Rahu & Ketu: Nature, functions, characters and effects of their afflictions
Rahu and Ketu like other planets are not substantial heavenly bodies with an observable body, shape or mass. They have been called Chhaya grahas (shadowy planets). They are not independent planets like the Sun, Moon, Mars etc. They do not have independent orbit and as two parts of one body their movement is interrelated or joint. They are at all times at opposite points of the Zodiac like the head and tail. Though they are by nature evil and generally evil in influence, but by association they become capable of doing good (by association with benefics they turn benefic). According to Hindu Astrology Rahu and Ketu indicate one born in a low caste, one who may intrigue with girls, one whose thoughts and actions will be evil, one who will resort to outcastes and low born as well as ill-bred people.
One who is dissatisfied, fond of travelling, finds pleasure in uttering falsehood, continues to speak untruth knowing fully well that he utters a he, one who will not mind to cohabitate with quadrupeds or like the animals; one who is harsh in speech; one who will be looking downward while walking or talking with others etc. Rahu and Ketu affect the spleen, gas trouble, snake catchers, ass, ram, wolf, camel, serpent, poisonous insects, a dark place, mosquitoes, bugs, insects, owl etc., belong to Rahu and Ketu. Rahu indicates paternal grandfather whereas Ketu represents the maternal grandfather. Both the nodes can cause imprisonment, sinking with the ship or drowning. Pleasure with diseased women, amputation, leprosy, giddiness, life in a cave is attributed to Rahu.
Fear complex, insanity, allergy, leprosy, injury, fire accident, punishment from Government, renunciation, Moksha, wisdom after suffering and bitter experience and weakness to have pleasure with another woman, are attributed to Ketu. As a result of our practical experience of several years we have come to the conclusion that Rahu and Ketu give good results (if not afflicted by a malefic), if they occupy the upachaya houses, i.e. the houses 3,6,10 and 11. They also give favourable results when they are conjoined with or aspected by lords of beneficial houses particularly yoga karaka planets i.e. those who own both a Kendra (quadrant) or a trikona (trine) even if such planets may be natural benefics or natural malefics. For example, for Cancer and Leo Ascendants Mars is a yoga karaka planet and if Rahu is associated with or aspected by Mars and is placed in an auspicious house, he will give the results of a yoga karaka planet. Otherwise Rahu and Ketu should be treated as evil planets and expected to give only evil results.
The diseases caused by Rahu are rheumatism, cholera, dysentery and nasty diseases of mind and body, tendency to commit suicide. Sometimes the diseases are difficult to diagnose. The diseases ascribed to Ketu are-skin diseases, pimples, colic pains, dropsy, abscesses, paralysis, heart diseases (if Ketu afflicts the Sun) hunger, ring worm, burns, injuries from accidents and fire, apoplexy and smallpox.
