Astrological Mythology The Meaning of ... - Mandhata Global

anew. Lord Krishna kills demons and destroys asuric tendencies. Lord Rama
slays the great asura Ravana. So too, dark blue Rahu destroys all
materialistic desires of the human individual. The huge mountain of
blackness attributed to Rahu points to its gigantic dimension. The realm of
its operation stretches from the lowest physical to the highest spiritual. In
order to create the necessary effect, Rahu is almost demonic in its operation.
Its long-term impact is to spiritualize the individual. The determination in
carrying out its objectives is symbolized by the three arms of Rahu holding
various weapons. When Rahu strikes, it is ruthless. Yet when Rahu shields a
person, none can harm him. The strength of Rahu in giving protection is
supremely godly, but its savageness in the attack is intensely demonic as
well.
Vedic hymns invoke Rahu as "adorned with sandal paste, flowers and an
umbrella, of blue color, armed with a sword and shield, seated facing south
on a throne and surrounded by all siddhis." Naga or serpent is also one of the
names of Rahu, and the name in the Hindu pantheon of the Dragon Spirit
who inhabits the nether-world, Patala Loka. He is an ever wise deity
endowed with extraordinary magic power. He is the presiding spirit of the
god of the five regions (the four directions of the compass and the center as
the fifth point). The principal function of Rahu is to arouse spiritual
awareness by making the individual aware of his immeasurable latent
faculties. Until this understanding dawns the individual is troubled by the
influence of the planet.
In order to produce the spiritual power that bestows wisdom and
enlightenment, Rahu functions under the command of the spiritual hierarchy,
which in turn functions according to the guidance of Dakshinamurti, the
sage who resides near the Tropic of Capricorn in the south. Rahu facing
south refers to its constant contact with this seat of spiritual power from
which derives its spiritual influence to bestow on those it favors.
Rahu rides on a chariot drawn by eight horses that are black in color and
eternally yoked to it. Rahu has thirty-two sons called Ketus, implying
thereby that they are like comets. This description of the shadowy planet
presents it in its creative role. The chariot represents the whole personality of
the being as an expression of the aura radiating at the super-physical level.
The chariot is a status symbol of the being who rides it, and in the same way
the physical body of the person is an expression of the soul within it. The
soul is royal, as is the rider in a chariot. Rahu being the person seated in the
chariot refers to the inner planetary ruler affecting the inner man. Rahu
seated in the chariot signifies the important position it is assigned among the
planets. A similar status is indicated by assigning to it an umbrella of