Rahu

Rahu (Sanskrit. राहु Rahu m) is in Vedic Astrology ( Jyotisha ) one of the Navagrahas, the nine planetary personalized. As the ascending lunar node Rahu represents the eighth planet. In Indian mythology, he is one of the demonic Daityas. His heavenly chariot ( Ratha ) is drawn according to the Vishnu Purana of eight cents.

Myth of Amrita

Rahu is the son of demonic Viprachitta and grandson of the great sage Kashyapa. His mother is Sinhika. In the cosmogonic story of the churning of the milk ocean in your struggle between the gods ( suras ) and demons ( asuras ) is Rahu mingled unnoticed among the gods, and so he was able to drink a drop of immortality potion Amrita. The sun god Surya and the moon god Chandra recognized him and betrayed him Vishnu, who with his discus struck off Rahu on the head. And when he had already become immortal, born from the lower half of his body Ketu, the planet of the descending lunar node. Rahu and Ketu were as immortal beings a place in the sky. Since then, Rahu tries to take revenge on the sun and moon, followed by threatening them and devour it. If it is possible to devour them, created a solar or lunar eclipse.

In a similar version, as told by the Mongols, emerged from the ocean of milk initially sun and moon and positioned themselves in heaven. In addition, the Life Potion came out, the stolen the Asuras. The supreme god of heaven Khurmusta gathered the gods around and declared that it was necessary to Amrita bring back from the Asuras, because they would otherwise be more powerful. Then the sun took the form of a beautiful maiden and went to the Asuras, who had just gathered to drink Amrita. The Virgin asked the Asuras at first to take a bath and took the bowl with Amrita at each other as they were gone. The ausgetricksten Asuras certain one of them, who was called Rahu, disguised as a moon infiltrate the gods to zurückzurauben the shell. The actual Moon noticed this, informed the Bodhisattva Vajrapani, who beat Rahu with the sword in two. Rahu head half remained alive and persecuted since the sun and moon.

With derived therefrom myths and other Central Asian nations declared the solar and lunar eclipses. In the Buryat an evil monster named Alkha persecuted both celestial body and swallowed them up occasionally. In such a case the moon called for help and the people were asked to scream loudly and throwing stones up to drive the beast. Another name of the animal was Arakho; it could be presented in the dark moon surfaces.