The Nodes and the Female Charts (Strijatakam)

The Nodes and the Female Charts (Strijatakam)

In Vedic astrology, the female horoscope is known as Strijatakam. It holds a unique place, as it not only highlights the woman's destiny but also reflects her contribution to family harmony, progeny, and her spiritual role. One of the most intriguing and powerful aspects in any chart—especially in a female chart—are the nodes of the Moon, known as Rahu and Ketu.

These nodes are shadow planets with no physical form, but they exert profound psychological and karmic influences. In Strijatakam, their placement is studied carefully to understand a woman’s mental health, fertility, marriage prospects, emotional resilience, and even spiritual awakening.

What Is Strijatakam in Astrology?

Strijatakam refers to the astrological analysis of a female’s birth chart. Unlike general charts, the female chart places more emphasis on emotional balance, marriage harmony, children, societal respect, and spiritual growth. The moon's nodes—Rahu and Ketu—play a crucial role in this analysis due to their karmic and psychological impacts.

Significance of Rahu and Ketu in Female Horoscope

Rahu represents desires, illusions, and materialistic ambitions, while Ketu represents detachment, spiritual liberation, and past karma. In a woman’s chart, the positions of these nodes can reveal hidden fears, emotional vulnerabilities, sudden gains or losses, and karmic patterns affecting relationships, children, or health.

Rahu’s Influence in Women’s Charts

When placed in key houses like the 7th (marriage), 5th (children), or 1st (self), Rahu may cause:
Delay or instability in marriage
Secret relationships or unfulfilled desires
Hormonal or mental health issues
Obsession with status or appearance

However, Rahu in the 3rd, 6th, or 10th house can empower women with boldness, career ambition, and leadership skills.

Ketu’s Role in Female Destiny

Ketu's placement can bless a woman with deep intuition and spiritual knowledge, especially if well-placed in the 12th or 9th house. However, in the 2nd, 4th, or 7th houses, it may lead to:
Family disconnection or emotional aloofness
Difficulty conceiving or motherhood delays
Challenges in expressing emotions or maintaining harmony in marriage
Ketu often indicates past-life karmas that resurface to be resolved in this birth.

Remedies for Malefic Nodes in Strijatakam

If Rahu or Ketu are negatively influencing a female chart, some time-tested remedies include:
Reciting Durga Saptashati or Devi Kavacham
Offering coconut or black sesame seeds on Saturdays
Donating blankets, black clothes, or mustard oil
Wearing Gomed (Hessonite) for Rahu or Cat’s Eye (Lehsuniya) for Ketu (only after consulting a qualified astrologer)

The information given throughout this book equally to a male and a female chart. Howtver, IM chapter is exclusively devoted to female charts I linn nothing new in this approach; prominent astrological works like Brihat Parasara Horn SlnmtfM Brihat Jataka, Phaldeepika and Saravali have dealt with the subject of female horoscopes called Strijatuhum

Probably because the physiological, psycholop.lt al and social responsibilities are different for women, thru was a need to give special attention to the subject. St people, however, argue that times have changed .tinI women are now equal to men in all respects so this topic is irrelevant.

I am treating this topic seperately because certain situations and combinations involving Rahu and Ketu have been found to affect a female chart.

Onset of Menstrual Cycle

1. The first menses starting when the Moon is in eithri of the two constellations of Rahu namely Swati and Shatbhisha, or in either of the two constellations of Ketu namely Ashwini and Moola, is considered auspicious for the native.

2. The first menses starting during an eclipse is not considered auspicious.

The Nodes and the Female Charts (Strijatakam)

The first menses starting when the Sun is in the Ardra constellation of Rahu is not considered auspicious.

Marriage

1. A girl may be lucky to get married to an educated person of high status if in her chart, Rahu is with Mercury in the 1st or the 9th house.

2. Presence of Rahu in the 1st house may give her a husband prone to sickness.

3. Presence of Rahu in the 7th house may lead to delay in marriage or may lead to a troubled marriage.

4. Presence of Ketu in the 7th house can lead to an unhappy married life.

5. Presence of Rahu in the Leo ascendant leads to a comfortable married life.

6. Afflictions of the 8th house and the house lord by Rahu or Ketu in birth chart as well as in the Navamsha Chart can lead to an unconventional marriage.

Progeny

1. Rahu placed in the 5th house in the birth chart but not in the Navamsha of Saturn (which means, in the divisional chart D/9, it should not be in the signs of Saturn) leads to many children. This is also known as the Bahuputra Yoga.

2. If Rahu is in the 5th house in the birth chart and in the Navamsha Chart, it is in the signs of Saturn then it leads to loss of children or no children at all.

3. Rahu in the 10th house leads to a limited number of children.

4. Ketu in the 9th house leads to birth of many children.

5. Ketu in the 5th house, under malefic effects either does not lead to any children or sometimes causes loss of children. Rahu and Ketu in Predictive Astrology

6. The presence of Rahu in the 1st house, if debilitated or carrying the malefic effects because of affliction or conjunction of strongly malefic planets for the concerned chart can lead to the birth of a stillborn child.

Sexual Desires/Relations

1. A combination of Venus and Mars with a node leads to immoral sexual relations or desires.

2. An association of Venus with Rahu in the 5th house may lead to homosexual tendencies.

3. The presence of Ketu in the 7th house under evil effects increases the native's sexual appetite.

4. The presence of Ketu in the 1st house leads to sexual indulgence.

5. Rahu in the 10th house may trouble the native duo to a sexual urge.

Sexual Diseases

1. The ascendant lord in the 8th house with Rahu cause a disease of the ovaries.

2. Rahu in the ascendant, the upgreha (please refer tin- note below) called Gulik or Mandi in a Trine house, and Mars placed with Saturn in the 8th house also leads to a disease of the ovaries.

3. Rahu associated with Mars or Saturn may lead to venereal problems.

4. The presence of Ketu in the 6th house, under malefic effects, may lead to venereal complaints.

Note: The word upgreha literally means a satellite, but in Vedic astrology, it stands for the nine strategic sensitive mathematical points, which were visualised by the ancient sages as capable of causing astrological The Nodes and the Female Charts (Strijatakam) 119 influence. These are all malefic in nature. The nine upgrehas can be calculated and posited in a birth chart along with the planets.

Widowhood/serious separation:

The following indicate widowhood: Presence of Rahu along with Saturn and Mars in the 7th house. 2. Placement of Rahu in the 8th house and the 7th lord placed with Saturn and aspected by Mars and the Moon. 3. Presence of Rahu in the 7th house, and the 7th lord in conjunction with Sun and aspected by the 8th lord. 4. For Taurus and Libra ascendants, the presence of Rahu in the 7th house without any beneficial aspects.