What is the origin of Ketu in Vedic astrology?
Ketu in Vedic astrology comes from Hindu mythology. The story behind Ketu is during the samundra manthan, demons and gods performed their best to obtain Amrit from the ocean. When amrit patra came out, demons and gods started fighting for it as it is said that the person who will consume Amrit will become immortal. There, Lord Narayan decides to not give Amrit to the demons as they will preform more unrighteousness in the world. He plays a mischievous character named Mohini. And give all the amrit to the gods. When mohini was giving Amrit to the gods, a demon named Rahuketu observed him and decides to take make another mischievous. When lord Narayan caught them, he splits the body of rahuketu into 2 half and there Rahu and Ketu becomes two different immortal demons. From there onwards they are a part of all nine planets.
In Vedic astrology, Ketu is the tail of the immortal snake demon Svarbhanu, who was beheaded by Lord Vishnu. The head became Rahu. Ketu is a shadow planet, or the South Node of the Moon and is a significant celestial point in a person’s birth chart.
Ketu is associated with spiritual liberation, enlightenment and detachment. It represents the karmic influences and lessons from past life that shape our current life. It also encourages detachment from material and worldly desires. Ketu is also said to liberate one from cycle of life and death.
