Human Values and Astrology
Value: Dharma Sub-value: Initiative
Planet (graha) Rahu (Sani)
Rahur dhanavamanthri cha simhika chitha nandana,
Ardha kaya, sada krodhi, chandradhithya vimardhana.
Rahu, Minister of Rakshasa, one who makes Simhika happy,
Half bodied one, one who is always angry,
Tormentor who troubles Sun and Moon.
Roudhro rudhra priyo daithya swar bhanur, bhanur bheethidha,
Graha raja sudhapayee rakadhithyabhilashtaka.
Angry one, Devotee of Rudra, Ogre,
One who is near the Sun, one who terrifies the Sun,
King of planets, one who got nectar,
One who desires the Moon and the Sun
Kala drushti kala roopa, sri kanta hrudayashraya,
Vidhunthudha saimhikeya, ghora roopo, maha bala.
One who has death inflicting sight, one who likes death,
One who lives in the heart of Shiva, one who made Moon dim,
One who is the son of ogress Simhika,
One who has terrifying form, One who is very strong.
Graha peeda karo damshtri raktha nethro mahodhara,
Panchavimsathi namani sthuthwa rahum sada nara,
Ya paden mahathi peeda thasya nasyathi kevalam.
One who torments planets, one who has big teeth,
One who has red eyes and one who has a big paunch,
If a man recites these twenty five names and prays to Rahu,
And as soon as he reads big tormenting troubles vanish immediately.
Aarogyam putham athulam sriyam dhanyam pasum sthadha,
Dadhathi rahu sthasmai thu ya padeth sthothramuthamam.
Health, incomparable sons, wealth, cereals and animals
Would be given to him by Rahu, to the one who reads this great prayer.
Sathatham padathe yasthu jeeveth, varsha satham nara.
The man who reads this regularly would live for one hundred years.
Rahu, the North Node
Rahu, the node opposite to Ketu, came into being during the churning of the Ocean of Milk. The last gift of that churning was the emergence of the God of Healing, Dhanvantari, with the pot of amrit, the nectar of immortality. Ketu and Rahu were whole at that time, in the form of a demon known as Swarbhanu, who engaged in subterfuge to obtain the nectar whilst it was being served out by the enchantress Mohini. The deception was discovered by the Sun and Moon, who promptly went to tell Vishnu, who sent his discus and separated the head from the body; the head is today known as Rahu, North Node of the Moon.
At a glance, Rahu is called the North Node, is exalted in Taurus, debilitated in Scorpio, co-lord of Aquarius (with Saturn) and has digbala (directional strength) in the 10th house. Rahu magnifies the effect of its Lord, and that of any planet it is adjacent or conjunct. Rahu is of vata (airy) nature and rules the astral and possessions. Medically, Rahu is giver of incurable chronic diseases, snake bite, difficulties in breathing, chronic illness and mental illness. Rahu aspects houses 5, 7 and 9 away from its location. These represent the smoky influence of creative celebrity pairings (5th), contractual relationships (7th) and ideological patronage (9th). Rahu is always trying to Get-A-Head (he who has no head) by getting ahead of everyone.
In interaction with others, Rahu exhibits a desire to be admired, and seeks personal importance. This can be sought in many different environments. It can be in the athletic arena, in competition, in innovation in problem solving, pioneering new solutions, so long as Rahu is first, and recognised as special and important. Rahu has a lust for life, desire to compete, and a compulsion to spring ahead of the pack.
In order to propel oneself to higher social station, Rahu the Restless must produce greater passion, more vigorous movement , stronger sexual energy, and higher capacity for sustained warfare. Rahu in the First House is said to follow the dictum of Julius Caesar: veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered).
His goal is getting ahead, always over-reaching. Rahu can be observed working overtime, trying to receive validation in a role for which He is questionably qualified. Rahu’s impatient, improperly credentialed or craftily obtained station in life often raises questions and reactions from observers. Rahu is on the way up and not ever on the way down with regard to station in life.
Human Values
Human values give us a bedrock against which we may evaluate situations, propositions, events and experience. We have something to fall back on when we engage in the practice of living with human values.
Other people impress their values upon us. We may take on the values of people we admire, such as our peers, our teachers, or elders in the community. Our moral values are often sourced from our faith. We also obtain moral values from the society and culture we engage with. The practice of human values also includes self-knowledge. This points to an important principle – that of self-inquiry. Up to 70% of our time should be spent in self-inquiry. If we do not know our inner self, then our lives will be spent in reaction to outer phenomena; we will be trapped in maya, illusion, and reacting to what the world presents to us.
Our values often include universal principles such as truthfulness, peace, love, right conduct and non-violence. These principles are often essential for our personal and social progress. In our observation, when we reverse the order of perception, we can often work out what values are active and driving a situation or an event or a reaction (our own)(someone else’s) when we analyse the motives of either ourselves or others. We keep in mind that behaviour reveals choices – and that choices are based on our values. Our values guide our actions.
Dharma is the eternal order, the basis of the Universe, for everything in the universe follows its proper dharma, its order, its righteousness, its right action. It is the dharma of an orange to taste as an orange and give Vitamin C; it is not the dharma of oranges to taste like watermelons and give so many seeds. It is the dharma of rain to fall on everything alike and to provide moisture and water for growth. It is the dharma or right conduct of fire to radiate heat; it is not the dharma of fire to radiate moisture on its own account. An individual’s dharma must be fulfilled by adherence to the duties and obligations relating to each person’s inherent nature, profession, status and stage of life as laid down by the ancient lawgivers. Dharma sustains the world. Dharma protects those who uphold dharma. ‘dharmo rakshati rakshitaah‘ – Dharma protects those who protect it.
Dharma and Initiative
Readiness and ability in initiating action must follow dharma. Rahu is excellent at initiating action – however, action must follow the prescribed steps of dharma, right conduct, and not render – in any way – harm to another. Rahu has initiatory skill at laying foundations, taking the introductory steps, leading action in an enterprise.
Given the opportunity, Rahu can take initiative with dharmic action. Given strong principles (values, guides to action), preparation and groundwork, Rahu – unafflicted by malefics – may put down roots and lead with dharma. Similar to Jupiter, Rahu has drishti to 5th, 7th and 9th houses from its position. Such drishti is generally taken to be malefic, but when there is strong preparation and good foundations, Rahu may lead – occasionally as atma karaka (significator of the soul) – and lead with excellence in human action.
Rahu as karmic dispositor initiates situations which we may feel encouraged to take up with right action, right conduct. We are born because we choose to be born; we have been here many times before, and choose karma (prarabdha karma) to consume, burn-up, expire, in this lifetime. Hence, circumstances approach us. Most people are sleepwalking through their lives, and their karma rolls out right on schedule, as per the dasha system, principally vimsottari dasha. If we can be awake to opportunity to follow right conduct and have sama-drishti, equal mindedness and equal vision in every situation that confronts us, we may take up whatever Rahu presents with discrimination and detachment. Rahu offers us the opportunity to know that we are not the mind, not the body, not the senses: we are the eternal atman, one with the purusha.
