Rahu, the 8th planet, in shadows and like Ketu, this planet is also not visible in the galaxy. A mine of information about Rahu is available in Brahma puraana, Mahabhagavata, Mahabharat, Matsya puraan, Vishnu puraan and Rigved.

Rahu was born to Simhika and Viprachitti. Rahu’s mother simhika (also known as Simhita) was the daughter of Hiranyakashyapa (Bhakta Prahlada’s father). There are several brothers to Rahu and they are Salya, Nabha, Vaataapi, Ilvala and Namuchi. It is also believed that Rahu is the eldest of the 100 brothers. He also has a sister by name Maahishmati.Born into paithenasa gotra, He was born in the year parthiva in bhaadrapada maasa, krishna paksha on the fourteenth day of the wanning moon on a Sunday. Two days before NAVRATRI. Visakha is his birth star.

It so happened that Sukracharya (Venus) was blessed with the knowledge of “Sanjivani Mantra” also known as the Maha Mrityunjay Mantra after great tapasya for the benefit of all people (universal benefit). Armed with this knowledge, Sukracharya could now revive all the dead people. However, Asuraguru as he was, he chose to use the knowledge for the benefit of the Asuras Contrary to the purpose for which he was blessed with this mantra. Armed with the powers of Sukracharya, the Asuras attacked Devas. Sukracharya would revive all the dead Asura soldiers while those on the other hand the Devas were getting killed. Eventually, being hugely outnumbered, Indra lost his kingdom.When the defeated Devas approached Lord Vishnu for his protection, he advised them to perform “Samudra Manthan” to attain Amrit (Nectar) consuming which would make them immortal.