राहित्य रि

राहु

राहु [रह्-उण्]
1 N. of a demon, son of Vipracitti and Siṃhikā and hence often called Saiṃhikeya; ग्रसते हि तमोपहं मुहुर्ननु राह्वाह्वमहर्पतिं तमः Śi. 16. 57. [When the nectar, that was churned out of the ocean, was being served to the gods, Rāhu disguised himself and attempted to drink it along with them. But he was detected by the sun and the moon who informed Viṣṇu o the fraud. Viṣṇu, thereupon, severedf his head from the body; but as he had tasted a little quantity of nectar the head became immortal, and is supposed to wreak its vengeance on the sun and moon at the time of conjunction and opposition; cf. Bh. 2. 34. In astronomy Rāhu is regarded, like Ketu, as one of the nine planets, or only as the ascending mode of the moon.]
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2 An eclipse, or rather the moment of occulation.
3 Abandoning.
4 One who abandons.
5 The regent of the southwest quarter.
−Comp.
−उच्छिष्टं, −उ- त्सृष्टं = लशुन q. v.
−गत a. darkened. −ग्रसनं, −ग्रासः, −दर्शनं, −पीडा, −संस्पर्शः an eclipse (of the sun or moon).
−छत्रं green ginger.
−भेदिन् m. N. of Viṣṇu.
−सूतकं ‘the birth of Rāhu,’ i. e. an eclipse (of the sun or moon); Y. 1. 146; cf. Ms. 4. 110.

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