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The Origins of Rahu and Ketu

Rahu and Ketu, the two Lunar nodes, have been related to Indian mythology since the Samudra Manthan and have an important role to play in an individuals life depending on the persons birth star and the position it acquires on an individuals birth chart. They are generally believed to have malefic effects on a person’s life but it can also have a beneficial effect on the individual based on positioning on a few auspicious houses in the chart.

The origin of Rahu and Ketu is not known to many. It can be traced back to the time when the devas and asuras were churning the ocean for amrit (nectar of immortality). When the nectar was finally churned out of the ocean, there was a dispute between the devas and the asuras as to who should be drinking the nectar first. Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Mohini, an apsara, and distracted the asuras and started distributing the nectar among the devas because immortality to the asuras could spell disaster for the world.

One of the asuras, Svarbhanu noticed this and then disguised himself as a deva and stood in the line of the devas to gain the nectar. The sun and the moon observed the switch and immediately informed Lord Vishnu about it. Before Lord Vishnu could stop Svarbhanu, he had already tasted a drop thus making him immortal. Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshana Chakra to split the head of Svarbhanu from the body.

The head and tail of a snake were joined to the disjointed parts of Svarbhanu, hence bringing life to Rahu and Ketu. As a head without a body, Rahu is the part of us that can never be satisfied. Wherever he lies in our birth chart or transits is where we feel a subliminal obsessive drive, and can never get enough. His placement shows us where we have the least maturity, wisdom, and experience, and where we will be drawn obsessively throughout life.

Ketu is the headless tail of the demon (or of the serpent, as the nodes’ energy is often described). As such he intuits a lot of knowledge without knowing from where it arises. Where Ketu lies in the chart is a place where we have innate wisdom, psychic, and spiritual awareness.

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