Grahas
Rahu (north lunar node)
Rahu, the north lunar node, signifies ambition, obsession, the foreign and the unconventional. It rules no sign of its own in the classical scheme and is exalted in Taurus in most texts (some schools: Gemini) and debilitated in Scorpio (some schools: Sagittarius), and its Vimshottari mahadasha lasts 18 years.
| Signifies (karaka) | ambition, obsession, the foreign and the unconventional |
|---|---|
| Rules | — (a shadow planet) |
| Exaltation | Taurus in most texts (some schools: Gemini) |
| Debilitation | Scorpio (some schools: Sagittarius) |
| Mahadasha | 18 years |
| Nakshatras ruled | Ardra, Swati and Shatabhisha |
| Traditional gemstone | Hessonite (gomed) |
In the Vimshottari dasha the 18-year Rahu period is divided into nine antardashas, one for each graha, in the same order as the mahadashas themselves. Anyone whose birth Moon is in Ardra, Swati or Shatabhisha begins life in it.
Rahu and Ketu are always exactly opposite each other. They are not bodies but the points where the Moon’s path crosses the Sun’s — where eclipses happen — which is why Jyotish calls them chhaya grahas, shadow planets, and why the schools disagree about their exaltation.
Questions
In which sign is Rahu exalted?
Taurus in most texts (some schools: Gemini). Its debilitation is the opposite sign, Scorpio (some schools: Sagittarius).
How long is the Rahu mahadasha?
18 years in the Vimshottari dasha system, out of a 120-year cycle.
Which nakshatras does Rahu rule?
Ardra, Swati and Shatabhisha — nine nakshatras (120°) apart, one in each third of the zodiac.
What does Rahu signify in Vedic astrology?
Ambition, obsession, the foreign and the unconventional.
In Plutto
Plutto places all nine grahas in your chart and tells you which one is running your life now. Background: Vedic astrology.
Ask it something you actually want to know.