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Rahu, Demon God of Eclipses

Cambodian sandstone sculpture of Rahu, 10th-11th century. In Hindu tradition, Rahu is a severed head of an asura (a power seeking deity), that swallows the sun causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagrahas (nine planets) in Vedic astrology and is paired with Ketu. The time of day considered to be under the influence of Rahu is called Rahu kala and is considered inauspicious. Astronomically, Rahu and Ketu denote the points of intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon as they move on the celestial sphere. Rahu and Ketu are respectively called the north and the south lunar nodes. The fact that eclipses occur when the Sun and the Moon are at one of these points gives rise to the myth of the swallowing of the Sun and the Moon by the demon snake.
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Title:
Rahu, Demon God of Eclipses
Caption:
Cambodian sandstone sculpture of Rahu, 10th-11th century. In Hindu tradition, Rahu is a severed head of an asura (a power seeking deity), that swallows the sun causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagrahas (nine planets) in Vedic astrology and is paired with Ketu. The time of day considered to be under the influence of Rahu is called Rahu kala and is considered inauspicious. Astronomically, Rahu and Ketu denote the points of intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon as they move on the celestial sphere. Rahu and Ketu are respectively called the north and the south lunar nodes. The fact that eclipses occur when the Sun and the Moon are at one of these points gives rise to the myth of the swallowing of the Sun and the Moon by the demon snake.
Personalities:
CAMBODIAN
Credit:
Album / Science Source / Los Angeles County Museum
Releases:
Model: No - Property: No
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Image size:
3000 x 4015 px | 34.5 MB
Print size:
25.4 x 34.0 cm | 10.0 x 13.4 in (300 dpi)
Keywords:
10TH CENTURY • 11TH CENTURY • ANCIENT CIVILIZATION • ANCIENT CULTURE • ANCIENT • ANTIQUITY • ARCHAEOLOGICAL • ARCHAEOLOGY • ARCHEOLOGICAL • ART • ARTWORK • ASTROLOGICAL • ASTROLOGY • ASURA • BEDIC • CAMBODIAN • CELEBRITY • CULT, HINDUISM • DEITIES • DEITY • DEMON GOD • ECLIPSE SOLAR • ECLIPSE • FAMOUS • GOD OF ECLIPSES • GOD • HINDU • HINDUISM • HISTORIC • HISTORICAL • HISTORY • IMPORTANT • LEGEND • LEGENDARY • MYTH • MYTHIC • MYTHOLOGICAL • MYTHOLOGY • NAVAGRAHAS • NOTABLE • RELIGION • RELIGIOUS • SANDSTONE • SCIENCE • SCULPTURE • SERPENT GOD • SOLAR ECLIPSE • SOLAR ECLIPSES • SOLAR ECLISPE • WELL-KNOWN