![]() In Hindu tradition, Rahu is a severed head of an asura, that swallows the sun causing eclipses. This also corresponds to a saros, a period of approximately 223 synodic months (approximately 6585.3211 days, or 18 years, 11 days, 8 hours), that can be used to predict eclipses of the Sun and Moon. This coincides with the precessional orbit of the moon or the ~18 year rotational cycle of the lunar ascending and descending nodes on the earth's ecliptic plane. Rahu and Ketu have an orbital cycle of 18 years. Rahu is responsible for causing the Eclipse of the Sun. The fact that eclipses occur when the Sun and the Moon are at one of these points gives rise to the understanding of swallowing of the Sun and the Moon by the snake. Therefore, Rahu and Ketu are respectively called the north and the south lunar nodes. Rahu represents the ascension of the moon in its precessional orbit around the earth.Astronomically, Rahu and Ketu denote the points of intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon as they move on the celestial sphere. Unlike most of the others, Rahu is a shadow entity, one that causes eclipses and is the king of meteors. Rāhu is one of the nine major celestial bodies (navagraha) in Hindu texts. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |