A TO Z INDIA SPECIAL ISSUE PAGE 21 Ketu: In Sanskrit, Ketu means comet. It is said that he has a tail of a serpent in his body and his nature very much matched to that of a comet. In pictures, he shown riding a vulture and holding a mace. The Mantras and meanings: Palasha Pushpa Sankaasham Taarakaa Graha Mastakam Rowdram Rowdraat Makam Ghoram Tam Ketum Prana Maa Myaham Meaning: I pray to Ketu, who has the appearance of Palaasha flower, the head of stars and planets. He is violent and fearsome. It is chanted every day, after sunset for success in love, marriage & prosperity Gemstone is Lasniya (Cat’s Eye). The planets, their representations and favorable days to chant: Ketu – supernatural influences. Astrology: Since Rahu and Ketu are two opposite lunar nodes, they always appear in diametrically opposite houses (Bh ā va) of horoscopes. In Hindu astrology Ketu represents karmic collections both good and bad, spirituality and supernatural influences. Ketu signifies the spiritual process of the refinement of materialisation to the spirit and is considered both malefic and benefic, as it causes sorrow an d loss, and yet at the same time turns the individual to God. In other words, it causes material loss in order to force a more spiritual outlook in the person. Ketu is a karaka or indicator of intelligence, wisdom, non- attachment, fantasy, penetrating insight, derangement, and psychic abilities. Ketu is believed to bring prosperity to the devotee's family, removes the effects of snakebite and illness arising out of poisons. He grants good health, wealth and cattle to his devotees. Ketu is the lord of three nakshatras or lunar mansions: Ashvini, Magha and Mula. K etu i s c onsidered r esponsible f or moksha, sannyasa, self-realization, gnana, a wavering nature, restlessness, the endocrine system and slender physique. The people who come under the influence of Ketu can achieve great heights, most of them spiritual.