Astrological Mythology The Meaning of ... - Mandhata Global

Rahu as always ready to bestow on his devotees wealth and abundance and
as being always friendly and loving.
The Puranas describe Rahu as "half-bodied, immensely powerful, a troublemaker
for the Sun and Moon, born of a lioness, having a huge body like a
mountain, of lamp black color, snake-shaped, terrible mouthed and the
devourer of the Sun and Moon." This description makes Rahu more
powerful than the Sun and Moon who give life to all. Being a 'messenger' of
the great cyclic law under which all other laws operate, even the luminaries
that provide life for the entire universe are ineffective against Rahu. As the
law governing the cosmic manifestation, Rahu does not have any objective
personification and as such is half-bodied, Ardhakayam: it has no physical
body to work through, though it has non-physical existence.
Together with Ketu, its counterpart, Rahu forms the complete serpent.
Though complementary to each other, the two nodes have distinct characteristics
of their own. The epithet "half-bodied" emphasizes the subjective
nature of these planets. They are shadowy, without any objective, physical,
or visible counterpart. Being of a shadowy nature, difficult to detect, Rahu's
effect is subtle and elusive. The sages were aware of the; churning effect of
Rahu and its importance in bestowing control over the i subtle powers of
nature. But considering the excruciating pain and great; psychological
isolation experienced under these trials, which cut the.; individual off from
the life-force supplied by the Sun and Moon, Rahu is! a trouble maker.
The mountain symbolizes the archaic character of the law operating under
Rahu. Mountains are often described under the same evolutionary process
mat created the universe. The universality and ancient nature of] the law,
represented by the difference between the black and blue colors, arises from
two considerations: Rahu's function in the process of spiritual awakening, as
symbolized in initiation rites, and its involvement with the materialization
process. The blue color, as mentioned in the Vedas, is that of the universal
beneficent spirit, while black stands for the demonic nature. In Hindu
mythology, as we have noted, most of the gods and avatars from Shiva to
Rama are described as blue, while the demons are black. Blue represents
universality, the ether or Akasha, which is the subtle, supersensuous,
spiritual essence that pervades all space. In many teachings, including the
Upanishads, the Akasha is the all directing and omnipotent deity. The
Akasha is also known as occult electricity, an aspect of Kundalini.
Immense power used for benevolent purposes is the key-note of the gods.
The influence of Rahu that is ultimately good for the individual comes under
its dark blue color. In this regard, Rahu annihilates the egoistic, selfcentered,
demonic nature in man. Lord Shiva destroys in order to create