Graha (Planet)draftschool: jyotisha· Bṛhat Saṁhitā

Rahu (north lunar node)

Rāhu

also: Tamas, the eclipse-demon's head

gra-rahu

Definition

Rahu, the ascending/north lunar node and eclipse-causer (treated at BS V, Rahu-cara); in rulership governs cave-dwellers, barbarians, the cruel and deceitful, and blackgram & sesamum (XVI).
Classical

Prāṇa relevance

Governs sesamum (flo-tila) and blackgram and 'those in the womb' and 'all sleepy beings' — faint body/embryo touches; not traced. See cnx-0046.

Cross-book attributes (29) — fill / concur / diverge

Dosha AffinityDiverges

Sources differ — both values shown; never overwritten.

txt-frawley-astrology-seersbook p.212, p.215Modern
vata (air humor)
txt-frawley-astrology-seersThe Lunar Nodes (book p.101), quoting Parashari 3.30Traditional
dos-vata (airy). Parashari 3.30 (quoted): 'he is airy (vata) in constitution.'

claimed-classical: BPHS 3.30. FILLS Book-1 DEFERRED dosha_affinity (was fully DEFERRED in Book 1).

ElementDiverges

Sources differ — both values shown; never overwritten.

txt-frawley-astrology-seersbook p.215Modern
air
txt-frawley-astrology-seersElements of the Planets (book p.71)Traditional
ele-vayu (air — 'said to be like Saturn and is more specifically airy'); 'like Saturn, it can give the dark side of earth energy' (secondary earth).

claimed-classical table. FILLS Book-1 DEFERRED. Shadowy planet — element judged via associated planets.

AdhidevataFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
Durga, Goddess of Power (ruling deity / adhidevata)
Benefic Or MaleficFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
Greater Malefic (natural status), paired with Saturn — 'usually the most malefic force in the chart.' Like Saturn (Vedic); Western astrology equates with Jupiter (flagged divergence).
Bija MantraFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
OM RAM (rahm); also HUM (hoom), Shiva's mantra, which destroys illusions
Direction GovernedFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
Southwest (both schemes agree)
Direction Governed SvobodaFilledper txt-svoboda-vastu
SOUTHWEST — 'Southwest is presided over by Rāhu and Ketu, the Moon's Nodes.' The Nodes are 'the bailiwick' of the SW, which 'symbolizes Space and Earth'. [graha-dik roster — SW shared by BOTH nodes]
Directional ConfluenceFilledper txt-svoboda-vastu
Rāhu (with Ketu) rules the SOUTHWEST corner-confluence: SW = Earth + tamas + Rāhu/Ketu (under Nirṛti); SW light has 'a southwestern, tamasic tinge', 'chaotic and stiffly resistant to change'. Rāhu contributes VĀTA to SW (shared with Saturn); the Nodes 'rule wildness', exaggeration, misperception, confusion, insight/ingenuity/inspiration/imagination (good for think-tanks). Rāhu rules ultraviolet, agate, web/film/TV ventures. SW = mineral kingdom, storage, sleep, ancestors.
Dosha Affinity SvobodaFilledper txt-svoboda-vastu
vāta
ExaltationFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
20°00' Taurus (Vrishabha) — one view; OR Gemini (Mercury's sign) by other Vedic astrologers
GunaFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
gun-tamas (grouped with Mars/Saturn/Ketu as tamasic).
Guna SvobodaFilledper txt-svoboda-vastu
tamas ('strongly tamasic'; being shadows/embodiments of darkness)
House Significator OfFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
joint significator with Saturn; special significator of foreigners, judged relative to the 6th house
Name MantraFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
OM RAHAVE NAMAHA
Natural SignificationsFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
Disease, psychic disturbances, collective trends, mass disturbances, epidemics (key-indicator list, p.75); also: insanity/neurosis/neurological disorders, possession & black magic, drugs, the negative Moon (shadow of the mind), worldly desire/fame/mass influence; the eclipse-demon's head, north/ascending node.
Numerology NumberFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
8 (dispersion and new beginnings)
Permanent FriendsFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
(Rahu/Ketu) friends: Mercury, Venus, Saturn; neutral: Mars; enemies: Sun, Moon, Jupiter — many astrologers do not reckon node relationships, or use the dispositor's
PratyadhidevataFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
Sarpa, the Serpent God (over-ruler)
Psychological SignificationsFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
The faculty of DESIRE-ILLUSION (the subconscious projecting power): 'the illusion power of our unfulfilled desires' operating at a subconscious level to distort perception. This 'projection force of the mind' is a powerful CREATIVE force that, once mastered, can be used for creative meditation. Rahu is the challenge to master one's secret wishes and 'to accept what is, the present, as the truth.' In the reintegration Yoga, Rahu is where we 'confront again the hidden side of life and the psyche' — eradicating the seeds of falsehood from the deepest recesses, facing 'all the ghosts and demons of our subconscious', the elemental fears and desires, habits, addictions and dependencies on the world of appearances.
Remedial ColorFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
bright yellow/gold (like Jupiter) and red/orange/transparent (like the Sun) — to counter Rahu's darkening/eclipse effect
Remedial GemFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
mat-hessonite (hessonite garnet / Gomedha — cinnamon or golden variety; ≥3 ct, gold or silver, middle finger or the finger of Rahu's dispositor; avoid dark/opaque red garnets — they boost Rahu's eclipse power)
Rules SignsFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
no sign-rulership in the orbit scheme; OFTEN considered a co-ruler of Aquarius (with Saturn/Uranus)
Significations SvobodaFilledper txt-svoboda-vastu
rules: ultraviolet; inorganic matter/minerals; gulls, snakes, camels, donkeys, wolves, rodents, scorpions & poisonous insects; lead/hessonite-garnet/agate; maternal grandparents, eccentrics, the inspired/imaginative, fanatics, the isolated, the insane, the possessed; originality, independence, insight, inspiration, imagination. (number 8; no weekday)
Special AspectsFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
5th, 7th, 9th signs (drishti) — same trine special-aspects as Jupiter (and Ketu)
Worship DeityFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
Durga (demon-slayer, clears illusions); mantra DUM (doom); also the avatar Rama
Worship GrainFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
black gram
Worship SymbolFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
magnet
Worship WeekdayFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
Saturday (or the day of Rahu's dispositor), Moon waxing
YantraFilledper txt-frawley-astrology-seers
numerical yantra based on number 8 (Rahu=8 at upper-center); lines sum 36, total 108; Kali Yantra / Durga Yantra

Connections (11)

corresponds-to · 6
  • ↔Air (Vayu)Traditional
    Frawley: Rahu 'is said to be like Saturn and is more specifically airy'; 'like Saturn, it can give the dark side of earth energy' (secondary earth). Shadowy planet — judged via associated planets.
  • ↔Vata (Air humor)Traditional
    Parashari 3.30 (quoted): Rahu 'is airy (vata) in constitution.'
  • ↔TamasTraditional
    Frawley's guna table groups Rahu (with Mars, Saturn, Ketu) as tamasic ('Mars and Saturn (also Rahu and Ketu)').
  • ↔Vata (Air humor)Modern
    Frawley groups Rahu with Saturn and Mercury as Vata/Air; Air-type clumsiness, ungroundedness and chronic nervous disorders are 'largely due to their susceptibility to Rahu'; 'Saturn and Rahu most responsible for Vata disorders' (book p.213, p.215).
  • ↔Vata (Air humor)Modern
    SW doshic composition: 'the vata that Saturn and Rahu share combines with the pitta of Mars and Ketu' (PDF p.193) - Rahu is a vata-bearing planet of the SW confluence. Mints the planet->dosha edge underlying SW's vata-pitta overabundance.
  • ↔dir-nairrtyaModern
    SW confluence: 'Southwest activates the energy of Rahu and Ketu, the shadowy planets' (PDF pp.189, 193); Rahu contributes vata (shared with Saturn). The planet leg of the SW confluence (Rahu, one of two co-rulers). CONCURS with the standard graha-direction roster (Rahu-SW).
governs · 3
  • →Sesamum (til)Classical
    BS XVI lists sesamum (and blackgram) under Rahu; Saturn likewise rules flatulent pulses.
  • →dir-nairrtyaModern
    In Frawley's worship scheme Rahu is assigned the Southwest; both schemes agree on Rahu-SW.
  • →dir-nairrtyaTraditional
    Svoboda's roster co-assigns Rāhu (with Ketu) to the Southwest, the 'bailiwick of the Nodes', which 'symbolizes Space and Earth'. The doubly-tamasic, shadowy Nodes are placed on the doubly-tamasic SW. An 8-bearing roster shape: both nodes share one corner.
influences · 1
supports · 1
  • ←Hessonite Garnet (Rahu's gem)Modern
    Hessonite garnet (Gomedha) is Rahu's remedial gem; the bright (cinnamon/golden) varieties counter Rahu's darkening/eclipse effect and boost its positive society-influencing power. Dark/opaque garnets avoided.

Sources

  • txt-brihat-samhitaXVI.36–37Classical✓ verifiedgovernance incl. cave/barbarian peoples, the deceitful, blackgram & sesamum
  • txt-brihat-samhitaV (Rahu-cara)Classical✓ verifiedRahu as eclipse-node

Notes from other books

  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersRahu shares Jupiter's 5/9 trine special-aspects. 'Separative planet' (dispersing; attraction to the foreign/distant). Retrograde action; stronger in the degree ABOVE a planet; exempt from planetary-war rules (book p.175–176). Nodal (Rahu/Ketu) return ≈ 18–19 yrs. Dasha 18 yrs.
  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersRahu (north node) is treated as a joint significator with Saturn, and is the SPECIAL karaka of foreigners, judged via the 6th house (book p.155). [MODERN — Frawley]
  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersFrawley groups Rahu (north lunar node) with Saturn and Mercury as Vata/Air; Air-type clumsiness, ungroundedness and chronic nervous disorders are 'largely due to their susceptibility to Rahu' (book p.213); 'Saturn and Rahu are most responsible for Vata disorders' (book p.215). FILLS BS gra-rahu (element/dosha DEFERRED).
  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersRahu (north node) = the negative Moon / shadow of the mind; air, vata, tamas, greater malefic. Frawley likens Rahu to Neptune+Uranus combined (p.106). Fills the fully-DEFERRED Book-1 dosha/element/guna for the node. No weekday (node).
  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersRahu has a worship-grain (black gram) matching BS XVI rulership — a rare BS↔Frawley concord on a substance. Yoga: Bhakti/surrender; avoid astral-opening yogas.
  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersFrawley: Rahu often a co-ruler of Aquarius, paralleling Uranus's relation to (positive) Saturn (book p.109). Node exaltation is disputed: Taurus(20°) vs Gemini. [MODERN — Frawley on the parallel]
  • txt-svoboda-vastuRāhu is a SW confluence-planet (co-ruler with Ketu); his vāta + the tamas base make SW the hardest corner to digest. [MODERN — Svoboda]
  • txt-svoboda-vastuRāhu-SW CONCURS with Frawley worship scheme and the BS-unpinned roster (Rāhu-SW). SW 'symbolizes Space and Earth' here — echoing Svoboda's ch.6 SW = Space-OR-Earth ambiguity (rul-element-direction-scheme-svoboda) and placing the doubly-tamasic Nodes on the doubly-tamasic SW. The Nodes are number 8 (Rāhu) and 9 (Ketu) of the integer scheme and carry no weekday. [TRADITIONAL roster; MODERN attrs]

Other attributes

Governed Domains
{"substances":"blackgram, sesamum","persons":"mountain/cave dwellers, barbarians, Shudras, the crippled, the cruel/ungrateful/untruthful/dirty/miserly, thieves, spies, duelists, the wrathful, evildoers, hypocrites, those in the womb/pits, all sleepy beings"}
Weekday
n/a (nodes have no weekday in the standard set)
Node Note
Rahu is the eclipse mechanism of BS V; pairs with Ketu (gra-ketu) as the two lunar nodes.
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