Rahukaalam
Rahukaalam (transl. The time or period of the Rahu) or simply Rahu Kaal refers to an inauspicious time span on every day which is not considered favourable to start any new activity. In Hindu astrology, it covers a span of 90 minutes everyday between sunrise and sunset. It is considered important in southern India and is strictly avoided while calculating and muhurtas. Although, the routine tasks which have already been started can continue as usual in this period.[1]
Background
Rahu is a shadow planet and king of meteors among nine mythological planets (navagraha) mentioned in Hindu texts. In mythological texts, an Asura named Svarbhanu disguised as a Deva during Samudra Manthan to get amrita from Mohini and was cut into Rahu and Ketu by Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra. Rahu is considered a malefic planet which tries to eclipse sun and the time it is believed to influence, is considered inauspicious.[3][4]
Calculations
Rahu Kaal is considered in a predefined manner during set times on the different days of the week but can vary as per the sun rise timing as well. It's instances vary from place to place[1][4] Timing of sunrise is marked in Panchang and 12 hours of the day is divided into eight equal parts (say 06:00 IST morning to 18:00 IST at evening). Rahu call doesn't occur on first part of the day and rest of seven parts are attributed to other different parts of the day.[1][4] Contemporarily:
- Monday- 7.30-9.00 (2nd part)
- Tuesday- 15.00-16.30 (7th part)
- Wednesday- 12.00-13.30 (5th part)
- Thursday- 13.30-1500 (6th part)
- Friday-10.30-12.00 (4th part)
- Saturday- 9.00- 10.30 (3rd part)
- Sunday- 16.30-18.00 (8th part)
See also
References
- Narayanam, A. Sathya (14 December 2017). "What is Rahu Kaal and Timing of Rahu Kaal Every Day". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- Kramrisch, Stella; Burnier, Raymond (1976). The Hindu temple. 2. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 325–6. ISBN 978-81-208-0224-7.
- "Rahu Kaal Explained". 2 January 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.