Rahu and Ketu are mathematical points, not physical planets.
Even though they are not physical bodies, they complete the nine grahas (the planets used in a Vedic chart). Each of them also has its own period in the Vimshottari dasha, the most common dasha (planetary period) system.
Lessons that use this term
- What is Vedic astrology (Jyotish)? A beginner's guide
- Vedic vs Western astrology: sidereal and tropical zodiac differences
- What is a birth chart (kundali) in Vedic astrology?
- Nine planets (navagraha) in Vedic astrology: a beginner's guide
- House lords in Vedic astrology: how lordship works
- Functional benefic and malefic planets for each ascendant
- How Skybond reads a Vedic chart: method and conventions
- Aries ascendant (Mesha lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Taurus ascendant (Vrishabha lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Gemini ascendant (Mithuna lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Cancer ascendant (Karka lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Leo ascendant (Simha lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Virgo ascendant (Kanya lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Libra ascendant (Tula lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Scorpio ascendant (Vrischika lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Sagittarius ascendant (Dhanu lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Capricorn ascendant (Makara lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Aquarius ascendant (Kumbha lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Pisces ascendant (Meena lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets
- Classical texts of Vedic astrology: BPHS, Phaladeepika, Saravali
- How to read a South Indian birth chart
- How to read the planet table in a Vedic chart
- Sun (Surya) in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations
- Mars (Mangala) in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations
- Jupiter (Guru) in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations
- Venus (Shukra) in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations
- Saturn (Shani) in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations
- Rahu (north node) in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations
- Ketu (south node) in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations
- Natural benefic and malefic planets in Vedic astrology
- Planetary dignity in Vedic astrology: strong and weak planets
- Taurus (Vrishabha) sign in Vedic astrology: traits and lord
- Gemini (Mithuna) sign in Vedic astrology: traits and lord
- Virgo (Kanya) sign in Vedic astrology: traits and lord
- Scorpio (Vrishchika) sign in Vedic astrology: traits and lord
- Sagittarius (Dhanu) sign in Vedic astrology: traits and lord
- Pisces (Meena) sign in Vedic astrology: traits and lord
- Sign lords (rulers) of the 12 signs in Vedic astrology
- Kendra, trikona, dusthana and upachaya houses explained
- What is a yogakaraka planet? Yogakaraka for each ascendant
- What is gochar? Planetary transits in Vedic astrology
- Vedic astrology basics quiz: practice 0
- Read a sample Vedic chart: practice 1 (foundations)
- Rahu in Aquarius, Ketu in Leo (May 2025 to Dec 2026)
- Rahu in Capricorn, Ketu in Cancer (Dec 2026 to mid-2028)
- Doshas in Vedic astrology: what they are and what they are not
- Kaal Sarp dosha: origins and controversy
- Pitra dosha: what the classical texts say
Drafted with AI from verified sources, fact-checked and edited by Skybond before publishing. Read more.