Rahu Transit in Mrigashira

Mrigashira, the deer's head, belongs to Mars and to Soma, the deity of the nectar. Its first two padas lie in Taurus and its last two in Gemini. Mars is Rahu's enemy in the usual lists, and when Rahu passes through, the searching, restless quality of this nakshatra gains an edge.

The stay lasts around seven months. Moving backward, Rahu enters at the fourth pada in Gemini and leaves from the first pada in Taurus, and a few weeks of direct motion by the true node can split the stay in two. Seeking, curiosity, travel, fragrance, romance and the hunt for something not found are Mrigashira's themes.

Rahu turns seeking into restlessness, and the person changes jobs, cities or partners in search of something that keeps moving. Ketu stands in Mula for the Gemini padas and in Jyeshtha for the Taurus padas. It cuts away the roots one had thought secure.

• For the Gemini padas, Aries, Capricorn and Leo Moons hold Rahu in the third, sixth and eleventh, the houses Phaladeepika favours.
• For the Taurus padas the favoured signs become Pisces, Sagittarius and Cancer.
• Gemini and Taurus Moons carry Rahu in the first and feel the search most keenly.
• Sagittarius and Scorpio Moons meet Ketu in the first and Rahu in the seventh, and partnership becomes the hunt.
• The lagna is read by the same count.

Rahu in Mrigashira exposes the habit of looking elsewhere. Seeing the habit makes it possible to turn it toward sadhana, where the searching has an end.

Worship Durga, and on a full moon night offer water to the Moon in honour of Soma. Recite Om Ram Rahave Namah. Parashara's remedy is mantra and dana, and for Rahu the dana is dark cloth, sesame and oil on Saturday. Avoid intoxicants, and finish one thing before beginning the next.