Rahuराहु

Rahu is the north node of the Moon — the point where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic moving northward. It has no physical body and is always exactly opposite Ketu. Classical texts treat it as a planet (graha) despite its mathematical nature, assigning it qualities, house rulership in some systems, and a significant role in dasha analysis.

Associated with: intense worldly desire and ambition, foreign places and cultures, unconventional or boundary-crossing behaviour, mass media and technology, obsessive focus, and things that feel compelling but unfamiliar. Also associated with paternal grandfather in classical signification tables.

Rahu does not rule a sign in the classical seven-planet system, but some traditions assign it co-rulership of Kumbha (Aquarius). SahiKundli follows the classical seven-planet rulership scheme and does not assign Rahu or Ketu as lagna lords.

Node calculation: SahiKundli uses the True Node position for Rahu and Ketu, computed from the Swiss Ephemeris. This differs from the Mean Node by up to 1.5° at any given time. Both are legitimate; True Node is the more precise astronomical value and is SahiKundli's disclosed engineering choice. In Jaimini's eight-karaka scheme, Rahu's degree is counted in reverse (30° minus its longitude within the sign) to determine its karaka rank.

Used on SahiKundli for: Rahu's placement in houses and signs, Kaal Sarp yoga analysis, Vimshottari dasha periods, and as a karaka candidate in Jaimini readings.