Rahu and Ketu are shadowy planets. The two points where the orbit of the Moon crosses the ecliptic are known as Rahu and Ketu. Ecliptic is apparent path of the Sun as seen from the earth. Rahu is called the ascending node of the Moon in the western astrology. Ketu is called the descending node of the Moon in the western astrology.

There are many beliefs about the impact of Rahu and there are different schools of thought about the same. Some authors opine that Rahu acts as Saturn while others are of the opinion that Rahu acts as its dispositor. Some say that it gives good results when it is placed in an angular house. One cannot come out of the mystery, easily.

The close or exact influence of Rahu and Ketu in the birth chart is very significant for the person. Rahu and Ketu are generally unfavorable planets. They bring challenges during their sub periods or prolonged transit influence. They make the person vulnerable to anxiety, over-ambitiousness, sudden setbacks, undiagnosed health problems, food poisoning, loss of reputation, allergic disorders, losses through cheating, inflammation, professional setbacks, depression, strains in business relationships, persisting infections, losses through risky or speculative ventures; they make one vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, problems with black magic/evil spirits, litigation, sudden mishaps and challenges in marital relationships.

We can approach the multi-dimensional effects of Rahu in a systematic manner to clearly delineate its results.

Benefic Results during Rahu's Sub-Periods

Rahu gives good results only if it is placed in the good houses i.e. other than the dusthana houses (sixth, eighth and twelfth houses), is not closely conjunct with any planet or most effective point of the house or closely aspecting any other planet; also any planet that is Rahu's dispositor should be strong. Rahu makes the person ambitious and activates him/her to put in more and more efforts for achieving his/her goals. The close influence of Rahu on some planet enhances/propels the results of that planet.
In Systems' Approach, the degree rising in the ascendant is taken as the degree indicating the most effective point of each house.  Rahu's location within 5 degrees of the ascending degree in any of the houses is taken as a close conjunction with the most effective point and it afflicts the houses of placement and the houses it aspects.  Well placed Rahu in good houses, without causing affliction, and with a strong dispositor, shows good results towards materialistic pursuits in its sub-periods.  However, sometimes, the materialistic blessings of Rahu are lost after initial gains. When placed in the ascendant, it activates the person and makes him dynamic and desirous of earning more and more without bothering about the ethical code of the society he is living in.  In the second house, it makes the native a politician trying to acquire status in whatever field he is placed in.  In the third house, it increases initiative and courage and indicates materialistic prosperity to younger brothers.

In the fourth house, it impels one to acquire new assets, vehicles and the possible use of even unfair means for advancement in education and professional matters.  In the fifth house, it indicates gains from speculations and a good intuitive faculty.  In the seventh house, it indicates celebration of marriage, happiness in marriage, relations out of marital bond and visiting foreign places.  In the ninth house, it indicates involvement in religious functions and a desire for moksha without the corresponding sincere efforts.  In the tenth house, it makes a person diplomatic, a good public relations man, or even a go-getter capable of achieving his ends through the use of vices.  In the eleventh house, it may give unearned gains through corrupt/manipulative tendencies.

The close conjunction/aspect of Rahu to a functionally benefic, well-placed and strong planet highly activates the significations of the planet in question and gives rise to short lived phenomenal results.

Affliction of Planets

When Rahu forms close conjunction/aspect with natal planets, it causes an affliction and can severely harm the significations of these planets.  The harm is less when the afflicted planets are strong and more when they are weak.  When the planets are weak, badly placed and closely afflicted by Rahu, it is indicative of tragic happenings.  When the conjunction/aspect is within a longitudinal difference of one degree, the problems surface in the first sub-period of Rahu or the planet afflicted by Rahu.  When this affliction is within five degrees on either side, the effect is felt at a young age during the sub-period of the afflicted planet or of Rahu.

When the conjunction is wide, the impact is felt only in old age.  When Rahu afflicts the Sun, it indicates problems to father, son, husband, heart, blood pressure and character.  Rahu's affliction to Venus indicates problems to wife, marital relations, kidney, partnerships and educational pursuits.  Rahu's affliction of the Moon is indicative of a sick and troubled mind, malfunctioning of heart, problems to mother and wife and property disputes.  One has to go to far off places and suffer from home-sickness.  Rahu's affliction of Mars causes wealth, inflames one's dynamism and courage, can cause diseases of impurity of blood and trouble to younger brothers.  Rahu's affliction of Mercury causes skin diseases, nervous problems, paralysis, lunacy, intestinal malfunctioning, constipation and confusion.   Rahu's affliction of Jupiter causes malfunctioning of the pancreas and liver, reduces hearing power, makes one selfish and immoral, gives problems to sons, husband, and father and gives a bad reputation.  Rahu's affliction of Saturn is indicative of labor problems, a bad reputation, rheumatism, spondylitis, excess cough and breathing problems.  The physical ailments are more pronounced if the lord of the ascendant is weak, badly placed and afflicted.

Results of Rahu When Not Afflicting in Dusthanas

Rahu when placed in the sixth house during its sub-period indicates undiagnosed diseases, intestinal problems, losses through theft and fire, problems in job/profession and inharmonious relations with other family members.  When placed in the eighth house, during its sub periods, it causes deaths in the family, losses, disintegration of families and obstructions to good living. Rahu in the twelfth house makes one vulnerable to addiction and gambling, gives threat of imprisonment, losses and expenses, problems of hypertension and thoroughly troubled domestic peace when near the most effective point. It causes health problems, losses through cheating, tendency for excessive indulgence in materialism, mental unrest and problems to parents. 

Results of Rahu/Ketu When Afflicting in Dusthanas

Rahu/Ketu when placed close to the most effective point of any of the malefic houses or causing severe affliction(s) to some other natal planet(s) causes results taht are very severe. During their sub-periods besides afflicting the significations of the planet(s) afflicted, they indicate undiagnosed and prolonged health problems, intestinal problems, losses through theft and fire, problems in job/profession, inharmonious relations with other family members, death(s) in the family, disintegration of families, problem to parents, obstructions regarding living comforts, one becomes vulnerable to addiction and gambling, threats of imprisonment, losses and expenses, problems of hypertension, thoroughly troubled domestic peace, losses through cheating, tendency for excessive indulgence in materialism, encroachments, anti social and anti-social deeds, mental unrest and problems with the law.

AFFLICTING RAHU AT THE MOST EFFECTIVE POINTS OF VARIOUS HOUSES

When Rahu afflicts closely the mid-point of a house which contains a mooltrikona sign and the dispositor is weak, the impact in various houses is as under:

First House:
Physical retardation and acute health problems, problems in marital life, problems to male children and father.

Second House:
Disintegration of family, divorce, loss of status, wealth and reputation, intestinal problems and problems to father.

Third House:
Sinful deeds, lying, disturbed marital life, retarded physical growth, problems to father and earnings through foul means.

Fourth House:
Destroys domestic peace and professional growth, causes accidents and inauspicious happenings, wasteful expenses and losses.

Fifth House:
Loss of semen, lack of progeny, health problems to father, elder brother and self.  Earnings through undesirable means.

Sixth House:
Chronic illness, stomach ulcer, acidity, losses through thefts and fire, threat of imprisonment, disputes and disturbed family life.

Seventh House:
Extra marital relationships, ill health to self and spouse, venereal diseases, skin diseases, problems to brothers and resorting to corrupt practices and gambling.

Eighth House:
Accidents, involvement in scandals, family disputes, separation, piles, eye troubles and loss of domestic peace.

Ninth House:
Problems to self, father, children and younger brothers. Makes one totally immoral.  One resorts to vices and gambling.

Tenth House:
Causes termination due to use of corrupt practices, destroys assets, problems of blood pressure and makes the native a liar.

Eleventh House:
Income through corrupt practices, spoils health of spouse and troubled marital relations. Native uses unfair means and operates in a deceptive way.

Twelfth House:
Makes one an addict and gambler, threat of imprisonment, losses and expenses, problem of hypertension, thoroughly troubled domestic peace.

Transit Influence of Rahu

The transit influence of Rahu is more or less indicative of troubles and tensions. This transit relationship of troubles and tensions through a close aspect/conjunction with weak planets is felt when the longitudinal difference is five degrees or less and the situation becomes grave at the time of an exact aspect/conjunction.

The tension/trouble starts when the relationship is formed and ends when it separates from the close conjunction/aspect.  In the case of strong and well placed natal/transit planets, the longitudinal distance of conjunction/aspect is of only one degree.  The impact is felt with respect to the following:

1. The significations of the houses where mooltrikona signs of the troubled planets are placed.
2.    The general significations of the afflicted planet.
3.    The general significations of the house where the afflicted planet is placed.
4.    The general significations of the house of conjunction and the houses aspected if the conjunction is with the most effective point of a house.

The impact is greater when Rahu causing transit conjunction is placed in dusthanas and when the planets/houses involved are weak both in natal and transit charts.

Rahu's close involvement with Venus gives an urge for carnal pleasures in the early stages of life and enjoyments through smoking and drinking, intoxication through other means, etc.  Rahu's close involvement with the most effective points of the seventh, third, fifth and eighth houses takes one to premarital carnal pleasures and love affairs only for physical gratification.   Rahu's close affliction to both Mercury and the weak Moon in the eighth or twelfth houses makes one a drug addict. I am sure readers will derive benefits from this in delineating the postures of Rahu in a particular nativity more clearly.

RAHU & SPECULATION

Gains are ruled by the eleventh house. Gains through investments are ruled by the fifth house.

For these two aspects there are no alternate houses and if there is no mooltrikona sign then the houses are studied for other influences on these houses through occupation and aspects.

Speculation is ruled by Rahu. Its intensity may increase with the increasing of the influence of Rahu in a particular chart. The simultaneous impact of Mercury may involve the person in speculation of stocks and shares. The simultaneous impact of Mars may involve the person in speculation in properties.

Rahu rules greed, speculation, gambling, impersonification, misrepresentation, selfishness, cheating, manufacuring of spurious articles, copying and manipulations. The gains obtained employing the means signified are short lived and bring losses ultimately giving lots of pain to the person.

The influence of Rahu gives a risk orientation/gambling tendency. Sometimes, it is calculated risk and sometimes it is blind risk. The influence on badly placed planets gives blind risk.

Houses 1st, 3rd, 5th and 10th are connected with the actions of the person. So, Rahu's influence on planets ruling the actions gives tendencies for taking risks in life. On the positive side the impact is enterprising and expansion oriented.

The intense influence of Rahu can be wide pervading due to close conjunction/aspect and can be through the second, third, fourth, fifth, tenth and eleventh houses besides the ascendant.

If the fourth, second, third, fifth and tenth houses are strong then the gains obtained by the person may be comparatively for a longer duration but are ultimately lost.

RAHU TRANSITTING ITS OWN NATAL POSITION

When transit Rahu transits its own natal position or the natal Ketu position it generally causes difficulties and obstructions. The difficultives and obstructions can be grave if:
(i) its location is near the MEP
(ii) its movement is stationary.
(iii) dispositor is weak
(iv) if the placement is in the malefic house(s)

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