RAHU AND KETHU - NODES

Basic Astronomical facts about Rahu and Ketu:
Astronomically (as per Hindu Astrology), Rahu and Ketu denote the two points of intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon as they move around the celestial sphere. Therefore, Rahu and Ketu are respectively called the north and the south lunar nodes. The fact that eclipses occur when Sun and Moon are at one of these points gives rise to the myth of the swallowing of the Sun.

The Rahu and Ketu in Hindu Mythology
The Rahu is the son of Viprachitti and his wife Simhika, the sister of Prahlada. the devotee of Lord Vishnu. Ketu is the dismembered body of which Rahu is the head. The demi gods or the Devas were losing their glory and power due to a curse by sage Durvasas and the king of Devas the mighty Indra has lost his kingdom, the heaven to Asuras or the devils. The Devas approached supreme father, and creator or universe, Lord Brahma for help, who guided them to Lord Vishnu, the preserver of universe. Lord Vishnu made a plan and suggested Devas to approach the Asuras and ask them for their co operation in churning the mighty ocean to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality, which Devas and Asuras can divide among themselves and can become immortal. The Devas approached Asuras who agreed as this task required combined efforts of both Devas and Asuras. They started churning using Mount Mandara as a rod and the Serpent Vasuki as a rope. Lord Vishnu incarnated as a Tortoise to hold up the mountain on his back. As the churning of the ocean started several things energed as a result, starting with poison Halahala which threatened to destroy all the universe but Lord Shiva kept it in his throat, without swallowing it. Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow, celestial horse Ucchaishravas, Airavata, the celestial elephant, the Kausthubha gem, the Parijataka (wish-fulfilling tree), Apsaras, the beautiful celestials maids, Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, Varuni, the goddess of liquor appeared one by one. Finally Dhanvantari, the god of medicine, appeared holding the pot of amrita. The Asuras forcefully snatched it, and refused to give it to Devas. Lord Vishnu then incarnated as Mohini, the enchantress, the most beautiful female form in the universe. Devas knew this plan and controlled themselves but the Asuras were overwhelmed with lust for her and agreed to her decision for distribution of nectar as per her rules. She asked all the Devas and Asuras to sit in a line and started distributing nectar first to Devas. Rahu disguised himself as one of the Devas and sat between the Sun and Moon gods, who recognized him and told Vishnu who was in the form of Mohini. Lord Vishnu severed Rahu's head with his discus, the sudarshan charka but not before he managed to drink a drop of the nectar and become immortal. Thus his Head and Body become separate but both become immortal as separate entity due to nectar. The Head is known as Rahu and the headless body is the Ketu. Since then Rahu and Ketu constantly chase Sun and Moon for revenge for they are the cause of separating head and body of the devil Rahu. And when they succeed catching Sun and Moon they swallow them causing Solar or Lunar eclipse but they cant hold them for long and Sun and Moon emerges again intact as they also had nectar and are immortal.

Basic Astrological facts about the Rahu and Ketu:
The Rahu is of feminine and Ketu is of neuter gender, Rahu is the karaka or significator of spiritual knowledge and Ketu is the karaka or significator of Moksha or the final liberation, as relationship significator Rahu governs maternal grandparents and Ketu denotes paternal grandparents. Their temperament is erratic and unpredictable and Rahu belongs to vaayu or air element and Ketu belongs to agni or fire element, their primary quality or guna is tamo or dull or ignorant, by caste they are outcaste, not fit to be a part of normal society and their nature is malefic.

Rahu and Ketu dose not have rulership of any zodiacal signs. Rahu get exalted in the sign of Taurus and its debilitation sign is Scorpio and Ketu get exalted in the sign of Scorpio and its debilitation sign is Taurus. As per planetary relationship Rahu and Ketu are friends are Venus, Mars and Saturn, it is neutral with Jupiter and Mercury and its enemies are Sun and Moon. Nakshatras or Lunar mansions governed by Rahu are Ardra, Swati and Satabhisha. Nakshatras or Lunar mansions governed by Ketu are Ashwini, Magha and Mula. Rahu’s period as per Vimshottari Dasa is of eighteen years and that of Ketu is seven years. They rules southwest direction and in metals Rahu and Ketu rules lead and gemstone of Rahu is hessonite or gomed and its substitute gemstone is agate. Gemstone for Ketu is Cat’s eye and its substitute gemstone is turquoise. color ruled by it. In food and flavors they governs leftovers and inedible foods and foul taste. Positive key words for Rahu are Originality, independence, insight, inspiration and imagination. Negative key words for Rahu are confusion, deception, illusion, addiction and neurosis. Positive key words for Ketu are idealism, self-sacrifice, spirituality, intuition and compassion. Negative key words for Ketu are fanaticism, eccentricity, violence, amorality and impulsiveness. As per Numerology, numbers 4, 13, 22, 31 and all those that adds up to four, are governed by Rahu and numbers 7, 16, 25, 34 and all those that adds up to seven, are governed by Ketu.

Body parts, function and diseases governed Rahu and Ketu:
Epidemics, insanity, skin diseases, poisoning of all types.

Professions governed by Rahu and Ketu:
As Rahu acts like Saturn and Ketu like Mars, generally they rules the profession signified by these planets, but apart from this they signifies profession related to occult arts, magic. Rahu or Dragons Head or North Node represents, foreigners, foreign countries, foreign travel, engineering and the technical trades, gambling dens, the underworld and the bad elements in the society. Ketu or Dragons Tail or South Node represents technical trades, spiritual inclinations, superstitions and electronics.

The Mantras for Rahu:

Beej Mantra of Rahu:	Om bhraam bhreem bhraum sah rahave namah
Rahu stotra:	Ardha kaayam maha veeryam chandraditya vimardanam simhika garbha sambhutam tam rahum pranamamy aham
Gayatri Mantra of Rahu:	Om naaka dhwajaaya vidmahae padma hastaaya dheemahi tanno raahu prachodayaat

Remedies for Rahu which are performed if Rahu is not well placed in the horoscope:

1.    Worshiping of Bhairava or lord Shiva.

2.    Recitation of Kalabhairav asthakam.

3.    Reciting of Rahu Mantras.

4.    Charity: Donate blue clothes, blankets, urad dal (Horse Bean) or coconut on Saturdays to beggars.

5.    Fasting: On Saturdays.

6.    Pooja: Bhairav or Shiva pooja.

7.    Rudraksh: Wear eight mukhi (eight faced) Rudraksh.

The Mantras for Ketu:

Beej Mantra of Ketu:	Om Sraam Sreem Sraum Sah Ketave Nama
Ketu stotra:	Palasha puspa sangasham taraka graha mastakam raudram raudratmakam ghoram tam ketum pranamamyaham
Gayatri Mantra of Ketu:	Om aswadhwajaaya vidmahae soola hastaaya dheemahi tanno ketu prachodayaat

Remedies for Ketu which are performed if Ketu is not well placed in the horoscope:

1.    Worshiping of Lord Ganesha.

2.    Recitation of Ganesha Dwadasanama Stotra.

3.    Reciting of Ketu Mantras.

4.    Charity: Donate brown cloths, blanket, black mustard seeds to beggars and feed black dog on Thursdays.

5.    Fasting: On Thursdays.

6.    Pooja: Ganesh pooja.

7.    Rudraksh: Wear nine mukhi (nine faced) Rudraksh.

Rahu (North Node) Ketu (South Node) :
Rahu Ketu Are Shadow Planets & not Real Planets

Rahu

It shows research studies, big machines, their manufacturers or trade, leather goods nuclear setups, knowledge of import and poisonous drugs. It has special tang for everything foreign.

Ketu

It indicates computers, exports, mathematics, statistician, high accuracy small machines spiritualism, terrorism and trading of animals or their body parts.