Begin this Rahu mantra during a waxing phase of the Moon. The ideal time of day to chant a planetary mantra is in the early morning, when all is quiet.
Mantras can be started at any time, however it is best not to start within three days on either side of the dark Moon (New Moon). If possible, start when the Moon is bright and waxing.
How to Chant the Rahu Mantra
Chant the Rahu mantra 18,000 times. This need not be done in all one sitting. See the Planetary Mantras page for how prayer beads help with counting, and for more tips.
Pronunciation
Arda-kayam maha-viryam chandra ditya veemar-danam seeng-hee-ka garba sambootam tam rahum prana-mam mya-ham.
I offer my obeisances to Rahu, born from the womb of Simhika, who has only half a body yet possesses great power, being able to subdue the Sun and the Moon.
English translation
Why it Works
The Rahu mantra can be seen as a type of prayer that invokes the grace of a planetary energy to lessen its negative effects as revealed in the horoscope.
There are many kinds of astrological mantras. Some are devotional, some are Vedic, and some are Tantric. The mantras given here are mainly devotional. Therefore, while one should be careful to try and pronounce the mantras as accurately as possible, they will still work with individual pronunciations.
For more on how planetary mantras work, see the Planetary Mantras page.