Rahu and Ketu

Rahu and Ketu was a form or character in Hindu epic, an asura named Svarbhanu. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses.

Svarbhanu's head and body joined with a snake to form 'Ketu', representing the body without a head, and Rahu, representing the head without a body. Svarbhanu is also the student of Shukra, an ancient Sage that counseled Asuras in vedic mythology, where he learn some tricks.

In the ancient world, immortality is not yet exist, from the day of creation, human has many of it's for and obviously divided in to a few clans or race, like our modern world. 

The deity, sage and god are highly praise due to their supernatural, peace and sacred while devas forms a moderate race which is always in conflict with the less fortunate demons, asuras and half-human form, which normally bound with jealousy, hatred and violence. 

 

The story begin about Svarbhanu can be found somewhere in The Churning of the Ocean of Milk.

Devas and Asuras were wage at war, Devas being defeated badly as Shukra, being granted a boon by Lord Shiva, to have the power to awake the death asuras back to life after being killed by devas.  

The Churning of the Ocean of Milk was planned by Lord Vishnu to save the devas, however it needs both the devas and asuras each holding a side of Vasuki, The Serpent King, wrapping on a pole made of Mount Mandara and placed on top of a giant Tortoise Kurma, ( also an avatar of Vishnu) in order to churn for the immortality nectar of Amrita.

However, once the amrita is emerged, Asuras obtained it and brought back to their state. Lord Vishnu, turn himself to appeared as Mohini, a beautiful land and tricked the asuras to invite devas to their palace as a gesture of respect and to offer the amrita to Devas, before asuras consume amrita.

Svarbahnu, recognised the trick played by Mohini and turned himself into a look-a-like devas seated between Surya (The Sun's God) and Chandra (The Moon's God). When Surya passed the amrita Svarbhanu (The fake Deva), Chandra realised and report to Mohini. Mohini then appeared as her real form as Lord Vishnu and managed to deceptively stop and decapitated him. The head now known as Rahu, while the body part is known as Ketu. As a form of revenge, Rahu often swallowed the Moon and the Sun, it is believes that the eclipses is the phenomenon that we see today. As Rahu is without a body, each time he swallow moon or sun, it will exit in a very short while from the neck.

This is an epic story from Hindu Mythology, as of modern term is the eclipse.

So next time when you visit temple in Angkor Archaeological Park, you will see the depicted if you learn more about Hinduism especially the characters. Rahu can be seen at Banteay Srei. Here's how Rahu looks like. Familiar to you?