NatureShadow planet (south lunar node), malefic, spiritual
RulesNone classically (co-ruler of Scorpio in some texts)
Exalted inScorpio / Sagittarius (varies by text)
Debilitated inTaurus / Gemini (varies by text)
DayTuesday
GemstoneCat's Eye (Lehsunia)
ColourSmoky grey
Direction—
ElementFire
Vimshottari Dasha7 years
About Ketu
Ketu is the south lunar node, always exactly opposite Rahu. Traditionally depicted as a body without a head, it represents detachment from the material world, spiritual insight and moksha.
Ketu shows skills and tendencies carried from past lives. Where it sits, a person may feel instinctive mastery combined with a sense of dissatisfaction that pushes them towards inner growth.
What Ketu signifies
Spirituality, detachment, moksha, intuition, past-life skills, sudden separation.
Friends and Enemies
| Relationship | Planets |
|---|
| Friends | Mars, Venus, Saturn |
| Neutral | Mercury, Jupiter |
| Enemies | Sun, Moon |
A planet placed in a friend's sign, or joined with friendly planets, generally gives better results than one placed with enemies.
When Ketu Is Well Placed
A well-placed Ketu brings intuition, spiritual depth, research ability, interest in astrology, healing and the occult, and a quiet, detached wisdom.
When Ketu Is Weak or Afflicted
An afflicted Ketu can bring confusion, sudden losses or separations, and a feeling of emptiness. It is a fiery planet associated with sudden or hard-to-diagnose ailments.
Remedies for Ketu
- Worship Lord Ganesha
- Recite the Ketu mantra or Ganesha mantras
- Donate blankets or feed dogs
- Wear cat's eye only after a proper chart analysis
Beej mantra
Om Sraam Sreem Sraum Sah Ketave Namah — traditionally recited 17,000 times over a period (for example 40 days), with devotion and understanding of its meaning.
Remedies are supportive practices. See all nine mantras on the
Graha Mantra page.
Where is Ketu in your chart?See the sign, house and strength of every planet in your free Vedic birth chart.
Free Horoscope