I have always been advised that Shani is a teacher who teaches through adversity, and Rahu is temperamental, aggressive and grasping.  I would vote for Shani too.  Rahu seems to be not something that would contribute some substance to a person's life and way of thinking

Lord Shiva also known as MahaKala,great time,(Kala=time=Ketu),Sarpa is Rahu.Rahu and Ketu origionally where the demon Vasuki whose head is Rahu and Tail is Ketu.So when the mighty shiva or mahakala denotes ketu it is understood to be the strongest.

Another explanation:Sun is considered the most powerful but ketu is negative sun(meaning lack of confidence,lack of selfworth and esteem etc) and ketu eclipses sun and rahu eclipses the moon(rahu is negative moon or negative mind).
People always think rahu eclipses the sun,it is ketu which eclipses the sun and rahu which eclipses the moon.Ask the great Dr David Frawley(astrologer) or Robert Svoboda(the aghori),you will gt the answer.
As ketu can darken the sun it has the power to negate the sun which is the most powerful.

Though there is a story between a wrestling duel between Rahu with Aditya(Sun) where it Rahu (symbolically the elephant) hurled the sun(lion) into space and hence we see the sun.

So technically both Rahu and ketu are more powerful than the sun but rahu swallows poison,ketu harnesses it in its tail,thus the poison of the snake(rahu) resides in its tail(ketu).So which is more deadly?

The Chhaya Grahas derive their strength from their sign dispositer, their own placement in the chart, aspects they receive from other planets & stellar ocupation.True to their name they only "shadow box". They can spoil a yoga with association and modify the good results. However, aspect on Rahu & Ketu from benefics could  mollify them. They are not the "causes" but definitely the "catalysts". So, better chemistry between the Nodes & the other planets is  'sine qua non' for a good chart. In that respect they are really power ful in posessing 'nuisance value'.

[quote="SterlingRitu"]I have always been advised that Shani is a teacher who teaches through adversity, and Rahu is temperamental, aggressive and grasping.  I would vote for Shani too.  Rahu seems to be not something that would contribute some substance to a person's life and way of thinking[/quote]


Dear SterlingRitu,

Each lifetime is "back-to-Schooltime again!"

And, therefore, each time we are born, the horoscope becomes the new curriculam and all planets become teachers and each of the 12 houses in our natal horoscopes become NEW CLASSROOMS!

As you recall I am sure that some of the teachers and not all during your schooling impressed you more and taught you significantly more!

Not all teachers were equal, but each [[was]] a teacher par none, nonetheless!

Rohiniranjan

Power corrupts and obsolute power corrupts absolutely!,  unless we have checks and balances. So... Shall we say, " There is better power sharing arrangement and coalition dharma" in the Solar Ministry than what we are witnessing in mundane politics? What about the view ' The  power posessed by the planets in a horoscope is derived from one's Karmic Cycle? If that is true , then why not the strength of 9th house be checked for throwing  some light on 'Celestial  Superman' of that chart?