Navagraha · केतुः
Ketu: mantra, gemstone and remedies
Ketu is the second chhaya graha, the point where the Moon’s path crosses the Sun’s path going south, always exactly opposite Rahu. Where Rahu wants more, Ketu lets go: it is read as the graha of detachment and inner search.
Where Ketu is today
27/10/2026, 6:00 am IST
- Rashi
- Simha सिंह (Leo), 2°05′
- Nakshatra
- Magha, pada 1
- Motion
- Always retrograde
- Next sign change
- Into Karka (Cancer) on 05/12/2026
All nine grahas are on planet positions today; this year’s sign changes are on planet transits and the retrograde periods on retrograde planets.
Ketu at a glance
| Names | Sanskrit: केतुः · Hindi: केतु · English: south node of the moon · also called the south lunar node |
|---|---|
| Signifies (karaka) | letting go and detachment; spiritual interest and insight; research and deep, quiet study; sudden breaks and changes of direction; sons, nephews and dogs, in Lal Kitab |
| Signs it rules | Texts differ, so none is given here |
| Exalted in | Texts differ, so none is given here |
| Debilitated in | Texts differ, so none is given here |
| Friends and enemies | The classical table of natural friendship covers the seven planets; Rahu and Ketu are not in it |
| Nakshatras it rules | Ashwini, Magha, Mula |
| Weekday | None of its own; in numerology, number 7 (Ketu) takes Monday |
| Number | 7 |
| Colour | Light green, white |
| Ratna (gemstone) | Cat’s Eye, लहसुनिया (Lehsunia) |
| Vimshottari mahadasha | 7 years (1 of 9 in the dasha order) |
| Lal Kitab | Pakka ghar 6; stands for sons, nephews, dogs and travel |
What Ketu signifies
- letting go and detachment
- spiritual interest and insight
- research and deep, quiet study
- sudden breaks and changes of direction
- sons, nephews and dogs, in Lal Kitab
Ketu mahadasha (7 years): Inner life, letting go and spiritual interest. A quieter period that can bring sudden changes of direction. Find your running dasha with the dasha calculator.
Ketu mantra
Ketu beej mantra
ॐ स्रां स्रीं स्रौं सः केतवे नमः
Romanised: Om srāṃ srīṃ srauṃ saḥ ketave namaḥ
Meaning: Om, the seed sounds of Ketu, salutations to Ketu.
Ketu verse of the Navagraha stotra
पलाशपुष्पसङ्काशं तारकाग्रहमस्तकम्।
रौद्रं रौद्रात्मकं घोरं तं केतुं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
Romanised: palāśa-puṣpa-saṅkāśaṃ tārakā-graha-mastakam /
raudraṃ raudrātmakaṃ ghoraṃ taṃ ketuṃ praṇamāmyaham
Meaning: I bow to Ketu, red like the palash flower, the head among the stars and planets, fierce and powerful in nature.
The Navagraha stotra is traditionally ascribed to the sage Vyasa and has one verse for each graha.
Japa count (commonly suggested): 17,000. Commonly suggested total for a full japa (anushthan), completed over several days in rounds of 108 on a mala. For daily practice, one round of 108 is the usual suggestion. Some manuals give other totals; follow the count your pandit or astrologer gives.
Tradition suggests learning the pronunciation from a teacher or priest. A mantra is a practice of faith and focus, not a guarantee of any result.
Simple remedies for Ketu (commonly suggested)
These are practices commonly suggested in the tradition. Whether a graha needs attention in your chart is decided from the whole Kundli.
- Recite the beej mantra 108 times, commonly on Tuesdays or Saturdays.
- Feed a dog.
- Give a black and white blanket in charity.
- Pray to Ganesha, the deity traditionally linked with Ketu, before new work.
Gemstone: the ratna of Ketu is Cat’s Eye, लहसुनिया (Lehsunia); commonly suggested substitutes are Tiger’s Eye. Wear a gemstone only after Namieta has checked your Kundli. A ratna strengthens its planet, and a planet that is weak or troublesome in your chart can make a stone unsuitable even when it matches your Mulank. Crystals are a gentler choice to keep at home or work. The gemstone calculator shows the stone of your Mulank.
Lal Kitab: the Lal Kitab remedies for Ketu are on Lal Kitab remedies.
← Rahu · All nine grahas · Surya →
Questions about Ketu
What is the Ketu beej mantra?
ॐ स्रां स्रीं स्रौं सः केतवे नमः (Om srāṃ srīṃ srauṃ saḥ ketave namaḥ). Om, the seed sounds of Ketu, salutations to Ketu.
How many times should the Ketu mantra be chanted?
One round of 108 on a mala is the usual daily suggestion. For a full japa the total commonly given is 17,000, completed over several days. What suits you depends on your chart.
Which gemstone is for Ketu?
Cat’s Eye, लहसुनिया (Lehsunia); commonly suggested substitutes are Tiger’s Eye. A ratna strengthens its planet, so wear one only after your Kundli has been checked. The gemstone calculator shows the stone of your Mulank.
How long is the Ketu mahadasha?
7 years in the Vimshottari dasha. Inner life, letting go and spiritual interest. A quieter period that can bring sudden changes of direction.
Is Ketu a bad planet?
No graha is simply good or bad. Among other things, Ketu stands for letting go and detachment, and for spiritual interest and insight; how it works for you depends on its sign, house and strength in your own Kundli, and on the running dasha.