The INVISIBLE planets : Rahu Ketu in Libra/Aries on 23 Dec 2012 Mesh & Tula Raashi

The invisible planets : Rahu - Dragon's Head and Ketu - Dragon's Tail : Part 1

Many of us think that Rahu and Ketu are planets unlike the others in solar system, in fact they are not. There is no physical existence of Rahu and Ketu as planetary body in the solar system. In astrology science the Rahu and Ketu are treated as planets but in fact they are technically considered as imaginary point. The effect of Rahu more like as Saturn and effect of Ketu more like as Mars. The moon revolves across the earth and earth revolves across the Sun. 

The moon in its orbit when crosses the path of Sun on Northern course from South to North, that point is called as Rahu and 180 degree away to it when moon crosses the path of Sun on Southern course, that point is called as Ketu.  You can say that the North node of the moon is called Rahu and South node of the moon is called Ketu. More simpler the point of intersection of the path of Sun and Moon from North and South course can be termed as Rahu and Ketu.

Figure 1

The points Rahu and Ketu thus are relevant when there is a solar or a lunar eclipse as said in astrology that Rahu causes eclipse to sun and Ketu causes eclipse to moon.

Talking astrology Rahu - the dragon's head is associated with the worldly desires and Ketu - the dragon's tail is associated with other worldly desires or spirituality. The Rahu and Ketu are located 180 degree to each other, same way its reflected in the horoscope across two signs seen 180 degree to each other. It stays in one sign for 1.5 years approximately. These are the only planets which always move in a opposite transit with respect to other planets. That is why we always refer Rahu and Ketu in astrology as Vakri planets. i.e moving in opposite transit as compared to other planets.

Eg : Sun moves from sign Aries to Taurus to Gemini to Cancer to Leo .. to .. to Pisces and their motion / movement is termed as Maargi (moving forward)

Rahu/Ketu will move form  Pisces to.. to .. to .. Leo to Cancer to Gemini to Taurus to Aries in backward direction and their motion / movement is termed as Vakri (moving backward)

Fig. 2  : Depecting Forward and Backword motion.
Maargi : Forward movement of Sun in respective sign
Vakri : Backward  movement of Rahu-Ketu in signs

Currently Rahu is in Scorpio sign and Ketu in Taurus and on coming 23rd Dec 2012 they will transit backward as Rahu in Libra - Tula raashi and Ketu in Aries - Mesh Raashi.

To be continued ....