Posted by Art Of Legend India [dot] Com On 5:16 AM
Ketu graha is not a planet but a node of the moon like Rahu. Ketu, just like Rahu, is also an imaginary planet, a node. It is said according to Indian mythology that Ketu represents the tail of demon and Rahu represents the head. Both the planets are the parts of the same demon.
According to the Hindu mythology, when lord Vishnu in the form of Mohini, was distributing nectar (amrita), Rahu, the demon, observed that nectar is being given to the gods, so he joined the company of the gods and drank nectar; after then lord Vishnu cut his body into two parts with his discus. Rahu had already drunk the nectar, so he became an immortal head, disassociated from an immortal body.
Ketu is also not a real luminary and therefore doesn't rule any zodiac sign. He is associated with the deity Ganesha, the elephant god, in his role of Ganpati, the remover of obstacles. His can be Brahmin-like since he is a spiritual seeker. He is always in the opposite sign to Rahu and moves at the same speed of about 18 months in a sign of the zodiac. He is friends with Mars, Venus, and Saturn; he considers Sun and Moon as his enemies and is neutral to Mercury and Jupiter. He is akin to Rahu, who is shown with two arms, one holding a mace while the other gives a gesture of blessing. He is the headless body of Rahu, but is shown with a head out of respect. He is represented by comets and by waving flags.
Ketu’s body is smoky and he wears multicolored, striped or black clothes. He rides upon a vulture. Like Rahu, he was conferred the title of planet by Lord Brahma after he was made immortal from drinking the divine nectar (amrita).All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.