Rahu
Encyclopedia
In Hindu
mythology, Rahu (Kannada: ರಾಹು)(Malayalam: രാഹു) is a cut-off head of an asura
, that swallows the sun
or the moon
causing eclipse
s. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot
drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagraha
s (nine planets) in Vedic astrology
. The Rahu kala (time of day under the influence of Rahu) is considered inauspicious.
According to legend, during the Samudra manthan
, the asura
Rahu drank some of the divine nectar. Sun and moon realized it and they alerted Mohini
(the female avatar of Vishnu
). Before the nectar could pass his throat, Mohini 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 the opening at the neck, ending the eclipse.
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 node
s. The fact that eclipse
s occur when Sun and Moon are at one of these points gives rise to the myth of the swallowing of the Sun.
Rahu is a legendary master of deception who signifies cheaters, pleasure seekers, operators in foreign lands, drug dealers, poison dealers, insincere & immoral acts, etc. It is the significator of an irreligious person, an outcast, harsh speech, logical fallacy, falsehoods, uncleanliness, abdominal ulcers, bones, and transmigration. Rahu is instrumental in strengthening one's power and converting even an enemy into a friend. In Buddhism
Rahu is one of the krodhadevatas (terror-inspiring gods).
Image:HinducosmoMap3.svg|thumb|Click! Vivasvan, Rahu, Bhūmi, Naraka, Ananta, Garbhodaksayi Vishnu|250px|alt=Click!
rect 171 2 219 29 Vivasvan
rect 168 36 219 62 Rahu
rect 172 174 232 200 Bhūmi
rect 164 298 298 318 Naraka
rect 174 319 276 335 Ananta
rect 102 374 267 395 Garbhodaksayi Vishnu
There is another lila of Shiva
and Rahu probably taken from Shiva Purana
, which is paraphrased by Joseph Campbell
in his book The Power of Myth. Another paraphrase of this myth:
, in his childhood, flew towards the sun, as it appeared to be a big fruit. The day was solar eclipse day, when Rahu was to swallow up the sun. Rahu arrived and saw Hanuman trying to swallow the sun; little Hanuman, seeing Rahu, was attracted to the curiosity of the disembodied head, and caught Rahu.
On another occasion, during the Ramayana
war, Ravana
imprisoned the Navagrahas. Hanuman arrived and released them. They were grateful to Hanuman, saying "people devoted to you are blessed by us too." All the grahas thanked Hanuman individually for releasing them. Thus, it is believed that Rahu's negative influence will be subdued when one worships Lord Hanuman.
Rahu is seen as an asura
or demon who does his best to plunge any area of life he controls into chaos, mystery, and cruelty. He is associated with the world of material manifestation and worldly desire, as well as random, uncontrolled growth without wisdom or understanding.
Rahu is supposed to be a mighty and naughty child of māyā
(illusory power of nature), and thus has a lot of dualities attached to its mayavi (illusory) nature. It relates to the Seventh Ray energy of esoteric astrology
, as it represents a force displaying all the possibilities within the realm of existence.
Various names assigned to Rahu in Vedic texts—the chief, the advisor of the demons, the minister of the demons, ever-angry, the tormentor, bitter enemy of the luminaries, lord of illusions, one who frightens the Sun, the one who makes the Moon lustreless, the peacemaker, the immortal (having drunk the divine nectar), bestower of prosperity and wealth and ultimate knowledge—give a clue to its basic energy and attributes.
Rahu can be considered the expert among the planets when it comes to scheming and plotting. It is the master of manipulation.
The astrological text Lāl Kitāb
makes an interesting point that if Jupiter and Venus are conjunct in a chart, they can together be treated as Rahu. This relates to the fact that Rahu acts as a bridge between Jupiter, the preceptor of the gods, and Venus, the preceptor of the demons.
Mining of petroleum also falls under the significations of Rahu according to Vedic astrology. Snake charmers and all other people whose lives are very much entwined with that of reptiles and snakes could be said to be under a heavy influence of Rahu.
Rahu governs all sorts of poisonous chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides, and disinfectants that are in use in the present times. It also governs all the substances with a strong pungent smell like
sulfur dioxide gas. In other words, Rahu has a role to play whenever a poisonous substance is involved.
There is no equal to Rahu when it comes to giving upliftment in name and fame or sudden luck at gambling, which is probably the reason why Western astrologers regard it as the greatest benefic force. The area in which this success is attained usually relates to the significations of the house Rahu is placed in. All the electric lights that illuminate our world in the nighttime can be said to be associated with Rahu. Rahu is known as the "artificial sun," which is fitting considering the introduction of electric lights, adding to the illusion and glamour of modern times. Rahu has in a way created its own artificial sun for its favoured time, the night.
Rahu's rulership, exaltation, debilitation, and mūlatrikoṇa are topics of controversy, as many views abound as to the sign that Rahu rules. The Western system refuses to assign Rahu the rulership of any sign. In Vedic astrology, different systems assign Rahu different signs regarding rulership, exaltation, and debilitation. In establishing the rulership, exaltation, and debilitation signs of Rahu, its relationship with other planets may be considered: Rahu is friends with Ketu, Saturn, Mercury and Venus. It is the enemy of Sun, Moon, Mars, and Jupiter. It is important to note that Rahu is more inimical to the Sun as compared to the Moon.
Rahu is lord of three nakshatra
s or lunar mansions: Ardra
, Svati
and Shatabhisha
. Rahu is associated with the following: its color is smoky, metal is lead, and its gemstone is honey-colored hessonite. Its element is air and its direction is southwest.
, Tamil Nadu
, India
. There is a milk
abhishekam everyday during Rahu Kaalam to appease Rahu. The milk turns light blue when it flows down after touching the statue of Rahu. This practise has been followed for over 1,500 years.
Rahu is also worshipped along with the other 9 planets in all Hindu temples in Burma. One complex of this nature, featuring statues of all nine planets, also exists in the Bhairav Mahadev Sthan in Gyaneswor, Kathmandu, Nepal. Phra Rahu, as he is called in Thailand, is worshipped in Wat Traimet in Chinatown, Bangkok, and also in Wat Yannawa, amongst other wats.
In Thailand, people offer a plate of black offering--black coffee, black Coke, black beans, black biscuits amongst other items to propitiate Phra Rahu, who they hold in very high regard. There is a shrine for Phra Rahu in Wat Traimet near Chinatown in Bangkok. The other Phra Rahu statue is in the Wat Yannawa, near the Saphan Taksin sky train station. A glass fish-bowl filled with white sugar balls on which ants are fed continuously is also kept in Thai businesses.
In Burma, the there are shrines of the nine planets in most Hindu temples, and puja ceremonies to propitiate all nine planets occur regularly on holy days.
Ardha kaya, sada krodhi, chandradhithya vimardhana
(Rahu, Minister of Rakshasa, one who makes Simhika happy,
Half bodied one, one who is always angry,
Tormentor who troubles Sun and Moon)
(2)Roudhro rudhra priyo daithya swar bhanur , bhanur bheethidha,
Graha raja sudhapayee rakadhithyabhilashtaka.
(Angry one, Devotee of Rudhra, Ogre,
One who is near the Sun, one who terrifies the sun,
King of planets, one who got nectar ,
One who desires the moon and the sun)
(3)Kala drushti kala roopa ,sri kanta hrudayashraya,
Vidhunthudha saimhikeya , ghora roopo, maha bala.
(One who has death inflicting sight, one who likes death,
One who lives in the heart of Shiva, one who made moon dim,
One who is the son of ogress Simhika,
One who has terrifying form, One who is very strong)
(4)Graha peeda karo damshtri raktha nethro mahodhara,
Panchavimsathi namani sthuthwa rahum sada nara,
Ya paden mahathi peeda thasya nasyathi kevalam.
(One who torments planets, one who has big teeth,
One who has red eyes and one who has a big paunch,
If a man recites these twenty five names and prays to Rahu
And as soon as he reads big tormenting troubles vanish immediately)
(5)Aarogyam putham athulam sriyam dhanyam pasum sthadha,
Dadhathi rahu sthasmai thu ya padeth sthothramuthamam.
(Health , incomparable sons, wealth , cereals and animals
Would be given to him by Rahu , to the one who reads this great prayer)
(6)Sathatham padathe yasthu jeeveth , varsha satham nara.
(The man who reads this regularly would live for one hundred years)
(7) Aum Rang Rahuve Namah Aum
(It is usually used in Hindu black magic to develop paranormal powers)
of the Pali Canon
. In the Candima Sutta and the Suriya Sutta, Rahu attacks Chandra
the moon deity and Suriya the sun deity before being compelled to release them by their recitation of a brief stanza conveying their reverence for the Buddha
. The Buddha responds by enjoining Rahu to release them, which Rahu does rather than have his "head split into seven pieces". The verses recited by the two celestial deities and the Buddha have since been incorporated into Buddhist liturgy as protective verses (paritta
) recited by monks as prayers of protection.
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Rahu (or Rāhula; Tib. gza) is considered to have been subjugated by Padmasambhava
, becoming one of the principle protectors of the Dzogchen
teachings, particularly the Longchen Nyingthik. He is usually depicted with nine heads and a thousand eyes all over his dark-colored body. In his four arms he holds a bow and arrow, and often a lasso and victory banner. He is wrathful in appearance, ablaze with fire, and his lower body has the form of a snake. Rāhula is a sa, a class of deities associated with the heavenly bodies.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
mythology, Rahu (Kannada: ರಾಹು)(Malayalam: രാഹു) is a cut-off head of an asura
Asura
-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asuras constitute a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic. The Daityas and Danavas were combinedly known as Asuras. The Asura were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa...
, that swallows the sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
or the moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
causing eclipse
Eclipse
An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object is temporarily obscured, either by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer...
s. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot
Chariot
The chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagraha
Navagraha
Graha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
s (nine planets) in Vedic astrology
Jyotisha
Hindu astrology , also Jyotish or Jyotisha, from Sanskrit , from "light, heavenly body") is the ancient Indian system of astronomy and astrology...
. The Rahu kala (time of day under the influence of Rahu) is considered inauspicious.
According to legend, during the Samudra manthan
Samudra manthan
In Hinduism, Samudra manthan or Ksheera Sagara Mathanam, Churning of the Ocean of Milk is one of the most famous episodes in the Puranas...
, the asura
Asura
-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asuras constitute a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic. The Daityas and Danavas were combinedly known as Asuras. The Asura were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa...
Rahu drank some of the divine nectar. Sun and moon realized it and they alerted Mohini
Mohini
Mohini , in Hindu mythology, is the name of the only female Avatar of the god Vishnu. She is portrayed as a femme fatale, an enchantress, who maddens lovers, sometimes leading them to their doom. Mohini is introduced into the Hindu mythos in the narrative epic of the Mahabharata...
(the female avatar of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
). Before the nectar could pass his throat, Mohini 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 the opening at the neck, ending the eclipse.
Astronomically
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
(as per Hindu Astrology), Rahu and Ketu
Ketu (mythology)
Ketu is the descending lunar node. 'Ketu' is said to be the body of Rahu, after the head of the asura was cut off by God Vishnu. In Hindu mythology, Ketu is generally referred to as a "shadow" planet. It is believed to have a tremendous impact on human lives and also the whole creation...
denote the two points of intersection of the paths of the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
and the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
as they move around the celestial sphere
Celestial sphere
In astronomy and navigation, the celestial sphere is an imaginary sphere of arbitrarily large radius, concentric with the Earth and rotating upon the same axis. All objects in the sky can be thought of as projected upon the celestial sphere. Projected upward from Earth's equator and poles are the...
. Therefore, Rahu and Ketu are respectively called the north and the south lunar node
Lunar node
The lunar nodes are the orbital nodes of the Moon, that is, the points where the orbit of the Moon crosses the ecliptic . The ascending node is where the moon crosses to the north of the ecliptic...
s. The fact that eclipse
Eclipse
An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object is temporarily obscured, either by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer...
s occur when Sun and Moon are at one of these points gives rise to the myth of the swallowing of the Sun.
Rahu is a legendary master of deception who signifies cheaters, pleasure seekers, operators in foreign lands, drug dealers, poison dealers, insincere & immoral acts, etc. It is the significator of an irreligious person, an outcast, harsh speech, logical fallacy, falsehoods, uncleanliness, abdominal ulcers, bones, and transmigration. Rahu is instrumental in strengthening one's power and converting even an enemy into a friend. In Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
Rahu is one of the krodhadevatas (terror-inspiring gods).
Myth of Shiva and Rahu
Image:HinducosmoMap3.svg|thumb|Click! Vivasvan, Rahu, Bhūmi, Naraka, Ananta, Garbhodaksayi Vishnu|250px|alt=Click!
rect 171 2 219 29 Vivasvan
rect 168 36 219 62 Rahu
Rahu
In Hindu mythology, Rahu is a cut-off head of an asura, that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagrahas in Vedic astrology...
rect 172 174 232 200 Bhūmi
Bhumi
Bhumi can mean:* Bhūmi, Hindu goddess of the earth**also, earth as a classical element in Hindu tradition* Bhumi , the ten stages a Bodhisattva advances through in the path to become a Buddha...
rect 164 298 298 318 Naraka
Naraka
Naraka is the Sanskrit word for the underworld; literally, of man. According to Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism, Naraka is a place of torment, or Hell...
rect 174 319 276 335 Ananta
Ananta
Ananta is a Sanskrit word meaning "without end".It may refer to:*Ananta , one of the names of Vishnu.*Ananta , Actor and Producer for Bengali film.*Ananta, a serpent on which Vishnu lies, aka Shesha....
rect 102 374 267 395 Garbhodaksayi Vishnu
Garbhodaksayi Vishnu
Garbhodakśāyī Viṣṇu is second in the hierarchy of Viṣṇu Avatāras in the mahā Tattva . In Gauḍīya Vaishnavism, a school of Vaiṣṇavism, the Sātvata-tantra describes three different forms, or aspects, of Vishnu as Mahā Vishnu, Garbhodakaśāyī Vishnu and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Vishnu , with each form having a...
There is another lila of Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and Rahu probably taken from Shiva Purana
Shiva Purana
The Shiva Purana is one of the s, a genre of Hindu religious texts dedicated to Shiva. According to a tradition which is stated in the of this text, the original text was known as the ....
, which is paraphrased by Joseph Campbell
Joseph Campbell
Joseph John Campbell was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience...
in his book The Power of Myth. Another paraphrase of this myth:
In the myth of the Daitya king JalandharaJalandharaJalandhara is a figure in Hindu mythology. He is sometimes included in lists of aspects of Shiva....
, Jalandhara sends Rahu with a message to Shiva, demanding that he surrender ParvatiParvatiParvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
to Jalandhara. Shiva was angry at this message, and this anger took the form of a terrible creature which sprang from his brow. It had the face of a lion, flaming eyes, a body which was dry and rough to the touch, long arms and a tongue which lolled with anger. The creature rushed at Rahu, ready to devour him. Shiva apparently said something along the lines of "we don't shoot the messenger" whereon the ganaGanaThe word ' , in Sanskrit, means "flock, troop, multitude, number, tribe, series, class" . It can also be used to refer to a "body of attendants" and can refer to "a company, any assemblage or association of men formed for the attainment of the same aims".In Hinduism, the s are attendants of Shiva...
pleaded to Shiva that it was tortured by hunger. Shiva told the gana that if it were so hungry, it should eat its own flesh. This the gana did, until only its head was left. Shiva, pleased with such devotion, appointed the gana as his door-keeper, ordering that it create terror for all wicked people. Shiva also ordained that the gana be worshipped along with his worship, and gave it the name Kirtimukha.
Hanuman and Rahu
HanumanHanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
, in his childhood, flew towards the sun, as it appeared to be a big fruit. The day was solar eclipse day, when Rahu was to swallow up the sun. Rahu arrived and saw Hanuman trying to swallow the sun; little Hanuman, seeing Rahu, was attracted to the curiosity of the disembodied head, and caught Rahu.
On another occasion, during the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
war, Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
imprisoned the Navagrahas. Hanuman arrived and released them. They were grateful to Hanuman, saying "people devoted to you are blessed by us too." All the grahas thanked Hanuman individually for releasing them. Thus, it is believed that Rahu's negative influence will be subdued when one worships Lord Hanuman.
Astrology
In Vedic astrologyJyotisha
Hindu astrology , also Jyotish or Jyotisha, from Sanskrit , from "light, heavenly body") is the ancient Indian system of astronomy and astrology...
Rahu is seen as an asura
Asura
-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asuras constitute a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic. The Daityas and Danavas were combinedly known as Asuras. The Asura were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa...
or demon who does his best to plunge any area of life he controls into chaos, mystery, and cruelty. He is associated with the world of material manifestation and worldly desire, as well as random, uncontrolled growth without wisdom or understanding.
Rahu is supposed to be a mighty and naughty child of māyā
Maya (illusion)
Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
(illusory power of nature), and thus has a lot of dualities attached to its mayavi (illusory) nature. It relates to the Seventh Ray energy of esoteric astrology
Esoteric astrology
Esoteric astrology is a branch of Astrology that focuses on the spiritual evolution of a person or groups of persons. Mundane astrology focuses on the personality, or one's individual identity...
, as it represents a force displaying all the possibilities within the realm of existence.
Various names assigned to Rahu in Vedic texts—the chief, the advisor of the demons, the minister of the demons, ever-angry, the tormentor, bitter enemy of the luminaries, lord of illusions, one who frightens the Sun, the one who makes the Moon lustreless, the peacemaker, the immortal (having drunk the divine nectar), bestower of prosperity and wealth and ultimate knowledge—give a clue to its basic energy and attributes.
Rahu can be considered the expert among the planets when it comes to scheming and plotting. It is the master of manipulation.
The astrological text Lāl Kitāb
Lal Kitab
Lal Kitab is a set of five books, written on a branch of Vedic astrology and palmistry. The treatise is based on ancient Vedic astrology and Samudrika Shastra...
makes an interesting point that if Jupiter and Venus are conjunct in a chart, they can together be treated as Rahu. This relates to the fact that Rahu acts as a bridge between Jupiter, the preceptor of the gods, and Venus, the preceptor of the demons.
Mining of petroleum also falls under the significations of Rahu according to Vedic astrology. Snake charmers and all other people whose lives are very much entwined with that of reptiles and snakes could be said to be under a heavy influence of Rahu.
Rahu governs all sorts of poisonous chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides, and disinfectants that are in use in the present times. It also governs all the substances with a strong pungent smell like
sulfur dioxide gas. In other words, Rahu has a role to play whenever a poisonous substance is involved.
There is no equal to Rahu when it comes to giving upliftment in name and fame or sudden luck at gambling, which is probably the reason why Western astrologers regard it as the greatest benefic force. The area in which this success is attained usually relates to the significations of the house Rahu is placed in. All the electric lights that illuminate our world in the nighttime can be said to be associated with Rahu. Rahu is known as the "artificial sun," which is fitting considering the introduction of electric lights, adding to the illusion and glamour of modern times. Rahu has in a way created its own artificial sun for its favoured time, the night.
Rahu's rulership, exaltation, debilitation, and mūlatrikoṇa are topics of controversy, as many views abound as to the sign that Rahu rules. The Western system refuses to assign Rahu the rulership of any sign. In Vedic astrology, different systems assign Rahu different signs regarding rulership, exaltation, and debilitation. In establishing the rulership, exaltation, and debilitation signs of Rahu, its relationship with other planets may be considered: Rahu is friends with Ketu, Saturn, Mercury and Venus. It is the enemy of Sun, Moon, Mars, and Jupiter. It is important to note that Rahu is more inimical to the Sun as compared to the Moon.
Rahu is lord of three nakshatra
Nakshatra
Nakshatra is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 sectors along the ecliptic...
s or lunar mansions: Ardra
Ardra
Ardra may refer to:* Ardra is the Goddess of good luck and fortune in Hindu mythology, and a nakshatra associated with the star Betelgeuse in Indian astronomy...
, Svati
Svati
Svati is the Sanskrit name of Arcturus, and also of the nakshatra associated with Arcturus in Hindu astrology....
and Shatabhisha
Shatabhisha
Shatabhisha, also known as Chathayam or Sadayam , or Shatabhishak or Shatataraka is the 24th nakshatra in Hindu astronomy. It corresponds to the star γ Aquarii...
. Rahu is associated with the following: its color is smoky, metal is lead, and its gemstone is honey-colored hessonite. Its element is air and its direction is southwest.
Worship of Rahu
There is a dedicated temple to Rahu - Naganatha Temple at ThirunageswaramThirunageswaram
Thirunageswaram is a panchayat town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thirunageswaram is located 8 km east of Kumbakonam.-Demographics:...
, Tamil Nadu
Temples of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is known as : Land of Temples. Nearly 33000 ancient temples - many at least 600 to 800 years old, scattered all over the land. Studded with complex architecture, variety of sculptures, & rich inscriptions - capture the very essence of the culture & heritage of Tamil land, historically...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. There is a milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
abhishekam everyday during Rahu Kaalam to appease Rahu. The milk turns light blue when it flows down after touching the statue of Rahu. This practise has been followed for over 1,500 years.
Rahu is also worshipped along with the other 9 planets in all Hindu temples in Burma. One complex of this nature, featuring statues of all nine planets, also exists in the Bhairav Mahadev Sthan in Gyaneswor, Kathmandu, Nepal. Phra Rahu, as he is called in Thailand, is worshipped in Wat Traimet in Chinatown, Bangkok, and also in Wat Yannawa, amongst other wats.
Remedies
Ants are also one of the favoured species of Rahu. In some parts of India feeding ants is considered one of the ways of propitiating Rahu.In Thailand, people offer a plate of black offering--black coffee, black Coke, black beans, black biscuits amongst other items to propitiate Phra Rahu, who they hold in very high regard. There is a shrine for Phra Rahu in Wat Traimet near Chinatown in Bangkok. The other Phra Rahu statue is in the Wat Yannawa, near the Saphan Taksin sky train station. A glass fish-bowl filled with white sugar balls on which ants are fed continuously is also kept in Thai businesses.
In Burma, the there are shrines of the nine planets in most Hindu temples, and puja ceremonies to propitiate all nine planets occur regularly on holy days.
Rāhu dān in remedial astrology
Articles for donation: mustard, radishes, blankets, sesame, lead, saffron, satnaja (a mixture of seven grains), and coal. The time to donate is Sunday morning. These articles are to be donated by a person facing the evil effects of Rahu, or if Rahu is not in a good position in one's horoscope.Sri Rahu Stotram with Meaning
(1)Rahur dhanavamanthri cha simhika chitha nandana,Ardha kaya, sada krodhi, chandradhithya vimardhana
(Rahu, Minister of Rakshasa, one who makes Simhika happy,
Half bodied one, one who is always angry,
Tormentor who troubles Sun and Moon)
(2)Roudhro rudhra priyo daithya swar bhanur , bhanur bheethidha,
Graha raja sudhapayee rakadhithyabhilashtaka.
(Angry one, Devotee of Rudhra, Ogre,
One who is near the Sun, one who terrifies the sun,
King of planets, one who got nectar ,
One who desires the moon and the sun)
(3)Kala drushti kala roopa ,sri kanta hrudayashraya,
Vidhunthudha saimhikeya , ghora roopo, maha bala.
(One who has death inflicting sight, one who likes death,
One who lives in the heart of Shiva, one who made moon dim,
One who is the son of ogress Simhika,
One who has terrifying form, One who is very strong)
(4)Graha peeda karo damshtri raktha nethro mahodhara,
Panchavimsathi namani sthuthwa rahum sada nara,
Ya paden mahathi peeda thasya nasyathi kevalam.
(One who torments planets, one who has big teeth,
One who has red eyes and one who has a big paunch,
If a man recites these twenty five names and prays to Rahu
And as soon as he reads big tormenting troubles vanish immediately)
(5)Aarogyam putham athulam sriyam dhanyam pasum sthadha,
Dadhathi rahu sthasmai thu ya padeth sthothramuthamam.
(Health , incomparable sons, wealth , cereals and animals
Would be given to him by Rahu , to the one who reads this great prayer)
(6)Sathatham padathe yasthu jeeveth , varsha satham nara.
(The man who reads this regularly would live for one hundred years)
(7) Aum Rang Rahuve Namah Aum
(It is usually used in Hindu black magic to develop paranormal powers)
Buddhism
Rahu is mentioned explicitly in a pair of scriptures from the Samyutta NikayaSamyutta Nikaya
The Samyutta Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the third of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism. Because of the abbreviated way parts of the text are written, the total number of suttas is...
of the Pali Canon
Pāli Canon
The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the only completely surviving early Buddhist canon, and one of the first to be written down...
. In the Candima Sutta and the Suriya Sutta, Rahu attacks Chandra
Chandra
In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and...
the moon deity and Suriya the sun deity before being compelled to release them by their recitation of a brief stanza conveying their reverence for the Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
. The Buddha responds by enjoining Rahu to release them, which Rahu does rather than have his "head split into seven pieces". The verses recited by the two celestial deities and the Buddha have since been incorporated into Buddhist liturgy as protective verses (paritta
Paritta
Paritta , generally translated as "protection" or "safeguard," refers to the Buddhist practice of reciting certain verses and scriptures in order to ward off evil fortune or dangerous conditions, as well as to the specific verses and discourses recited as paritta texts...
) recited by monks as prayers of protection.
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Rahu (or Rāhula; Tib. gza) is considered to have been subjugated by Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava ; Mongolian ловон Бадмажунай, lovon Badmajunai, , Means The Lotus-Born, was a sage guru from Oddiyāna who is said to have transmitted Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet and neighbouring countries in the 8th century...
, becoming one of the principle protectors of the Dzogchen
Dzogchen
According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of the mind, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by...
teachings, particularly the Longchen Nyingthik. He is usually depicted with nine heads and a thousand eyes all over his dark-colored body. In his four arms he holds a bow and arrow, and often a lasso and victory banner. He is wrathful in appearance, ablaze with fire, and his lower body has the form of a snake. Rāhula is a sa, a class of deities associated with the heavenly bodies.
See also
- Black Sun (mythology)Black Sun (mythology)The Black Sun in Mesoamerican mythology has many mystical meanings, among them it is connected to the god Quetzalcoatl and his penetration in the Underworld through the west door after his diurnal passage on the sky. Amidst the Mexicas there were two suns, the young day sun and the ancient sun,...
- Five Suns (mythology)Five SunsFive Suns is an album by progressive rock group Guapo released in 2003.- Track listing :#Five Suns, Pt. 1 #Five Suns, Pt. 2 #Five Suns, Pt. 3 #Five Suns, Pt. 4 #Five Suns, Pt...
- KetuKetu (mythology)Ketu is the descending lunar node. 'Ketu' is said to be the body of Rahu, after the head of the asura was cut off by God Vishnu. In Hindu mythology, Ketu is generally referred to as a "shadow" planet. It is believed to have a tremendous impact on human lives and also the whole creation...
- Kirtimukha
- NavagrahaNavagrahaGraha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
- SerpentSerpentSerpent may refer to:* Serpent, a synonym for snake* Serpent , the name given to a snake in a religious or mythological context* Serpent , said to have tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden* Serpent in astronomy...
- Sol (mythology)Sol (mythology)Sol was the solar deity in Ancient Roman religion. It was long thought that Rome actually had two different, consecutive sun gods. The first, Sol Indiges, was thought to have been unimportant, disappearing altogether at an early period. Only in the late Roman Empire, scholars argued, did solar cult...
- SvarbhānuSvarbhānuSvarbhānu or Swarbhanu is a Hindu Asura traditionally held responsible for solar eclipses in Vedic mythology. The name is also used as an attribute of the demon Rahu in Puranic mythology, who is also connected to solar eclipses.-Mythology:Svarbhānu is described as an asura twice in the Family...