| Sanskrit name | The south lunar node |
|---|---|
| Signifies | detachment, spirituality, past karma, liberation, loss |
| Own sign | — |
| Exalted in | Scorpio or Sagittarius, by tradition |
| Debilitated in | Taurus or Gemini, by tradition |
| Dasha length | 7 years |
What Ketu governs
Ketu signifies detachment, spirituality, past karma, liberation, loss. Its strength is read from the sign it occupies, the house it sits in, the company it keeps and the aspects it receives — never from one factor alone.
The Ketu dasha
In the Vimshottari system Ketu runs for 7 years. It governs the nakshatras Ashwini, Magha, Mula, so a Moon in any of those begins life inside a Ketu period.
How to judge Ketu in a kundli
Begin with house lordship from the actual Lagna, then read the house occupied by Ketu. Add sign dignity, conjunctions, aspects and nakshatra. Own-sign or exalted placement can give a planet more capacity to produce its significations, while debilitation can require support or maturity; neither condition is a complete verdict by itself.
During a Ketu Mahadasha or Antardasha, topics connected with its natal houses and significations tend to become more prominent. Outcomes still depend on the whole chart and on the interacting period lord. This is why a 7-year Ketu Mahadasha cannot be described responsibly with one universal prediction.
Common questions
What does Ketu signify in Vedic astrology?
Ketu signifies detachment, spirituality, past karma, liberation, loss. It is exalted in Scorpio or Sagittarius, by tradition and debilitated in Taurus or Gemini, by tradition, and runs a 7-year Vimshottari dasha.
Is Ketu always beneficial or difficult?
No planet has one fixed result in every kundli. Ketu must be judged by sign, house, lordship, dignity, conjunctions, aspects and the active dasha. The same planet can support one topic while demanding more work in another.