An introduction to the Navagrahas ... Spotlight on Rahu and Ketu

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Here is the last in the series on the Navagrahas... Rahu and Ketu. My

sincere thanks to Ruk for the transcript of the talk with Swamiji... The

complete transcript is found in the Files section of the group under the

folder "Other texts"

 

JAI MAA

Nanda

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Rahu (North node)

Mantra: Om Aim Hrim Rahave Namah

 

Rahu is likened to "Too Much" and "Self Conceit"

(towards excess).

 

Ketu (South Node)

Mantra: Om Hrim Aim Ketave Namah

 

Ketu represents "Too Little" and "Self Deprecation".

 

A story ……....... Now the Gods were churning the ocean, (the ocean

of all the possibilities) the nectar of immortality and the oddess

Dhanvantari was holding the vessel of immortality.

 

Of course, there was a scuffle between the Gods and Asuras. They were

fighting hard and ultimately the Asuras got hold of the vessel. The Gods

felt they were doomed and called Lord Vishnu in great earnest to get

back the nectar. Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini. The Asuras could

not resist Mohini and obediently followed her instruction to sit down

while she distributed the nectar.

 

Now Mohini certainly did not want to hand over the nectar of immortality

to Asuras! Instead she gave wine to the Asuras. When Rahu (commander in

chief of the Asuras) saw that the Asuras were getting wine, he disguised

himself and joining the line of the Gods started drinking the nectar.

The Moon and the Sun seeing this deception, called out to Mohini that he

was an Asura.

Immediately Mohini took her form of Lord Vishnu and pulling out his

discus cut off Rahu's head before he could drink all the nectar.

 

The severed head (Rahu) and the body (Ketu) are the north node and south

node respectively. All the opposites are in their domain. So when we

propitiate them we are not really calling them as chiefs of the Asuras.

We are calling upon them as forces of attraction and opposition, so they

can bring harmony.

 

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