Ketu in Vedic astrology is a Chaya Graha, a shadowy planet. On one hand, Ketu relates to Karma, gives the results of the deeds you performed in past life and on the other, it relates to spirituality, liberation, and mastery over occult and mysteries of life. It is the planet of detachment; it takes away things. But there is a deeper meaning to what we have said here. Rahu stands for materialistic tendencies while Ketu is about pure detachment and liberation from the illusionary happiness of life. When negative, Ketu can cause mental disorders, strange tendencies, lunacy, derangement, anxiety, strain, criminal tendencies, and so on.
It drives people towards spiritualism, enlightenment, asceticism and it frees the person from the shackles of worldly desires. But it is a malefic planet, not as malefic as Rahu but it bestows the natives with various mishappenings in life, with the intention to help us reach emancipation.
It concerns itself with after life experiences, spiritual knowledge, detachment from the world, the concept of righteousness and karma. It is said that Rahu is the giver and Ketu is the taker. But there is a deeper meaning. Rahu makes a person indulgent, stuck in materialism and worldly comforts while Ketu helps to get detached from hollow endeavors. It directs us towards liberation. Rahu is about enjoyment and worldly comforts while Ketu is about enlightenment and wisdom.
Ketu is the planet which can bless a native with very good spiritual progress and powers and other paranormal and occult powers. And though Jupiter is also very much capable of blessing a native with spiritual progress and powers, there is a difference in the way these two planets influence a native and accordingly the behavior or the path chosen by the native and the targets set by the native for his spiritual progress may be very different depending upon whether the spiritual progress is primarily due to Jupiter or Ketu. People interested in spiritualism by virtue of a strong and blessing Jupiter can make spiritual progress very quietly, comfortably and with peace while enjoying the materialistic pleasures of this world at the same time whereas a strong and specific influence of Ketu on a native is likely to bless him with spiritual progress which would most likely mean passing through many difficulties in materialistic life and seeing many bad things and bad events happening around him. Such natives finally make an opinion that this materialistic world is not worth living in and doing efforts for and should be left for making spiritual progress.
Weakness of this planet by placement in some particular houses of the horoscope or by afflictions from negative planets can make the native suffer from mental diseases, fears and phobias, operations and surgeries which may bother the native many times during his lifetime, pain or problems in ears and feet, assault by sharp weapons, wounds and amputation of some part of body, disgrace due to bad deeds done by male children or no considerable recognition and support from male children, and extreme mental pains and tortures among many other things. Many people with afflicted and disturbed Ketu in their horoscope keep on wandering from one city to another, from one country to another and from one place to another without settling anywhere for a long duration of time. Such people spend most of their lives traveling, shifting and wandering.
Basic Astrological facts about Ketu
Gender of Ketu: Neuter gender.
Ketu is the karaka or significator of: Moksha or final liberation.
Ketu as relationship signifies: Denotes paternal grandparents.
Planetary cabinet status of Sun: Does not have any status.
Temperament of Ketu: Erratic and unpredictable.
Element governed by Ketu: Agni or Fire element.
Primary quality or Guna of Ketu: Tamo Guna or dull and ignorant.
Caste of the Ketu: Outcast, not fit to be a part of normal society.
Nature of Ketu: Malefic
Ketu rules the zodiacal sign: Dose not have ruler-ship of any zodiacal sign.
Sign of exaltation of Ketu: Scorpio
Sign of debilitation of Ketu: Taurus
Ketu’s friends are: Venus, Mars and Saturn
Ketu’s enemies are: Sun and Moon
Ketu is neutral with: Jupiter and Mercury
Ketu’s Vimshottari Dasha period: Seven Years.
Nakshatras or Lunar mansions governed by Ketu are: Ashvini Nakshatra, Magha Nakshatra and Mula Nakshatra.
Direction ruled by Ketu: Southwest
Metals governed by Ketu: Lead
Gemstone governed by Ketu: Cat’s eye
Substitute gemstones governed by Ketu: Turquoise
Colors ruled by Ketu: Black and Gray
Food and flavors governed by Ketu: Leftovers and inedible foods of foul taste.
Numbers as per Numerology governed by Ketu: 7, 16, 25, 34 and all those that adds up to seven, are governed by it.P
Positive key words for Ketu: Idealism, Self-sacrifice, Spirituality, Intuition & Compassion.
Negative key words for Ketu: Fanaticism, Eccentricity, Violence, Amorality & Impulsiveness.
Body parts, function and diseases governed by Ketu
Ketu dose not govern any body parts but will govern the body part as denoted by planet or planets with which it is in conjunction or in aspect. Ketu governs all types of epidemics, insanity, skin diseases, poisoning of all types. Ketu like Mars thus all body parts and diseases governed by Mars are also governed by Ketu.
Professions governed by Ketu
As Ketu acts like Mars, generally he rules the profession signified by this planet, but apart from this he signifies profession related to occult arts, magic. Ketu the Dragons Tail or South Node represents technical trades, spiritual inclinations, superstitions and electronics.
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