Narrator:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam, baba, Pranam.
Narrator:
Pranam to our viewers as we start a new episode. Previously, Shantanu told us about Rahu's story.
Shantanu:
Exactly. He has spoken about Rahu's chronicle, and parts one and two are already complete. Today is the third part, and this is Rahu's final chapter; there won't be any more. So, I will begin now. I will say whatever needs to be said after my previous accounts.
Shantanu:
So, in the previous episode, I forgot to mention the four places where the nectar fell during Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar. My Gurudev reminded me of that. I ended where Meghasā, after completing her ascetic journey and receiving the blessings of the Trinity—Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar—returned home. There, she saw her father and her father's brothers, Rahu and Ketu, in their full-bodied forms.
Shantanu:
Somewhere deep down, Rahu and Ketu could not accept the situation. While everyone else in the house was happy—Kashyapa Muni, Rahu's son, Rahu's wife Singhadevi, and Ketu's wife Chitralekha—Rahu and Ketu were uneasy. So, they both decided to go on a trip one day after attaining immortality through the nectar. While traveling and talking, they decided that Chandra Dev (the Moon) and Surya Dev (the Sun) had seen them [during the churning of the ocean] and reported them. They discussed what punishment should be given to them. Rahu decided that they would "consume" Chandra Dev and Surya Dev every single day—not a single day would be missed.
Shantanu:
From then on, Rahu and Ketu started this. When the Sun rose in the east and set in the west, Rahu would consume him. And when the Moon moved from west to east, Ketu would consume him. This is how the matter is described in our astrology.
Shantanu:
Thus began Rahu's daily consumption. One day, Narada Muni suddenly noticed this. He saw that Surya Dev and Chandra Dev were being consumed every day. As a result, the temperature of Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld was rising to extreme levels. Living beings and the entire world were burning and being destroyed. If this continued, the existence of life would be wiped out.
Shantanu:
On the day Rahu was consuming the Sun, the Sun had one level of temperature. The next day, when Rahu went to consume him again, the Sun increased his temperature to level two. In this way, the Sun kept increasing his own heat, and Rahu continued to consume him every day. Just imagine how much energy the planet Rahu must have! In astrology, Rahu is described as the embodiment of energy and a shadow reflection; he is called a shadow planet. To think he has enough energy to consume a planet like that! As Rahu approached, the Sun consistently increased his heat.
Shantanu:
As this continued, the three worlds trembled. Narada Muni then reported the matter to Indra, the King of Gods. After hearing this, Narada Muni said, "Lord, if this continues, things will take a turn for the worse. Nothing will remain of Earth's creation. The Sun is being consumed daily."
Shantanu:
After thinking it over, Lord Indra sought advice and orders from Brihaspati, the Guru of the Gods, and then went to Lord Vishnu. He went to Lord Narayana to ask what could be done. Lord Vishnu said, "There is only one way. You can do one thing: you can use Aruna. We have found Aruna, the son of Vinata Devi."
Shantanu:
Vinata Devi had laid two eggs. Kashyapa Muni, her husband, told her to keep one egg in honey and the other in ghee. Vinata's sister was Kadru, who had already given birth to a thousand eggs from which snakes (Nagas) were born. Since their children were already born, Vinata Devi was anxious to see her own. Because of this, she broke the egg that was kept in honey prematurely. Aruna was born from it, but he was only half-formed from the waist up. His lower body was not yet developed because the egg hadn't reached full term. That is how we got Aruna.
Shantanu:
Aruna had two sons named Jatayu and Sampati, whom we encounter in the Ramayana. Aruna is a deity whom we see as the charioteer of the Sun's chariot. So, as the Sun continued to increase his heat, Lord Vishnu said, "Place Aruna in front of the Sun's chariot so that he can absorb the heat and distribute the Sun's light equally across the whole world. This way, the direct heat will not fall on Earth."
Shantanu:
Think about it—today science says we are producing solar power. By placing a panel, it absorbs heat from the solar system and supplies electricity everywhere. This comes from science today, but we find this very concept in our Puranas through Aruna. Aruna can absorb the Sun's heat.
Shantanu:
I mentioned another egg kept in ghee; that egg later hatched to produce Garuda, whom we know as Lord Vishnu's mount. It was decided that Aruna would stay in front of the Sun's chariot. When Rahu and Ketu came to consume the Sun, Aruna would absorb the heat.
Shantanu:
On the day Rahu and Ketu went to consume the Sun, they were surprised. They thought, "What is this? They have placed our own brother in front!" Aruna, Rahu, and Ketu are all brothers to each other. They wondered why the Sun would do such a thing. Despite Aruna being there, Rahu still went and consumed the Sun, and Ketu consumed the Moon.
Shantanu:
As this went on, Narada Muni appeared before Lord Vishnu, chanting "Narayana, Narayana." He asked, "Lord Vishnu, what is happening? You placed Aruna there so the Sun would be saved, yet Rahu and Ketu are not sparing the Sun and Moon." Lord Vishnu replied, "This is a very serious matter. You caused the decapitation of Rahu and Ketu; why should they be punished?"
Shantanu:
Narada Muni said the same to Lord Vishnu. Then Narayana himself decided, "Alright, I will go and talk to Rahu and Ketu. If necessary, I will make an arrangement. I am the one who caused this, so why should the Sun and Moon suffer the punishment?"
Shantanu:
When Rahu and Ketu were leaving their ascetic journey to go toward the Sun and Moon again, and were saying goodbye to Kashyapa Muni at his house, Lord Vishnu suddenly appeared before them. He asked, "Where are you going?" Rahu replied, "I will not spare the Sun and Moon. Lord Vishnu decapitated me with the Sudarshana Chakra because the Sun and Moon saw me and reported it. So, I will not let them go. I will consume them every day."
Shantanu:
Lord Vishnu listened to this carefully and then decided, "Look, don't do this. From today, the entire world—Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld—will perform your puja and worship. You will be known as Rahu Dev and Ketu Dev. You will represent 'Time' (Kaal)."
Shantanu:
When we read the Vishnu Purana, we find the words of Lord Vishnu himself telling Rahu, "You will represent Time. Do not consume the Sun and Moon daily. You will represent Time, and the three worlds will worship you." In South India, if we travel, we can see many temples of Rahu and Ketu where they are worshipped as deities in Navagraha temples. This is where that concept comes from.
Shantanu:
Not only that, if Rahu is the beginning of Time, Ketu marks the conclusion of that time. Rahu represents the North Node of the Moon, and Ketu represents the South Node. After hearing this, Rahu and Ketu calmed down a bit. They said, "Alright, if you say so, we will accept it. But we will consume the Sun and Moon at certain times of the year." This is why we have two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses in a year. Based on the Moon's influence, we find the tides, the full moon, and the new moon in our calendars and astrology.
Narrator:
I want to add something here.
Narrator:
Once in the afternoon, when the sun was setting, Hanumanji thought it was a fruit and something to eat. He jumped up to eat the sun. Actually, the Sun is very large, but Hanuman was a child and didn't know. He reached the Sun. He could travel through the air. The Sun said, "Why have you come now? I have just come out, and in a little while, Rahu will consume me."
Narrator:
Hanumanji asked, "Who is Rahu? I won't leave today. I want to see who consumes you." Just as it was time and Rahu was about to touch the Sun, Hanumanji grabbed Rahu by his tuft of hair and shook him so hard that Rahu couldn't do anything. Lord Indra saw this and thought, "What is this? This is a matter of universal law. This has been happening for ages. How can this be stopped?"
Narrator:
He saw that Hanuman was the one doing it. He immediately launched a weapon to strike Hanuman. However, Hanuman didn't die; he is the son of the Wind God and was blessed by Brahma. He fell to the ground. Lord Brahma came, sprinkled water from his pot, revived him, and scolded Indra. He said, "Why did you use a weapon on this child? Why?"
Narrator:
Indra replied, "But the natural order... Rahu is supposed to consume the Sun and Moon. That is the rule." Brahma said, "That's all fine, but why did you use a weapon on this child who isn't even eleven years old?"
Narrator:
Eventually, Indra apologized, and the matter was settled. Hanumanji's life was saved. That is why it is said that if Rahu "touches" someone (astrologically), reciting the Hanuman Chalisa makes Rahu afraid. This is the primary reason why people are told to recite the Hanuman Chalisa—if Rahu's influence falls on someone, they should recite it on Tuesdays and Saturdays and perform puja. Then Rahu cannot touch them.
Spiritual Insight
This final episode of Rahu's birth story completes the cosmic drama that began with the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan). After being decapitated by Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra for drinking the nectar, Rahu and Ketu seek revenge by consuming Surya (Sun) and Chandra (Moon) daily, causing the world to burn. The solution comes through Aruna—born prematurely from Vinata Devi's egg—who becomes the Sun's charioteer and absorbs excess heat. Ultimately, Lord Vishnu pacifies Rahu and Ketu by elevating them to divine status as "Rahu Dev" and "Ketu Dev," representing Time itself (Kaal). The story concludes with the tale of Hanuman's childhood attempt to eat the sun, establishing why reciting the Hanuman Chalisa protects against Rahu's astrological influence.