| Sanskrit name | The north lunar node |
|---|---|
| Signifies | ambition, obsession, foreign/unconventional, sudden gains |
| Own sign | — |
| Exalted in | Taurus or Gemini, by tradition |
| Debilitated in | Scorpio or Sagittarius, by tradition |
| Dasha length | 18 years |
What Rahu governs
Rahu signifies ambition, obsession, foreign/unconventional, sudden gains. 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 Rahu dasha
In the Vimshottari system Rahu runs for 18 years. It governs the nakshatras Ardra, Swati, Shatabhisha, so a Moon in any of those begins life inside a Rahu period.
What does Rahu signify in Vedic astrology?
Rahu signifies ambition, obsession, foreign/unconventional, sudden gains. It is exalted in Taurus or Gemini, by tradition and debilitated in Scorpio or Sagittarius, by tradition, and runs a 18-year Vimshottari dasha.