Saturday 2 July 2011

The Mystery of Rahu & Ketu

Long ago, there was a great war between the Asuras (demons) and the Devas (gods). The Devas were routed in the war and they went to Lord Brahma to seek his help. Brahma told them to churn the ocean, as a result of which they would be able to obtain Amrit (nectar) which would make them immortal and all powerful. After consuming it, they would be able to defeat the Asuras. Churning the ocean was a very big job and so the Devas sought the help of the Asuras. The king of the serpents, Vasuki, was to become the rope, while a hill named Mandrachal offered to become the pivot. Lord Vishnu, in the form of a tortoise, became the base and the churning process began.

The Devas held the tail of Vasuki and the Asuras held the head. Various things came out, during this churning of the ocean. There was a pot of Vish (poison) which created havoc in all the three worlds. Lord Shiva drank the poison to save the world, but he did not let the poison go beyond his neck which became blue in color. That is why Lord Shiva is also called 'Neelkant' ("One with a blue neck").

At last Dhanvantri came out with a pot of Amrit and immediately, there was a mad scramble for it among the Devas and the Asuras. Seeing this, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini (a beautiful dancer) who offered her services in distributing the Amrit equally to both the Asuras and Devas. She made both of them sit in two different rows but she gave the Amrit to the Devas only.

Towards the end, one of the Asuras saw through her trick. He went and sat among the Devas and drank the Amrit. The moment Chandra (Moon) and Surya (Sun), who were sitting beside him, saw that he was an Asura, they informed Mohini. Lord Vishnu came in his real form and let out the Sudarshan Chakra (wheel) at the Asura. The Asura's neck was separated from his body, but he did not die, as he had drunk the Amrit. His head was called 'Rahu' and his torso 'Ketu'. According to legend, Rahu and Ketu swallowed the moon and sun to have their revenge, thereby causing an eclipse

Rahu
Ardha-kayam maha-viryam, chandra ditya veemar-danam Seeng-hee-ka garba sambootam, tam rahum prana-mam mya-ham.

I offer my obeisance to Rahu, born from the womb of Simhika, who has only half a body yet posses great power, being able to subdue the Sun and the Moon.

Ketu
Palasha-pushpa-sankasham, taraka-graha masta-kam Rowdram row-drat makam goram, tam keytoom prana-mam mya-ham

I offer my obeisance to the violent and fearsome Ketu, who is gifted with the strength of Lord Shiva. Resembling in his complexion the flower of a palasa plant, he serves as the head of the stars and planets.

<span> PRAYER TO RAHU

Some Oriental scholars both of India and of the west hardly know that the stotras or Sanskrit hymns, poems, stanzas or poetical compositions give valuable clues, mostly predictive astrological clues about the planets. Here is a very fine, celebrated poem on Rahu with approximate English transliteration and the meaning given below it:
Rahurdnava Mantri Cha Simhikachittanandah! Ardhakayah Sada Krodhi Chandraditya Vimardanah!! (1)
O! Giver of happiness to Simhika (his mother), minister of demons, half-bodied, Rahu is the tormentor of the Sun and the Moon.
Roudro Rudrapriyo Daityah Swarbhanurbhanur Bheetidah! Graharajah Sudhapayi Rakatikshyabhilashuka!! (2)
Terrible looking, devotee of Lord Shiva, king among planets, immortal because he has drunk nectar, Rahu who frightens the sun feels happy when he is worshipped at night.
Kaaldrishti Kaalroopa Shri Kantha Hridayaasrayah! Vidhuntudah Saimhikayo Ghorarupo Mahabalah!! (3)
His sight is death-inflicting: his looks are Death-like: he resides in the heart of Lord Neelakantha (Lord Shiva): has made the Moon lustreless. The son of Simhika is all powerful.
Grahapeedakaro Dranshtri Rakta netro Mahodarah! Panchavimsati Namaani Smritava Rahum Sadanarah!! (4)
He who torments planets, has big whiskers, has blood red eyes, beg bellied (hard to satisfy) these are the twenty five names of Rahu.
Yeh Pathet Mahati Peeda Tasya Nashyati Kevalam! Arogyam Putramtulam Shriyam Dhanyam Pashumtatha!! (5)
He, who recites these names, overcomes his troubles by a mere recitation of these names, gets sons, good health, prosperity, agricultural and cattle, wealth.
DadatiRahustasmai Yah Pathet Stotram Uttamam! Satatam Pathet Yastu Jeevat Varsham Shatam Narah!! (6)
He who recites this stotras constantly gets his wishes fulfilled and lives up to the age of one hundred years (long age). That is the fruit of reciting this hymn.
Note: Please note that it is very difficult to write Sanskrit (The Language of Gods) words in English script. Hence please consult good Devanagari Script books to pronunciate/practice to get exact phonetics chantings and mantra sound vibrations. ."</span>
Kaal means Death. The person born under Kaal Sarpa Yoga passes through a lot of difficult phases like death threatening situation. The Kaal Sarp Yog is formed when all the planets are present in between Rahu and Ketu. According to Indian astrology, there are many types of Kaal Sarpa Yogas. If all seven planets come between Rahu & Ketu then it is not good. The person who takes birth in this Yoga faces different kind of problems and instability in life like disturbances in mind, loss in business, family problems etc. A person, who has Kaal Sarpa Yoga in the horoscope always fear from death, suffers from tensions and insecurity.


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