Jyotish authors, noting that Rahu owns no sign of its own, treat it as acting like the malefic Saturn. Frawley likens it to the greater malefic Saturn; Levacy says it is held to act like Saturn; Raman cites the dictum Sanivad Rahu — Rahu gives results like Saturn; and Charak, reading Rahu on the Rahu-Ketu axis, takes it to represent Saturn. This Saturn-like character is what they use to explain its malefic, even death-inflicting, potential.

In Practice

Because Rahu rules no sign of its own, several authors read it as taking on the nature of the planet or sign it sits in. Sutton says it assumes the characteristics of the planet that rules its sign, and Raman holds that Rahu — especially in Saturn's sign or a saturnine constellation — can act as a powerful death-inflicting (maraka) planet during its Dasa or Bhukti (its major or sub-period of time). Authors who treat Rahu as a full graha give house-by-house results for it just like the visible planets: T.M. Rao tabulates its results for each ascendant, and Bhatia reads it through the houses, never as a mere mathematical point. Behari cautions that these nodal results carry very deep significance and often cast their influence onto the other planets, depending on sign, aspect, and association. South Indian astrologers also give Rahu a daily time-window called Rahukalam.

Historical Origin

Rahu is discussed in the classical Sanskrit literature. Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita (Ch.V) takes up both the eclipse mythology and the astronomical node, and its translators Sastri and Bhat render the line 'The ascending node is termed Rahu.' Among the modern authors who fill out Rahu's nature are Frawley, Levacy, Sutton, Behari, Ponde, Charak, Raman, Bhatia, Rao, and deFouw & Svoboda.

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Further Reading