15 Mahabharata- The Story of Rahu and Ketu.

This story is from Astika Parva in Adi Parva. It narrates the story of the great war between Devas and Asuras. Here the story of the female form of Vishnu is told along with the story behind solar and lunar eclipse. Link to Mhb Story 16:    • 16 Mahabharata- The Story Of Arunodaya.   SCIENTIFIC REASONING OF THE STORY OF RAHU AND KETU: In Puranas it is mentioned that Rahu is snake head and ketu is snake tail.Anything concerned with snake should always be understood as of periodical occurrence. It is very interesting to note that in the story, Rahu was told to have sat precisely between Surya and Chandra.Astronomically , Northern Lunar node is considered to be Rahu and Southern Lunar node is considered to be Ketu.That is,if we assume Earth to be static and Sun to rotate around earth,then the plane of rotation of Sun around earth is called 'ECLIPTIC PLANE.'.Now we know the moon revolves around earth with a tilt of 5.14 degree w.r.t the ecliptic plane.These 2 planes,the eclptic plane and the plane of revolution of moon around earth intersects at 2 points called Northern lunar node/Ascending node(Rahu) and Southern lunar node/ Descending node(Ketu).The fact that eclipse occurs when Sun and Moon are at one of these Nodes is understood as swallowing of Sun and Moon by Rahu and Ketu.Thats how we can explain the Asura, Rahu sitting between Surya and Chandra during the distribution of amrta and then being cut into two, swallows either Surya or Chandra when he gets a chance.Its mesmerising to see how scientific knowledge was hidden in such stories by our Vedic people. THE FEMALE FORM OF VISHNU: It is interesting to note that the female form of Vishnu was first introduced in Mahabharata.She was simply explained as the female form of Vishnu created by Maya.In later versions as in Bhagawat Purana the name Mohini was popularised for the female avatar of Visnu. Mohini is mentioned in Bhagawata Purana and Vishnu Purana as the enchantress who takes avatar to kill Bhasmasura so as to save Shiva from him. In Brahmanda Purana Shiva- Mohini sangama followed by birth of Ayappa is mentioned.Mohini is considered as Amsa Avatar of Vishnu Bhagwan. The story of Mohini is also mentioned in Ramayana in Bala Khanda chapter. STORY OF NARA-NARAYANA Nara- Narayana is the twin brother incarnation of Vishnu on earth.In Mahabharata, Arjuna is considered as the humanly Nara and Krishna is considered the divine Narayana.In the previous life, Nara - Narayana were born as the twin sons of Dharma( who was Brahma's son) and his wife Ahimsa( who was Daksha's Daughter).They followed a life of great penance in the shores of Badrinath.Legend has it that Lord Shiva hurled his Pashupathastra at them,just to prove to the world about the twin brothers ascetic merit.It is said that Nara -Narayana rendered the Pashupathastra powerless with only their glance. In Bhagawata Purana,the story of how Indra being insecure of the ascetic powers of the twin brothers had tried to lure them with apsaras is mentioned.The birth of the apsara Urvashi out of the Uru(thigh) of Narayana is also mentioned in the same context.