Rahu

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Rahu is the ascending lunar node. In Hindu mythology, Rahu is a snake that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a dragon with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses.

According to legend, during the Samudra manthan, the asura Rahu drank some of the divine nectar. But before the nectar could pass his throat, Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu) 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.

There is another lila of Shiva and Rahu probably taken from Sivapuranam which is paraphrased by Joseph Campbell in his book The Power of Myth. Ganna Chakra also paraphrases this myth:

In the myth of the Daitya king Jalandhara, Jalandhara sends Rahu with a message to Shiva, demanding that he surrender Parvati 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 gana pleaded to Shiva that it was tortured by hunger. Shiva told the gana that if it was 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.[1]

Rahu is one of the navagrahas (nine planets). The rahu kala is considered inauspicious.

In Buddhism Rahu is one of the krodhadevatas (terror-inspiring gods).

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[edit] Astronomy

Astronomically, Rahu and Ketu denotes the two points of intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon as they move on the celestial sphere. Therefore, Rahu and Ketu are respectively called the north and the south lunar nodes. The fact that Eclipses occur when Sun and Moon are at one of these points gives rise to the myth of the swallowing of the Sun.

[edit] References

Chakra, Ganna (date unknown). The Ganas: Hooligans of Heaven. http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/tt_gannas.html (accessed: Friday, 30 March 2007)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/tt_gannas.html (accessed: Friday, 30 March 2007)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Indian epic poetry
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