7. SANI, hence Sanivara (Saturday), is said to be the son of Surya, and Chhaya, the servant whom his wife Savarna substituted for herself; or, according to other accounts, he sprang from Balarama and Revati. He is represented as a black man, clothed in black garments, riding on a vulture, with four arms. "If a person be born under the planet Sani, he will be slandered, his riches dissipated, his son, wife, and friends destroyed; he will live at variance with others and endure many sufferings." Many stories are told of his evil influence, consequently the Hindus are under fear of evil from this planet. It was Sani who was said to have burnt off Ganesa's head.

8. RaHU (the ascending node) was the son of Vrihaspati and Sinhika. He is described as a black man, riding on a lion. "If a person be born under the planet Rahu, his wisdom, riches, and children will be destroyed; he will be exposed to many afflictions and be subject to his enemies." According to the popular notions of the Hindus, at the time of an eclipse Rahu devours the sun and moon; hence, as soon as an eclipse is noticed, the

people make a dreadful noise, shouting, blowing horns, and beating drums, to cause Rahu to restore these luminaries. The reason of this custom is probably found in the following story: Rahu was originally an asura or giant, who took his present form at the churning of the sea. As the gods and demons churned, Surya and Chandra, who were sitting together, hinted to Vishnu, when the amrita appeared, that one of the demons had tasted it. Vishnu immediately cut off the head of the offender; but as he had drunk of the water of life, neither head nor trunk could perish. The head, taking the name of Rahu, and the trunk, that of Ketu, were placed in heaven as the ascending and descending nodes, and leave was granted, as a means of revenge on Surya and Chandra, that on certain occasions Rahu should approach these gods and render them unclean, so that their bodies at these times become thin and black. [**]

Footnotes

^431:* Ward, E. 70.

^432:* Ward, ii. 70.

^432:+ Ibid., 71.

^432:++ Page 72.

^433:* This Budha must not be confounded with Buddha, the Incarnation of Vishnu.

^433:+ Soma (the Moon) and Lakshmi were produced together at the churning of the ocean.

^434:* Ward, ii. 71.

^436:* Ward, ii. 81.