Rahu: Uranus of the East
Rahu: Maker of Eclipses by Pictoverse
The lunar nodes are given a very different emphasis in Vedic astrology, and are as crucial to any chart reading as the planets themselves.
The nodes are not physical objects like planets or asteroids. They are in fact ‘places’ or points in space where the orbital path of the Moon crosses the path of the Sun. When the Sun and Moon meet at one of these places, we get an eclipse.
They recieve the designation of ‘Upagraha’; shadow planets. They have effects, though they have no physical body, unlike the ‘true’ planets.
Rahu is the north node of the pair and the significations of this ‘shadow’ planet seem somewhat similar to those given to Uranus in modern western astrology.
Firstly, some Vedic astrologers give co-rulership of Aquarius to Rahu. In a similar way, modern western astrologers have given rulership of that sign to Uranus.
A strong or active Rahu seems to bestow an individual with a complete indifference to cultural norms. Rebelliousness and non conformity are also commonly assigned to Uranus.
Rahu has the caste quality of Mleccha which means ‘non Vedic’, barbarian… not even part of the system. Rahu, like Uranus, is associated with the strange, eccentric, and outlandish.
Another point of similarity is the assignation of ‘occult’ pursuits (which would encompass astrology itself, I think particularly here in the west) to both. In modern western circles, Uranus has been adopted as the astrologer’s planet.
Finally, they are both given rulership of electricity.
The role of the Rahuvian and/or the Uranian seems to be to somehow to disrupt normality, to shock; to disturb the status quo.
Rahu actually possesses many of the characteristics of all three of the outer planets. It certainly embodies some of the delusional quality often attributed to Neptune, and the power hunger, drive, desire and obsessive nature often associated with Pluto.
An astute friend pointed out that Ketu holds a lot of similar significations to Neptune. Maybe that’s a sequel post to be made.
