Ketu is a mystic planet like Rahu. It is not a physical planet but an imaginary point like Rahu. It is also called Dragon’s tail or south node. He is called ‘Vighnakaraka’ which means that the planet signifies obstacles. Ketu always moves 180° apart from Rahu (opposite to Rahu). Rahu and Ketu are termed as malefic planets. The difference between them being, Rahu shadows the planet and thereby makes the planet or house weak, while Ketu acts as a planet of the blockade and blocks the results of the planet and the bhava. Rahu and Ketu periodically eclipse Sun and Moon.

Ketu is called as ‘Mokshakaraka’ in Astrology. He influences spirituality and self-realization. A favorable Ketu in a chart can give knowledge of self, intuitive power, inquisitiveness to know the unknown. It helps one to learn occult science like a mantra, tantra, astrology, etc. He represents philosophy, psychic abilities and helps to come out of illusion thereby liberation. Ketu gives a lot of obstacles in the material world but promotes spirituality.

It is said in dictum as ‘Kuja vath Ketu’ which means Ketu behaves as Kuja or Mars. It represents and gives the result like Mars. Here Ketu signifies sudden events and transformation in a spiritual path. Like Mars, Ketu is also a fiery planet that helps to burn the material desires.

Rahu and Ketu show some karmic backlog in the chart. Rahu shows some unfulfilled desires of the past life while Ketu shows overindulgence in the past life. If Ketu is badly posited in the chart, that shows the native in the past life may have excessively enjoyed life with greed at the cost of others. The position of Ketu will determine the specific area of life where the native had overindulgence. In this life, Ketu makes that person discontent in those areas or gives a lot of obstacles. It can either give a lot of problems in achieving a particular goal or make him completely detached from that.

Other Astrological Significations Ketu represents multicolor, he faces south, his weapons are mace and varad. His mandala is like a flag post. Shakti devata for Ketu is Dhoomra, Adhi devata is Brahma, Prathyadhi devata is Chitragupta, Abhimana devata is Ganapathi. Number of japas to be performed is 17000, number of homas is 1700 and number of tarpans is 170. The sacred wood is Kusha or Darbha. The oblation is the rice made of jeera or chitranna. The idol is made out of bronze. The flower offered is oleander or red kanagale. Good day for commencing the poojas for Ketu is Tuesday in the star of Swati. The mantra to be recited is ‘Om Kethave Namah’.

Astrologically, Ketu doesn’t own any house since it is a shadow planet. However, it is believed that he owns Meena rasi (Pisces) and exalted in Sagittarius (Dhanu) and debilitated in Gemini (Mithuna). It is also said that Ketu is very auspicious in Scorpio and negative in Taurus. The Dasa period of Ketu is 7 years.