Location and Conjunction in Hindu Vedic Astrology!

Rahu and Ketu
strongly show the effect of the Bhavas (houses) they are placed in and of the Bhavas
whose lords are conjoined with them. For example, if Rahu is conjoined with
Mars, he would also show the effect of Mars. Mars, being lord of two houses,
should naturally show the effect of the two houses he owns and so Rahu’s
association (in this illustration) would also show the effect of the
two houses Mars owns. But controversy is over ‘Yadyad Bhava’. Does it mean
‘Yasmin Yasmin Bhave – ‘in the houses in which Rahu is placed or ‘yasyayasya Bhave’ in whose house Rahu is placed?

One view is: Rahu placed in the 7th should show the effect
of the 7th, i.e., the house he is placed in (yasminyasmin Bhave).

The other view attaches importance to: ‘In whose house he is
placed’. Thus if with Gemini rising Rahu is in Sagittarius he should show the
effect of Jupiter (because in whose –here means Jupiter, who owns Sagittarius)
and therefore Rahu should show the effect of not only Sagittarius but of Pisces
also (because if Rahu is to show the effect of Jupiter, he must show the effect
of both the houses owned by Jupiter).

The above difference rests on the interpretation of the
Sanskrit text ‘YadYad’–a very simple phrase yet the practical import of the
differences in the two views is of very great magnitude. If Rahu is in the 5th
(for Leo Ascendant) will it lead to the 8th house effects also (because Jupiter
owns the 5th and the 8th.)? If Ketu is in the 4th (for Virgo Ascendant) will it
show the effect of the 7th also(because Jupiter owns the 4th and the 7th
both.)?

Friends and Enemies

Practically all authors agree on the point that Mercury,
Venus, and Saturn are friends of Rahu and Ketu. Daivagnabharanam says: “Venus,
the Moon, and Saturn are his friends.” The Sanskrit text states (Page 5, Sloka
29)” Kewalam Kavichandra Shanesh charah”.

I think, there has been an error in copying the manuscript.
It should be “Chandri” and not “Chandra”. Chandra means Mercury and so the
friends would be Mercury, Venus, and Saturn. Others are enemies of Rahu and
Ketu. Rahu and Ketu are called Tamogra which have shadowy planets but are capable of
elevating a native to an exalted position, as any of the other seven Grahas
(planets).

“InSloka 8, Adhyaya 16, SarvarthaChintamani states that Rahu
is “Yashah Pratishtha Chhatra Karako Rahu”, i.e., he is the significator of fame,
respect, and the royal umbrella (token of sovereignty). In fact, Rahu and Ketu,
though they together cover 25 years out of a total of 120 years of Maha-dashas, have not
received as much attention in Sanskrit texts as they deserve.

In the Vimsottari Dasha scheme, Rahu rules over individuals
for 18 years and Ketu for 7 years. Although they are placed at either end of
the nodal line this difference is there; for the sum total dasha periods of
planets Saturn, Jupiter, Rahu, and Mars (19 +16 + 18+7) is 60 years; so also the
total of dasha periods of planets on the other side of the earth, i.e., the
Moon, the Sun, Venus, Ketu and Mercury (10 + 6 + 20 + 7 + 17) is 60 years.

Rahu is of black color (tamovarna) while Ketu is red as the
palash flower. Rahu and Ketu have moles and marks on their legs. Rahu gives
his effects throughout while Ketu is in the ending portion. Rahu represents the
tail, while Ketu is the short person. Rahu governs our paternal grandfather and
maternal grandmother, while Ketu is our maternal grandfather and paternal
grandmother. Rahu’s eyes are like goat’s eyes while Ketu’s are like ram’s eyes.
Rahu and Ketu represent a distance of 20 yojanas (a yojana is roughly 8 miles)
and both are nocturnal planets.

Significations (Karakatwa) Cutting, breaking, incisions,
punishing, kala-sarpa, outcaste, bold and famous, snake, burial grounds,
thieves, splits, widows, factions, breaking of rocks and stones (quarries),
holes, depths, anthills (where serpents reside), falling of trees, dreadful
diseases, unusual phenomena, fever, epileptic fits, cholera, sudden
contradictions (failure of metabolism), wandering, obstinacy, forceful
molestations, fallen and company of low people, dwelling in wild forests,
raging fierce battle, happy in hoarding of wealth (black- marketing), fraught
with difficulties. These are the attitudes of Rahu.

Dr. A. Shanker,