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Rahu - Ketu
Rahu - Ketu
The great poet Kalidas in his script Uttar Kalamrita also accepted Rahu exalted in Taurus and Ketu
in Scorpio but he considered Gemini as mooltrikona for Rahu and Virgo for Ketu as well as own
sign Aquarius for Rahu and Scorpio for Ketu while other astrologers expressed their ambiguity on
this issue. A comprehensive view of different astrologers on exalted, mooltrikona and own signs of
Rahu and Ketu appears in the box. Similarly, there is an ambiguity for their aspect. Some consider
their aspect like Mars (4, 7 & 8) while some consider like Saturn (3, 7, & 10) and others consider
like Jupiter (5, 7 & 9th).
As per experiences, in ones horoscope, Rahu is considered powerful to bestow fortune and success
when exists in Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo and Aquarius while Ketu, inturn, is
powerful in the opposite signs, ie, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricon, Aquarius and Pisces.
Although Rahu considers the lumaniries Sun and Moon as his enemy, but impart successful results
in their signs, Cancer and Leo. However, Kalidas considered Cancer and Leo as enemy of Rahu and
Ketu. Rahu is a friend of Mercury, saturn and Ketu but Sun, Mars and Venus are his enemy and
Moon and Jupiter are neutral to him. If Sun and Venus or Sun and Saturn associate together in a
sign, Rahu is considered to provide adverse results. In this state Rahu spoils the good traits of his
house and the native observes obstacles in the path of progress and success. The cojunction of
Saturn-Rahu vitiates the horoscope with Shrapit Yoga which is responsible for tremendous
difficulties in the life of the native.
In general, Rahu carries the positive and beneficial tone of Jupiter and hence stands for growth and
development and self help while Ketu expresses the restrictions and obstacles of Saturn and hence
thought to restrict growth. In this way Rahu represents positive objectives and Ketu denotes the easy
way out with little opportunity for growth. Thus Rahu signifies materialism and desires, whereas
Ketu signifies spiritual tendencies and process of the refinement of materialization to spirit but
obstacles in the material realm. Rahu is considered to be wile, deceitful and dishonest. After all,
Rahu did succeed in tricking Vishnu in serving him immortal nectar. Therefore, Rahu is described as
a liar, foul mouth and full of criticism about others. He creates psychiatric disorders and other
diseases of mind, especially when conjunct with Moon. However, if well placed in ones horoscope,
Rahu gives courage, prestige and fame. It can bring out extraordinary qualities in terms of
supernatural in an individual. Rahus negative tendencies such as to destroy intelligence can be
removed by strengthening Mercury which represents intellect. Perhaps this is the reason that Rahu is
considered beneficial in Mercurys sign, Gemini and Virgo.
Ketu is considered both malefic and benefic, as it causes sorrow and loss, and yet at the same time it
turns the individual to God and the final liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Therefore, Ketu
is an indicator of intelligence, wisdom, non-attachment, penetrating insight, derangement, and
psychic abilities. Despite of such negative characteristics, we survive with the wrath of these evil
planets because they are bound to affect one or more houses in our horoscopes.
Rahu-Ketus placement in horoscope
Since Rahu and Ketu do not own any particular house, the question is how do they impart their good
or bad effects ? The answer was given by Maharishi Parashar in 13th and 21st dictum of Laghu
Parashari that they act as per their position in house as well as association and relationship with
planets.
hemmed by malefics such as Sun, Mars or Saturn then discord of married life and even danger to the
life of life partner is most likely to occure. In my experience, multiple marriages of the native have
been observed. In 1st house Ketu in adverse position is not conducive to health, religious and
cheritable thinking and working.
In the chart of Salman Rushdie, an Indian-British novelist and essayist, the 7th house is vitiated by
Rahu-Venus conjunction which is responsible for that Rushdie is fond of women and practically has
been married four times.
Rahu-Ketu axis in 2nd and 8th houses : The Second house signifies tangible assets such as finances
and intangible assets such as eye sight, memory, tongue and eloquecy. Profoundly, this is a place of
accumulation of wealth, education, honor and longevity where this axis is not considered good.
Because, if either node is afflicted (by any of Sun, Mars, Saturn) or associated by Venus, the native
develops bad habits and his tongue is not praise-worthy. Businessmen, if have such afficted RahuKetu axis in 2nd and 8th houses, should be aware of heavy loss of wealth.
Rahu-Ketu axis in 3rd and 9th houses : The 3rd house signifies courage to implement the
intelligence, younger brothers and sisters and short journeys while 9th house is a place of destiny.
The axis in these houses gives a sharp, courageous, inventive mind, progressive attitude and
dedication to work. Thus Rahu-Ketu do well in these houses, where they give lot of money,
movement in a direction selected to proceed towards progress, victory and success. The person
wears a golden crown, a symbol of richness, power and triumph. When Rahu-Ketu are in 3rd and 9th
houses and malefics in 6th and/or 8th, the axis cannot be considered good for longevity of the native
as well as his younger brothers. If some-how the 3rd and 9th houses are bad, the 5th will also prove
bad. If the 9th is occupied by Sun or Moon, then Rahu or Ketu in the 5th will neither affect the
issues of the native or the native himself adversely. Rahu or Ketu in watery sign in 9th house
provide opportunity for foreign travel.
The role of Rahu-Ketu in 3rd and 9th houses in ones life can be illustrated by considering the chart
of Adolf Hitler, born in a poor family but was a veteran of world war 1 and got leadership of the
Nazi party in Germany. In his chart, Rahu occupies Gemini sign in 9th house, a trine place and
receives benign aspect of Moon and Jupiter. This is one of the best positions of Rahu in a horoscope,
under the influence of which the native gets name, fame, prosperity, position, bravery, prowess and
triumph in social and political arrays. Hitler had progmatic ideas rather than dogmatic and hence
passion to do work of valour. He promoted nationalism, antisemitism and anticommunism with his
charismatic oratory and then on the morning of 30th Jan 1933, in the period of Rahu-Jupiter, he
sworn in as Chancellor of Germany. In his life, Rahus period was commenced in March 1933 for 18
years. It bizare that Hitler committed suicide on 30th April 1945 in the period of Rahu-Moon, why?
Rahu is at 7th position (fatal place) from Moon.
Similarly, the chart of Industrialist Dhiru Bhai Ambani shows Rahu-Ketu axis in 3rd and 9th houses.
The native was born in a family of poor school teacher but planetary forces made him ambitious,
materialistic, desirous of status and power and infact he was proved goal oriented. No one can have
as much energy.
Rahu-Ketu axis in 4th and 10th houses : This a very sensitive place of the horoscope which signifies
property, conveyance, domestic happiness and wellbeings of mother. Vedic astrology does not
considere this axis good in 4th house but Lal Kitab considers good. Phaldeepica says that with Rahu
in 4th house, the native will have a short span of life and seldom happiness. Similarly, Mansagari
does not depict good results, ie, the native shall be devoid of wealth, happiness and paternal
property. Actually, these adverse consequences are observed when the node is influenced by another
malefic such as Sun, Mars or Saturn. I have found that Sun-Rahu Mars-Rahu and Saturn-Rahu in 4th
house squeeze the fragrance of life. A male native of a chart with Sun-Mercury-Venus-Saturn-Rahu
could not accumulate wealth, property and conveyances, however, he is bestowed with good family.
A female native with Mars-Rahu in 4th house could not avail domestic and marital happiness
through out her life. According to Lal Kitab 4th house belongs to Moon which is an enemy of Rahu.
If Rahu is alone (free from afliction) in 4th house and Moon is strong, the native would be
intelligent, wealthy, prosperous and enjoying comfortable life. If Rahu is malefic and Moon is weak
then the native would lead his life full of poverty and devoid of maternal happiness.
Rahu-Ketu axis in 5th and 11th houses : 5th house is a place of intelligence, luck, speculation and
progeny while 11th house is of material gain. Lord of either an angle or a trine in 5th house bestows
Rajyoga to the native and, therefore, he would be induced to use his potential for spiritual and
matreial gain. Such persons will be noble, learned, courageous and successful in their life. If Rahu or
Ketu be placed in the 5th and there are inimical planets in the 8th then strokes of misfortune will hit
the native through the 11th house. The relatives indicated by the planets of the 5th and 8th houses
will also be affected. In this situation the earnings of the native will also be affected very adversely,
if the 2nd house is empty. Nothing will be able to save the native. Now the planets of the 10th and
5th will also turn to be malefic whatever be their natural character. Ketus placement in eleventh and
twelfth house is considered extremely auspicious, where it gives results to make a persons worth
equivalent to that of kings.
If Rahu and Ketu are with either Sun or Moon in 5th, 6th, 8th or 12th house, Pitru Dosha appears
which destroys the benefics of the horoscope of the native and create obstacles in the path of his
progress.
Rahu-Ketu axis in 6th and 12th houses : In horoscope, 6th house denotes debt, disease, enemy,
mental worries, extravagance, obstacles and calamity in life while 12th house signifies expenditure,
loss, confinement, conjugal relations, secret enemy, conspiracy, foreign travels, divine knowledge,
emancipation and renunciation. Since 6th house is considered a place of Virgo sign ruled by
Mercury and12th house a place of Picease ruled by Jupiter, Rahu in 6th is in a state of exaltation and
Ketu in 12th house is an indication of emancipation and renunciation. It is observed that Rahu-Ketu
axis in 6th and 12th houses confers the potential for good judgement of how to struggle in life. Such
natives have outstanding organisational and administrative capabilities and hence conquer enemies
in either battlefield of business, politics and administration. The axis gives opportunities of foreign
travel. Ketu in sixth house is a good placement in making an individual generous and famous. Infact,
in 12th either node when is free from Mars and Venus but receives aspect of divine Jupiter, initiates
the native towards spiritualism who triumph himself over materialism. According to Lal Kitab 12th
house is Pakka Ghar of Rahu, from where the native gains divine knowledge. but, if at this place,
Rahu is associated with Mars or Venus, then these adverse associations indice the native towards
extravegance. Such natives get entangled in licentious activities and then they are stray dogs (drown
in debt and disease).
For illustration if we consider the charts of Nehru family, we find Rahu-Ketu axis in 6th and 12th
houses in the charts of Pt. Motilal, Pt. Jawaharlal, Smt Indira Gandhi and Sh Rajiv Gandhi. All of
them faced a lot of struggle in their life and scaled high of name and fame as a major political leader
of the Congress Party, a pivotal figure in the Indian independence movement and Prime Ministers of
India (not Pt Motilal).They were a key figure in international politics as well as one of the most
influential forces in Indian politics.