What Is Rahu Ketu Pooja?
Rahu is known as dragon head and Ketu as dragon tail in English. Astronomers believe the influence of each planet in human beings. Rahu and Ketu are believed to cause bad effects on us causing loss of wealth, health problems, relationship issues and disputes at workplace. Srikalahasti Rahu Ketu pooja is believed to overcome the inauspicious occasions in life.
This special pooja is done to minimize the effects of kalasarpa dosha in affected people. Hence thousands of devotees visit this place for performing pooja. Apart from devotees, many celebrities, politicians and sports personalities in India do Rahu Ketu pooja in Srikalahasti.
How Is It Done? – Rahu Ketu Pooja Procedure
Rahu Ketu pooja is done in big halls (known as Mandapams) only on stipulated time. It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to complete the pooja. Devotees have to pay necessary charges to take part in this special pooja. No online booking is available in Kalahasti to perform this ceremony.
Devotees would gather in mandapams and the ritual is usually done in batches due to heavy crowd. The priest would be giving you the direction after everyone gets seated. He would give instruction step by step to perform Rahu Ketu pooja. Owing to the huge crowd (more than 5000 people) the priest would use a speaker so that people sitting in long distance can also hear and follow the rituals.
In Srikalahasti, Rahu Ketu pooja instructions are given in Telugu, Tamil and English. There would be a support team nearby so that you can ask them about the procedure in case if you missed some of the instructions of pooja.
After completion of pooja, you will have to take the small silver idols of snake and drop it in Hundi (a big box where devotees offer money and other valuables to Lord). You may choose to worship other deities in the temple and go home.
Do’s and Don’ts of Rahu Ketu Pooja
- Do wear traditional clothes while performing pooja. Men can wear dhoti, pyjama and shirt and women can wear saree, kurti and duppatta.
- Do pray to the Lord with full devotion to fulfill the purpose of doing pooja.
- Follow the directions given by the priest during the pooja.
- You can take a bath before starting with the pooja.
- After completion of pooja, go home directly without visiting any other temple. After reaching home, you need to take a bath again.
- Don’t visit temple under the influence of alcohol.
- Don’t talk among yourselves while doing pooja.
- Switch off your mobiles before starting pooja.
What You Can Gain by Doing Rahu Ketu Pooja?
- Rahu Ketu pooja is supposed to minimize the ill effects of both these planets in your life.
- It gives physical and mental health for the person.
- If you are in financial stress it is better for you to perform Rahu Ketu pooja in Srikalahasti.
- Your relationship issues and love life gets improved if you do this pooja.
- Those who are not getting married in time may find relief after doing this ritual.
- Couples without child, doing this pooja with devotion will be blessed with a baby soon.
- Overall health improves for the family.
- Obstacles will be removed both in family and office.
How Many People Do This Pooja Daily In Srikalahasti?
Each day around 5000 devotees are performing Rahu Ketu pooja in this temple. The demand for this pooja increases day by day due to the fulfillment of goals.
Srikalahasti Rahu Ketu Pooja Timings
Rahu Ketu pooja is done in Srikalahasti from 6am to 6pm every day.
Tuesdays and Sundays there will be huge crowd in the temple for this pooja, since it is believed to be special days for the planets.
What You Should Carry For This Pooja?
You should just buy the ticket on the entrance of the temple for this pooja. The temple authorities will provide you with necessary material. You will be given two small snake shaped idols in silver, and two cotton pieces of cloth (red and black) once you buy a ticket for Rahu Ketu pooja in Srikalahasti.
You need not buy anything from the nearby shops of the temple, since the temple insists on using genuine items sold along with the ticket for pooja.
Best Day For Rahu Ketu Pooja
You can do Rahu Ketu pooja on any day in this temple. Solar and lunar eclipse day are very special for doing this pooja. Please note that all the other temples in India remains closed during eclipses but Srikalahasti is the only temple that is kept open.
Similarly Purnima day (full moon day) and chathurdhi day, and panchami days are special for this pooja.
Even though this pooja is done daily, it is believed to be more auspicious if you are doing pooja during Rahu Kaal timings of the day.
Cost Of Srikalahasti Rahu Ketu Pooja Tickets
Temple charges Rs.300 to Rs.2500 for Rahu Ketu pooja depending on the locations (common hall or small mandap inside the temple) and number of persons accompanying you.
Additional information
Recently temple authorities have discussed about this pooja with state endowments board to conduct this auspicious Rahu Ketu pooja with snake gods printed on thin layer of gold sheet. You can expect this procedure will be implemented shortly by the temple for which they are likely to charge Rs.25000 per couple.