Rahugraham (the northern node)

Life is an incessant process of phases followed by episodes till the last breath that may vary in terms of gravity, intensity and the multi-dimensional vicissitudes.  The vagaries continue to ceaselessly show its presence conspicuously by moving towards progression or retrogression.  Like Love, Luck is also blind.  The quirk of fate can exchange a beggar’s bowl into a king’s peg of wine or vice-versa. These phases and episodes of life we witness every day and the surprising fact heart to heart we accept these terming it as ‘destiny or fate’.

In astrological perspective such quirk of fate is termed as “Yog”. These Yogas have been illustrated in the Granth written on astrological significance by our known revered sages like Parashara, Karg, Brigu, Gemini and others in a scientific and systematic manner for the humans and the subject matter serves as a mirror.  Astrology is a subject that draws a line of demarcation between a beneficial or non-beneficial period based on the configuration of planets from the time of birth by following certain yardstick based on a methodology proven by experience, expertise to not only foretell but also suggesting ways and means of overcoming the non-beneficial period as well making the beneficial period with more gains by following some life style changes.

The Planet associated with bringing such catastrophic changes in life is none other than the Rahu (A serpent with the Head ‘of a demon and body of a snake).  Rahu is termed as “Yogacarak” the one who has the potentialities of turning an atheist to a theist and vice-versa bringing radical changes in life and the style of living.  The Rahu is also called “Chayagrah” the one that is not visible to eyes, a shadowy planet, probably something like the ozone layer that helps the inhabitants of earth to lead life by percolating the sun rays and sending to earth with the requisite heat for existence of human and other species.  

Rahu unlike other planets doesn’t have any identified zodiac signs or termed as Lord of a zodiac sign.  Whatever Zodiac sign it occupies, till such time it doesn’t transit to next zodiac sign that zodiac sign is ruled by Rahu for example at present Rahu is in Pieces, till such time it moves to Aquarius, Pieces is ruled by Rahu.  The movement of Rahu is only retrograde and no forward motion. It transits from one Zodiac sign to another every one and a half year i.e. 18 months.  Rahu and Ketu both Planets move in retrograde maintaining 180 degrees from one another in all 12 Zodiac signs.

Rahu has three dedicated stars viz., Ardra, Swathi and Shatabishankh and has a mahadasa of 18years.  Any native born under the above three stars, their life commences with Rahu Mahadasa to a maximum of 18 years depending upon the sharan the native has taken birth in the respective star.  Rahu as per astrological perspective is said to be beneficial when it occupies 3^rd, 6^th or 11^thHouse in the birth chart.   It is rightly said that it is very difficult to benefit a native the way Rahu does, similar is its malefic results.  The colour of Rahu is Black.  For purpose of understanding “Shani samedha Rahu”, the characteristics of ruling of Rahu is somewhat like Shani.   The Mahadasa of Rahu in a natives life is full of surprises, when positive native will benefit with sudden unexpected gains with relatively less hard work, travel to overseas with generally good results(3 planets are generally responsible for moving native from mother land to foreign land, these are Moon, Mars and Rahu), getting benefits through trading, betting, lottery, share market, sudden gain from maternal ancestral property through will/business, when negative can cause severe accidents, mental disorders that are not easily identified leading to disorganized life, remaining perturbed, sleeplessness, native is more active during night hours, witnessing very horrifying dreams, Paralysis, total lethargy as a result life is witnessing procrastination of all activities be personal or career oriented, animosity at work place, repeated arguments with family members, neighbours and at work spot, witnessing para-normal activities.  

The treaty illustrates when “Saagarmanthan” was performed Mantragiri Parbat was placed in the Ocean and Serpent Vasuki was tied as rope to churn out precious elements that were hidden beneath the ocean.  Both Devas and Asuras pulled the snake lots of things emerged from the Ocean and finally dhanwantri emerged with a pot in hand containing the “Nectar”.  Mahavishnu took the Avatar of “Mohini” and distributed the Nectar to Devas avoiding Asuras.  A demon by name “Simhekeyan” son of “Simhika changed as Deva and sat in between Sun and the Moon, he was identified and Mahavishnu took his Sudarshan Chakra and be headed Simhekeyan bye the bye he had consumed, and it was stuck at his neck region the body was cut into two pieces.  As they had consumed Nectar the two parts of the same body became imperishable and immortal.  Subsequently, they were termed as Rahu and Ketu.  By dint of severe penance of Lord Shiva both got a place with certain duties to perform in grahamandala.  As the nectar has got into the body and Rahu has only head of a demon, Rahu tends to not generally accept the principles of living, Rahu will ensure to break all laws and principles that are generally accepted in a societal living.

Considering the profoundness of Rahu Ved Vyas gave the following Sloka for chanting and the meaning is given beneath the sloka :-

Ardh Kayam Mahaveeram Chandraditya Vimartakam

Simhika Garbha Sammbudham tham Rahum Pranamamayaham

ॐ अर्द कायम महावीरं चन्द्रादित्य विमर्दनम्

सिम्हिकागर्भ सम्बोधं तं राहुं प्रणामम्यहं

Rahu the one who has half a body, full of valour, who opposes Chandra and Surya without fear, the One who was born from Simhika’s womb, I prostrate to that Rahu.

Considering the uniqueness of Rahu Brahma Shri Muthuswamy Dikshitar gave the following Kirtana of Rahu which is in Raag Ramapriya said to Roopaka Taala.

स्मराम्यहं सदा - रागं रमा मनोहरि - ताळं रूपकम्

पल्लवि
स्मराम्यहं सदा राहुं
सूर्य चन्द्र वीक्ष्यं विकृत देहम्

अनुपल्लवि
सुरासुरं रोग हरं सर्पादि भीति हरं
(मध्यम काल साहित्यम्)
शूर्पासन सुख-करं शूलायुध धर करम्

चरणम्
कराळ वदनं कठिनं
कयानार्ण करुणार्द्रापाङ्गं
चतुर्भुजं खड्ग खेटादि धरणं
(मध्यम काल साहित्यम्)
चर्मादि नील वस्त्रं गोमेदकाभरणं
शनि शुक्र मित्र गुरु गुह सन्तोष-करणम्

Rahu has a deformed body, the one seen with Sun and Moon (Surya Chandra) I always meditate of that Rahu.  

The Rahu is one who is Deva as well Asura, who can remove disease, the one who dispels the fear of serpents, the one seated at ease on a winnow and the one holding trident (trishul) in hand.

The one with a fierce face, the cruel one, the one who is full of compassion when praised or chanted with Mantras “Kayana” (it is a veda mantra Kayana Chitra Abubhadudhi sadha vritassadha Kaaya SachistayaVrita), the one having four arms, the wielder of sword & shield, the wearer of Blue garments made of skin, the one adorned with the precious gem Gomedh (hessonite),the friend of Saturn and Venus (Shani Shukra)the One who delights the Guruguha.

Dikshitar has brought lots of trivial and utmost significant fact to surface; the Serpent has special powers to cure many illnesses and disorders that form part of advising the entire gamut of societal living and the Vedokta Mantra “Kayana chitra”.

Even when we chant the following mantras108 times a day brings some relief during the non-beneficial phase of Rahu:-

ॐ अमृतः राहु केतवे नमः

ॐ ब्रह्मा बृं ब्रौवं स रहवे नमः

ॐ नागध्वजाय विद्महे पद्महस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो राहुः प्रचोदयात् ||

Bhagya has its place in relation to Karma.  Bhagya gives spot benefic results coupled with yog, it makes the native rising star wherever he lives or works.  When Rahu the yogkarak, extends his bliss the native gets far reaching materialistic gains besides he is in Company of spiritually oriented souls and at times undergoes severe learning of Dev iUpasana, whereby, the native can dispel his karmic debts through spiritual& esoteric growth to an altogether different higher levels of consciousness.

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