Astrool Rahu and Ketu
The two lunar nodes, treated in Jyotish as shadow planets (chhaya grahas): Rahu the head of desire, Ketu the tail of detachment.
Definition
Rahu (North Node) and Ketu (South Node) are the points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic; the Western term is lunar nodes. In myth they are the head and body of the demon Svarbhanu, who swallows the Sun and Moon during eclipses.
| Rahu | Ketu | |
|---|---|---|
| Node | North | South |
| Drive | Desire, obsession, worldly ambition, the foreign and new | Detachment, spirituality, past skill, loss |
| Dasha length | 18 years | 7 years |
They always sit exactly opposite each other. When all other planets fall on one side of their axis, the chart has Kaal Sarp.
See it in your own chart
Astrool calculates your full birth chart, not just your sun sign, and writes your daily, weekly and monthly readings against it.
Common questions
Are Rahu and Ketu malefic?
Traditionally yes, but their results depend on the sign, house and the planets they sit with.
Do Rahu and Ketu go retrograde?
They are always moving backward through the zodiac in mean motion.