RAHU BHAGAVAN

 

Thirunageswaram Sthala varalaru, dosham and remedial measures

The king of the nagas, Rahu prayed to Lord Siva and hence this place got the name Thirunageswaram. Here Rahu Bhagavan has manifested with both his consorts. At this sthala, the colour of milk changes from white to blue during Abhishekam. On 16.2.86, a snake had shed off its outer skin on Rahu Bhagavan, which is preserved and worshipped to date.

The abode of Uppiliappan, which is also hailed as 'South Tirupathi', is situated very close to this temple. Of the 127 temples located to the South of river Cauvery, this temple is amongst the most prominent.

Suryan, Vinayagar, Gautamar, Nalan, Parasarar, Pandavas, Vasishtar, Indran, Brahma, Bageerathan, Chandrasenan, Adiseshan, Kakkan Karkodagan, Sounagar, Nargunan have prayed and benefited at this sthala.

King Sambumali who had incurred the wrath of sage Kaalangiri, attained moksha after bathing in the temple tank and praying to the Lord and Ambal of this temple.

When amirtham emerged after churning of the Paarkadal by the devas and the asuras, Lord Vishnu in the guise of Mohini was distributing the amirtham only to the devas. Realising this, Rahu (an asura) with the help of Sukrachariyar, took the form of a deva and consumed the nectar. Suryan and Chandran who noticed this, complained to Lord Narayana. In anger, Lord Narayana hit Rahu on the head with the spoon in his hand. The head was cut off and fell on the ground. But because he had consumed amirtham, his head and body continued to live. The body of the snake got attached to the head. Rahu takes his revenge on Suryan and Chandran, whenever he gets a chance by devouring them. This is commonly called as eclipse. Rahu prayed to Lord Vishnu (Narayana) and got the position of a Sayagraham.
 
 

Rahu is the source of plenty. Kalathra dosham, puthira dosham, communicable diseases, mental disorders, leprosy, fall in grace are caused by Rahu dosham. Praying to Rahu at this sthala helps rid a person from these factors and also saves the person from all poisonous life forms. Trips to holy places, Gnanmarkam are his beneficial aspects. 

The sthalam of Rahu is Thirunageswaram, which is located 6 kms from Kumbakonam, enroute to Karaikal. The presiding deities are Naaganaadar and Girigujaambigai. He faces the South-West direction. The Adi Devatha is Durga and the Prathyathi Devatha is the snake. His colour is black, his vahana is blue lion; the grain associated with him is orid; the flower-mandarai; fabric-black cloth; gem- Komedagam; food-rice mixed with orid dhal powder.

RAHU

rAga: rAmapriyA (ramAmanohari) / tAla: rUpaka

smarAmy aham sadA rAhuM sUryacandravIkSyaM vikRtadeham

surAsuraM rogaharaM sarpAdibhItiharaM shurpAsanasukhakaraM shUlAyaudhadharakaraM

karAlavadanaM kaThinaM kayAnArNakaruNArdrApahNgaM caturbhujaM khaDgakheTAdidharaNan carmAdinIlavastraM gomedakAbharaNaM shanisukramitraguruguhasaMtoSakaraNaM

Translation:

I am constantly reminded of Rahu who seizes Surya and Chandra[1], and is deformed[2].

Who is both God and demon[3], who removes all ills, and dispels danger from poisonous creatures like serpents. Who does good to those who worship him seated in his grain-sieve[4] and bears the spear.

Who with a dreadful face, harsh, directing his compassionate side-glance when worshipped with the Kayana mantra[5], with four hands and carrying the sword and shield. Who is attired in blue cloth and dress made of leather, who wears ornaments made of Gomedaka gems[6], the friendly planet of Shani and Shukra, and who delights Guruguha.

Notes:

  1. The planets Rahu and Ketu are the ascending and descending nodes, the points where the path of the Moon crosses the ecliptic and as a result causes eclipses. These demons are regarded as constantly chasing Surya and Chandra, to seize them, and when they catch up swallow them.
  2. Rahu and Ketu are the upper and lower parts of the body of a demon dragon which was cut into two by Vishnu. Rahu is therefore called 'dragon's head' and Ketu 'dragon's tail'. The following episode from the Mahabharata describes this event. "As the Gods were drinking the ambrosia which they so desired, a demon named Rahu took the form of a god and began to drink, but when the ambrosia reached his throat, the Moon and the Sun reported it, for they wished to help the gods, and the lord Vishnu took his discus and cut off the well-adorned head of that demon who was drinking the ambrosia he had obtained by force. The great head of the demon, which was like the peak of a mountain, fell to earth. The severed head rose up to the sky, roaring terribly, but the headless torso of the demon fell and split open the surface of the earth, causing a tremor throughout the earth with its mountains forests and islands. Since then there has been a deadly enmity between the head of Rahu and the Moon and Sun, and the immortal head swallows them up even today."
  3. A god for having drunk ambrosia (amritam) and a demon by birth
  4. A grain sifter having a wooden frame of the shape shown in the line-configuration for Rahu
  5. ref. to mantra text for Rahu
  6. A gemstone of the mineral 'hessonite', one of the lime-aluminum varieties of garnet; colors honey, brownish, cinnamon; found mostly in Ceylon

Propitiation of Rahu (Saturday)

CHARITY: Donate a coconut, old coins or coal to a leper on Saturday.

FASTING: On the first Saturday of the waxing moon, especially during major or minor Rahu periods.

MANTRA: To be chanted on Saturday, two hours after sunset, especially during major or minor Rahu periods:

Rahva-astottara-shata-nama-vali

(The 108 names of Rahu)

Aum rahave namah

Aum saumhikeyaya namah

Aum vidhuntudaya namah

Aum surashatrave namah

Aum tamase namah

Aum phanine namah

Aum gargyaynapa namah

Aum surapye namah

Aum nibajimutasamkashaya namah

Aum caturbhujava namah

Aum khangakhetaka-dharine namah

Aum varadayakahastakaya namah

Aum shulayudhaya namah

Aum megha-varnaya namah

Aum krishna-dhvajapatakavate namah

Aum dakshinashamukharathaya namah

Aum tikshnadamshtakarallakaya namah

Aum shupokarasansthaya namah

Aum gomedha-bharana-priyaya namah

Aum mashapriyaya namah

Aum kashyaparshinandanaya namah

Aum bhujageshvaraya namah

Aum ulkapatayitre namah

Aum shuline namah

Aum nidhipaya namah

Aum krishna-sarpa-raje namah

Aum vishajvalavrita ' asyaya addhashariraya namah

Aum shatravapradaya namah

Aum ravindubhikaraya namah

Aum chaya-svarupine namah

Aum kathinangakaya namah

Aum dvishacchatracchedakaya namah

Aum karallasyaya namah

Aum bhayamkaraya namah

Aum krura-karmane namah

Aum tamo-rupaya namah

Aum shyam-atmane namah

Aum nila-lohitaya namah

Aum kiritine namah

Aum nilavasanaya namah

Aum sanisamntavartmagaya namah

Aum candala-varnaya namah

Aum ashvyriksa-bhavaya namah

Aum mesha-bhavaya namah

Aum shanivat-phaladaya namah

Aum shuraya namah

Aum apasavyagataye namah

Aum uparagakagaya namah

Aum soma-surya-cchavivimardakaya namah

Aum nila-pushpa-viharaya namah

Aum graha-shreshthaya namah

Aum ashtama-grahaya namah

Aum kabamdhamatradehaya namah

Aum yatudhanakulodbhavaya namah

Aum govinda-vara-patraya namah

Aum deva-jati-pravishtakaya namah

Aum kruraya namah Aum gharaya namah

Aum shanir-mitraya namah

Aum shukra-mitraya namah

Aum agocaraya namah

Aum mani ganga-snanadatre' namah

Aum svagrihe' pravaladhyadaya namah

Aum sad-grihe'anyabaladhrite' namah

Aum caturthe matri-nashakaya namah

Aum candrayukte candalajati sihmajanmane rajyadatre namah

Aum mahakayaya namah

Aum janma-kartre' namah

Aum vidhuripave' namah

Aum madakajnanadaya namah

Aum janmakanyarajyadatre' namah

Aum janmahanidaya namah

Aum navame pitrihantre' namah

Aum pancame' shokadayakaya namah

Aum dhyune' kalatrahantre' namah

Aum saptame kalahapradaya namah

Aum shashthe' vittadatre' namah

Aum caturthe' vairadayaka namah

Aum navame' papadatre' namah

Aum dashame shokadayakaya namah

Aum adau yashah pradatre' namah

Aum ante vairapradayakaya namah

Aum kalatmane' namah

Aum gocaracaraya namah

Aum ghane' kakutpradaya namah

Aum pancame' ghishanashringadaya namah

Aum svarbhanave' namah

Aum baline' namah

Aum maha-saukhya-pradayine' namah

Aum chandra-vairine namah

Aum shashvataya namah

Aum surashatrave' namah

Aum papagrahaya namah

Aum shambhavaya namah

Aum pujyakaya namah

Aum patirapuranaya namah

Aum paithinasakulodbhavaya bhakta-rakshaya namah

Aum rahu-murtaye' namah

Aum sarva-bhishta-phala-pradaya namah

Aum dirghaya namah

Aum krishnaya namah

Aum atanave' namah

Aum vishnu-netraraye' namah

Aum devaya namah Aum danavaya namah.

Rahu seed mantra: Aum bhram bhrim bhraum sah rahave namah.

RESULT: The planetary diety Rahu is propitiated granting victory over enemies, favour from the King or government, and reduction in diseases caused by Rahu.

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