The Dragon’s Tail
Ketu is a shadow planet and doesn’t have celestial presence. It came into existence as an after-effect of the ocean churning process. When the Gods and the demons churned the ocean, nectar emerged out of it. When Lord Vishnu was serving the nectar to the Gods, a demon sat there in the disguise of God and consumed the nectar. Lord Vishnu cut his head but he had become immortal by then. Since then, the head portion of the demon came to be known as Rahu and the rest part of the body as Ketu. The sages granted them the status of shadow planets.
Ketu represents the south lunar node and positioned opposite to Rahu. Both are 180 degrees apart. It represents the old people, smoky color and mica metal. It remains in a zodiac sign for 1.5 years and completes one orbit cycle in 18 years. The constellations ruled by it are Ashwini, Magha and Mool. Although it is an imaginary planet and doesn’t own any zodiac sign, yet it gets exalted in Scorpio and gets debilitated in Taurus. Its friendly planets are Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Rahu while it is has strong enmity with Sun and Moon. It has enmity with Mars too but remains neutral with Jupiter. Ketu’s Vimshottari Mahadasha lasts for 7 years.
In the astrological terms, Rahu and Ketu swallow Sun and Moon when they come near them. Astronomically, it is called lunar eclipse and it happens when Ketu, Sun and Moon come in the same zodiacal longitude.
Ketu represents spirituality and it is called “Mokshakarak” i.e. planet having the capacity to take native towards salvation. It blesses the native with spiritual and religious achievements, if it is well placed in the horoscope. It has the capacity to invoke the spiritual-psychic powers of the person. Such a native delves deep in the ocean of the Divine. Magicians, astrologers and doctors are ruled by Ketu.
Well placed Ketu bestows the native with spiritual inclination, money, fame and inheritance. It gives intuitive and extrasensory powers to the native. The ill placed or afflicted Ketu brings misfortune, debts, defamation and hampers the growth of the native in spheres of education and spirituality. It disturbs the concentration and causes depression. It may make the nature of the native jealous and arrogant. The diseases given by Ketu are depression, neuromuscular disorders, bleeding and problems related to nervous system and brain.
Remedies for Ketu
The gemstone related to Ketu is Cat’s Eye.
Worshipping of Lord Ganesha and chanting of Ganesha Dwadasanama Stotra reduces the ill effects of Ketu.
The person suffering from bad placement of Ketu in the horoscope must visit the temples and bow head there.
Ketu Mantra
Om Stram Strim Stroum Sah Ketave Namah
