Rahu- Hindu DemonDemon"The Shadow Planet"

The Churning of the Ocean

Rahu's origin lies in the great churning of the cosmic ocean, when the devas and asuras cooperated to extract the amrita, the nectar of immortality. When Vishnu, in the form of the enchantress Mohini, distributed the nectar exclusively to the gods, the asura Svarbhanu disguised himself as a deva and sat between Surya and Chandra to receive a portion. He drank the amrita, but before the nectar could pass below his throat, Surya and Chandra recognized the impostor and alerted Vishnu.

The Beheading

Vishnu hurled his Sudarshana Chakra, the divine discus, and severed Svarbhanu's head from his body. Because the amrita had already touched his head and throat, both parts became immortal. The head became Rahu, a disembodied celestial entity driven by eternal hunger, while the headless torso became Ketu, his shadowy counterpart.

Cause of Eclipses

Rahu harbors an undying grudge against Surya and Chandra for exposing his deception. He periodically pursues them across the sky and swallows them whole, causing solar and lunar eclipses. Since Rahu is only a severed head without a body, the sun and moon pass through his open throat and emerge again, ending the eclipse. To this day, eclipses are considered inauspicious periods during which specific rituals and prohibitions are observed.