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Raahu

Raahu was the son of Viprachitti (son of Kashyap and Danu) and Sinhikaa (sister of Hiranykashyap). When Saagar Manthan was going on, and Amrit came out of the Saagar, all Daitya and Devtaa became very happy. Both were the equal candidates for it but Vishnu was not going to give Amrit to Daitya. Since Daitya were still powerful, they snatched the pitcher of Amrit from Dhanvantari and proceeded to a place where they could drink Amrit comfortably.

Seeing this Devtaa got worried. At the same time all saw a very beautiful woman coming to them. All stopped and started looking at her. They had never seen such a beautiful woman before. Daitya got mesmerized seeing her. She was Mohinee - Avataar of Vishnu. She came to them and playing with Daitya, she took the pitcher from Daitya and asked all of them to sit on either side of her in a line so that she could distribute Amrit to both. They obeyed her and sat down - Devtaa on one side and Daitya on other side. Now she started dancing before them giving Amrit to Devtaa and Suraa (liquor) to Daitya. Daitya were enchanted with her look and Devtaa were happy with her trick.

Soorya and Chandramaa were sitting together in Devtaa's line. Raahu was a Daitya and so he was sitting in Daitya's line. All Daitya were busy in seeing Mohinee's dance, but he noticed her trick that she was giving Amrit to Devtaa and Suraa to Daitya. He got very angry at this and sat between Soorya and Chandramaa unnoticed by all.

As Mohinee was giving Amrit to Devtaa, she gave some to Raahu too. As he gulped it, Soorya and chandramaa recognized him as Daitya, shouted that he was a Daitya not Devtaa, at the same moment Mohinee cut his head with her Chakra (Divine disc). Since he had already gulped Amrit, he did not die, rather his both body parts lived for ever. His head was called Raahu and his body was called Ketu.

Since Soorya and Chandramaa complained about him, he always runs after them to eat them. He catches Soorya on Amaavasyaa (New Moon day), that is why we have Soorya Grahan (solar eclipse) on that day; and Chandramaa on Poornimaa (Full Moon day), that is why we have Chandra Grahan (lunar eclipse) on that day.

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