The Mysterious Rahu and Shooting of Ravana

The killing of Mahout by elephant on the sets of Ravana on 29th July 2009 (As reported by media on 30th July 2009):-

Here we are presenting the angle of Rahu in this tragic happening.

The shooting party on the set of Ravana would like to forget the horrifying incidence which found them stranded in a jungle for more than 12 hours surviving on bread and eggs. Andavan the Mahout was not lucky enough to survive. He was crushed to death by the rampaging elephant. The elephant was to be utilized for the shooting of the film and was trained for this purpose. It went berserk and became the cause of death.

Vedic astrology has emphasized that Rahu represents serpents. It also connects wild life to Rahu. Lal Kitab which is a recent inclusion to astrology classics (written originally in Urdu) has specified many other roles of Rahu. It addresses Rahu as an elephant also. The book tells us that an elephant represented by benefic Rahu is a source of power and wealth to its master. However, a mad elephant that tramples over the master and works havoc all around is represented by malefic Rahu.

A crosscheck of horoscopes of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan the main casts of the film will help us understand if the happening had any connection with the mysterious role of Rahu. Was the elephant an agent of Rahu?

Aishwarya Rai was born on 1st November 1973 when Virgo was rising in the eastern horizon. Rahu is placed in the 4th house with natal Moon. She is currently running the operational dasa of Rahu / Rahu till September 2009. To be more precise she is currently running the operational dasa of Rahu / Rahu / Mars which shows the dominant influence of Rahu in her horoscope at present. The pratyantar dasa of Mars (placed in the 8th house) signifies danger to her spouse. In Vedic astrology 8th house is considered the Suhag Sthan (house of spouse) in woman horoscopy.

Abhishek Bachchan was born on 5th February 1976. The lagna rising at the time of birth is Libra. Rahu is placed in lagna. Lal Kitab suggests that placement of benefic Rahu in the lagna confers kingly status to a person. However, it also suggests that Rahu placed in lagna, if not benefic, can cause safety and health concerns. Lagna is the most important house in the horoscope. Hence, placement of Rahu in lagna makes Rahu quite dominant.

Rahu is functional malefic both for Aishwarya and Abhishek because it is placed in their 4th house and the lagna respectively. The best placement of Rahu is in 3rd house, 6th house and the 11th house. Hence, both of them need to thank God and their Sadguru in guiding them to their safety. Was the Mahout the scapegoat to safeguard the celebrity couple? Only God knows.

Can these incidents be predicted in advance? Astrologers of yesteryears like Varahmihir could predict that son of Vikramaditya will be killed by Varaha (wild boar). The king took all precautions to save his son and made a fortress in which there was no chance of any wild boar to enter. Varahmihir insisted that the death cannot be stopped by any human intervention. Only great Rishis like Vasishta could reverse the karma of the Prince.

On the predicted day the prince died of accident from a falling royal emblem made of iron which had an artificial boar attached to its top. This was the reason why Mihir got the title of Varahmihir. (Rao, Suryanarian, 1987, 3rd edition, Life of Varaha Mihira)

Written by: Anand Sagar Pathak

Astrologer
Dated: 6th August 2009