Sri Rahu Stotram
From the Skanda Purana
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Rahu is an asura (unlike other planets) and son of sage Kasyapa and an ogre called Simihika. He was born with a serpent head. When Mohini (the feminine form of Lord Vishnu) was distributing the nectar to the devas, Rahu entered the row and ate the nectar. The Sun and moon who saw this informed Lord Vishnu about this. Lord Vishnu cut him in to two pieces. The piece which had a head is known as Rahu. The piece without head is known as Kethu. Both pieces continued to live and circle the earth in an anti-clock wise manner. Rahu creates all the problems that are created by planet Saturn. This prayer should be read on Saturdays to ward of any evil caused by this planet.
Rahur dhanavamanthri cha simhika chitha nandana, Ardha kaya, sada krodhi, chandradhithya vimardhana., 1
Rahu, Minister of Rakshasa, one who makes Simhika happy,
Half bodied one, one who is always angry,
Tormentor who troubles Sun and Moon.
Roudhro rudhra priyo daithya swar bhanur, bhanur bheethidha, Graha raja sudhapayee rakadhithyabhilashtaka., 2
Angry one, Devotee of Rudhra, Ogre,
One who is near the Sun, one who terrifies the sun,
King of planets, one who got nectar,
One who desires the moon and the sun.
Kala drushti kala roopa,sri kanta hrudayashraya, Vidhunthudha saimhikeya, ghora roopo, maha bala., 3
One who has death inflicting sight, one who likes death,
One who lives in the heart of Shiva, one who made moon dim,
One who is the son of ogress Simhika,
One who has terrifying form, One who is very strong.
Graha peeda karo damshtri raktha nethro mahodhara, Panchavimsathi namani sthuthwa rahum sada nara, Ya paden mahathi peeda thasya nasyathi kevalam., 4
One who torments planets, one who has big teeth,
One who has red eyes and one who has a big paunch,
If a man recites these twenty five names and prays to Rahu,
And as soon as he reads big tormenting troubles vanish immediately.
Aarogyam putham athulam sriyam dhanyam pasum sthadha, Dadhathi rahu sthasmai thu ya padeth sthothramuthamam., 5
Health, incomparable sons, wealth, cereals and animals
Would be given to him by Rahu, to the one who reads this great prayer.
Sathatham padathe yasthu jeeveth, varsha satham nara., 6
The man who reads this regularly would live for one hundred years