Saturn - Śani or Śanaiścara

Saturn - Śani or Śanaiścara 
Śani who is also known as Śanaiścara comes from Śanayē Kramati Saḥ, the one who moves slowly, because Saturn takes about 30 years to revolve around the Sun.

Śani is the son of Sūrya and his wife Chāyā (Shade). He is the elder brother of Yama, the god of death, who is also the Lord of Dharma or justice.

Surya’s two sons Śani and Yama judge and punish all beings for their bad karmas:

Śani supervises the results of our deeds in this life through appropriate joy and sorrow; Yama grants the results of our deeds after death.

It is said that when Śani opened his eyes as a baby for the very first time, the sun went into an eclipse, which clearly denotes the impact of Śani on astrological charts.

He is known as the greatest teacher and well-wisher for the righteous as well the greatest punisher for those who follow the path of evil, betrayal, backstabbing and unjust revenge.

He is depicted dark in colour, clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and mounted on his vehicle the carrion crow which consumes the rice-balls offered to the dead.

Saturn rules the direction west, Saturday is its day, black is its colour and blue sapphire is the gemstone of Saturn. Saturn rules number 8 in Indian numerology.

Shani – Saturn bīja mantra:

ॐ प्रां प्रीं प्रों सः शनैस्चराय नमः

oṁ prāṁ prīṁ proṁ saḥ śanaiscarāya namaḥ

Vedic mantra for Shani:

नीलांजनसमाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम् छायामार्त्तण्डसम्भूतं तं नमामि शनैश्चरम्

nīlāṁjanasamābhāsaṁ raviputraṁ yamāgrajam
chāyāmārttaṇḍasambhūtaṁ taṁ namāmi śanaiścaram

I bow to Śani ( Saturn) , as black as the black collyrium, who is the son of the Sun and the brother of Yama(God of death) and born to Surya through Chāyā, and moves very slowly.

Rahu -North node of the Moon

Rahu -North node of the Moon

During the Great Churning of the Ocean — Samudra Manthāna, the asura Rāhu drank some of the amṛta (divine nectar). Sun and moon realized it and alerted Mohinī (the female avatāra of Vishnu). Before the nectar could pass his throat, Mohinī cut off his head. The head, however, remained immortal due to the effect of amrita and became Rāhu.

It is believed that this immortal head from time to time swallows the sun, causing eclipses. Then, the sun passes through the opening at the neck, ending the eclipse.

The body of Rāhu also turned into Ketu due to a boon, and it in turn swallows the moon on timely basis to cause a lunar eclipse.

Rāhu is a legendary master of deception who signifies cheaters, pleasure seekers, operators in foreign lands, drug dealers, poison dealers, insincere & immoral acts, etc.

It is the significator of an irreligious person, an outcast, harsh speech, falsehoods, uncleanliness, abdominal ulcers, bones, and transmigration. Rāhu is instrumental in strengthening one’s power and converting even an enemy into a friend.

In Vedic astrology Rāhu is seen as an asura or demon who does his best to plunge any area of life he controls into chaos, mystery, and cruelty.

He is associated with the world of material manifestation and worldly desire, as well as random, uncontrolled growth without wisdom or understanding.

Rāhu is supposed to be a mighty and naughty child of Māyā, and thus has a lot of dualities attached to its Māyāvi (illusory) nature.

There is no equal to Rāhu when it comes to giving upliftment in name and fame or sudden luck at gambling. The area in which this success is attained usually relates to the significations of the house Rāhu is placed in.

All the electric lights that illuminate our world in the night-time can be said to be associated with Rāhu. Rāhu is known as the “artificial sun,” which is fitting considering the introduction of electric lights, adding to the illusion and glamour of modern times. Rāhu has in a way created its own artificial sun for his favoured time, the night.

Rāhu rides upon a lion and holds a sword (khaḍga), shield (Kheṭaka) a trident (Śūla) and displays the Varadā-mudra.

The gemstone related to Rahu is hessonite. Rahu rules number 4 in Indian numerology.

Rahu bīja mantra:

ॐ भ्रां भ्रीं भ्रों सः राहवे नमः

oṁ bhrāṁ bhrīṁ bhroṁ saḥ rāhave namaḥ

Vedic mantra for Rahu:

अर्धकायं महावीर्यं चन्द्रादित्यविमर्दनम् सिंहिकागर्भसम्भूतं तं राहुं प्रणमाम्यहम्

ardhakāyaṁ mahāvīryaṁ candrādityavimardanam

siṁhikāgarbhasambhūtaṁ taṁ rāhuṁ praṇamāmyaham

I bow to Rahu who has half a body, who is endowed with a lot of powers, who disturbs fiercely the Sun and the Moon and who is the Son of Simhikā.

Ketu - South node of the Moon

Ketu - South node of the Moon 
Ketu is the descending lunar node. Vipracitti begot one hundred and one sons, through his wife Simhikā, of whom the eldest is Rāhu and the others are the one hundred Ketus.

Ketu can have a tremendous impact on human lives and in some special circumstances it helps one achieve the zenith of fame. Ketu is often depicted with a gem or star on his head signifying a mystery light.

Ketu represents karmic collections both good and bad, spirituality and supernatural influences. Ketu is associated with the Mīna Avatar (Fish Incarnation) of Vishnu.

Ketu signifies the spiritual process of the refinement of materialization to spirit and is considered both malefic and beneficial, as it causes sorrow and 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.

He rides on a vulture and carries the club (daṇḍa) while displaying the Abhayā-mudra.

It is associated with a smoky-grey colour and Ketu's gemstone is cat's-eye. Ketu rules number 7 in Indian numerology.

Ketu bīja mantra:

ॐ स्त्रां स्त्रीं स्त्रों सः केतवे नमः

oṁ strāṁ strīṁ stroṁ saḥ ketave namaḥ

Vedic mantra for Ketu:

पलाशपुष्पसंकाशं तारकाग्रहमस्तकम् रौद्रं रौद्रात्मकं घोरं तं केतुं प्रणमाम्यहम्

palāśapuṣpasaṁkāśaṁ tārakāgrahamastakam
raudraṁ raudrātmakaṁ ghoraṁ taṁ ketuṁ praṇamāmyaham

I bow to Ketu, who is as red as the Palāsa Flower, who has for his head the stars and planets, who is the son of Rudra and who is terrible in form.

മന്ത്രസാധന ആരംഭിക്കാൻ നല്ല സമയം

മന്ത്രസാധന ആരംഭിക്കാൻ നല്ല സമയം

കാലത്തിന്റെ ഓരോ നിമിഷത്തിനും അതിന്റേതായ പ്രത്യേകതയുണ്ട്. ഓരോ നിമിഷവും ചിലകാര്യങ്ങൾക്ക് അനുകൂലവും ചില കാര്യങ്ങൾക്ക് പ്രതികൂലവുമായിരിക്കും. ഈ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ മന്ത്രസാധനക്കും അനുകൂലമായ സമയങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ട്. ആ സമയത്ത് മന്ത്രകാരകനായ ഗ്രഹവും, ജാതകന്റെ ഉപാസനക്കുള്ള കഴിവും, ആ സമയത്തുള്ള പ്രകൃതിയും ഉപാസനക്ക് അനുകൂലമായിരിക്കും. താഴെ അത്തരത്തിൽപ്പെട്ട ചില മന്ത്രജപമുഹൂർത്തങ്ങൾ കൊടുക്കുന്നു.

1). വ്യാഴാഴ്ചയും പൂയം നക്ഷത്രവും ചേർന്ന് വരുന്ന ദിവസം (ഇതിന് സിദ്ധിയോഗം എന്ന് പറയുന്നു)

2). ഞായറാഴ്ചയും പൂയം നക്ഷത്രവും ചേർന്ന് വരുന്നതും നല്ലതാണ്.

3). ചില മാസങ്ങളിൽ ഉപാസന തുടങ്ങാൻ നല്ലതാണ്.

മാസങ്ങൾ = ചൈത്രം (മേടം), വൈശാഖം (ഇടവം), ശ്രാവണം (ചിങ്ങം), ഭാദ്രപദം (കന്നി), മാഘം (കുംഭം), ഫാൽഗുനം (മീനം).