Rahu Transit in Uttara Ashadha

Uttara Ashadha is the Sun's nakshatra, with the Vishvadevas as its deities and a tusk or the planks of a bed as its symbol. The first pada lies in Sagittarius and the other three in Capricorn. In the usual lists the Sun is Rahu's enemy and Saturn, who owns the Capricorn padas, its friend. Jupiter, owner of the Sagittarius pada, is neutral.

Rahu enters at the fourth pada, in Capricorn, and moves backward to the first pada in Sagittarius over about eight months. A direct spell of the true node can split the stay into two visits. The themes are lasting victory, righteousness, leadership, universal principles, and the endurance of the tusk.

Rahu inflates the claim to righteousness. Leaders declare principles they do not keep, and a person may pursue a just cause with unjust means. Ketu stands in Pushya for the first half of the stay and in Punarvasu for the second. It withdraws from nourishment and then from the wish to return.

From the Moon, the Capricorn padas favour Scorpio, Leo and Pisces, who hold Rahu in the third, sixth and eleventh named by Phaladeepika. For the Sagittarius pada the favoured signs are Libra, Cancer and Aquarius. Capricorn and Sagittarius Moons carry Rahu in the first. Cancer and Gemini Moons meet Ketu in the first and Rahu in the seventh, and the same holds from the lagna.

The transit shows whether one's principles hold when they cost something. The tusk does not bend, and the stay shows whether one's dharma is kept or only declared.

Offer water to the Sun at dawn, whose star this is, and remember the Vishvadevas with a share of what is cooked. Worship Durga with Om Ram Rahave Namah. The knees need care, and intoxicants are to be avoided. Parashara prescribes mantra and dana, and the gifts for Rahu, dark cloth, sesame and oil, go on Saturday to someone who labours.