Mercury: The Planet of Communication
Ruler of Sign: Gemini & Virgo
Mahadasha: 17 years
Exaltation: Virgo (15 degrees – Deep Exaltation)
Deblitation: Pisces
Directional Strength: First House
Day: Wednesday
Direction: North
Nature: Vata (Airy)
Diety: Lord Vishnu
In Astrology Mercury represents the principles of communication, mentality, thinking patterns, rationality,reasoning,adaptability and variability.
Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun and as such, it has a special connection to it. It is the messenger of Gods, a deity that carries information from one level of existence to the other, from one person to another, and learns how to practically incorporate knowledge into everyday choices.
The role of Mercury is incredibly important, although it is small and often observed as this little trickster that can take us one way or the other, standing for our own inner split personalities.
Mercury represents the way we think and its position in element and house show how we reason, pointing towards thoughts that preoccupy our entire existence. As a ruler of both Gemini and Virgo, it seems to have a task to create a connection between our mental plain – the field of ideas, and the practical, Earthly side to our human nature that speaks of our physiology, working habits and routine.
Mercury represent duplicity, multiplicity, it has two sides of story. For example, in the seventh house, it will show a tendency to look for love in two different partners at the same time.
Mercury represents communication, driving, transportation and walking. How we communicate, words we choose, our thoughts and quality of our thoughts, their speed
Mercury is a neutral planet and its association with the other planets becomes very important as it behaves in tandem with the planets it is placed with. Mercury is beneficial if it is with benefic planets, while it impacts us adversely if it is placed with malefic planets.
Mercury or ‘Budh’ is the signifier of intelligence. It represents the thinking mind, but unlike the moon that represents just the consciousness, Budh is what helps one differentiate the right from the wrong and the good from the evil. It is representative of intellect, wit, humor, sharp thinking, communication.
VEDIC STORY ABOUT MERCURY
Mercury or Budh, as it is called in Vedic astrology, is the messenger of the Gods and the Prince in the celestial cabinet. The birth story of Mercury is very different from the other planets. Mercury is born from the union of Moon and Tara (Jupiter’s wife).
Tara, the wife of Dev Guru Brihaspati, fell in love with the handsome Chandra. The Moon deity also took a liking for the beautiful Tara and, soon after, they eloped. As a result of the union, Budh or Mercury was born.
Brihaspati had questioned the paternity of the child while Tara refused to speak on the matter. A lot of persuasion by the Devas also did not help, and it was only after the unborn child asked the same question from the womb that Tara revealed the father’s identity. The unborn child, who was so intelligent even in his mother’s womb, thus became ‘Budh’- the wise one.
However, as a result of Brihaspati’s curse, Budh is neither a man nor a woman. Thus, Mercury is considered to be a neutral planet that takes on the attributes of the planets it is placed with- with benefic planets, it is benefic, while with the malefic planets, Mercury is malefic.
Budh is also regarded as Vishnu-Rupi, owing to Mercury’s beauty and similarity in appearance with Vishnu. Thus the presiding deity of Mercury is also Lord Vishnu.
Mercury in astrology is related to qualities like intelligence, education, reading and scholarly habits, commerce, communication, and humor.
Since planet Mercury stands for analytical skills, people who have a strong Mercury make very good astrologers and mathematicians and other such fields that would require strong analytical abilities. They can analyze things far more easily and correctly. They are also very good scholars and take a keen interest in reading and learning.
Since planet Mercury is the planet of communication, people with a strong Mercury shine in the associated fields like lawyers, media persons, news reporters, writers, and so on. Modern-day communication is also governed by Mercury, and as such, it includes telephones and the internet. People with professions related to computers are also under the influence of Mercury. Mercury makes one a good software engineer as well, and people who are associated with any profession which involves communication with a lot of people or a wide audience are also under Mercury’s influence.
The planet Mercury has its way with words. It makes people witty and humorous, and many comedians and entertainers have a well-placed Mercury in their birth chart that helps them make people laugh with the prowess of their words. Even in Hindu Mythology, Mercury is regarded as being light-hearted and someone who enjoys jokes.
In Vedic astrology, the planet Mercury is considered to be of the Vaishya varna and has Rajsikguna. It, therefore, presides over trade, commerce, business, and finance. Professions like bankers, chartered accountants, dealers, brokers, salespersons, businessmen, etc. are successful in their respective fields under the influence of Mercury.
In medical astrology, Mercury represents the skin and the nervous system, as well as the lungs, mouth, and digestive system, especially the intestines. Any affliction to Mercury may result in adversities of these organs, and one might develop problems of the skin like eczema, nervous breakdown, brain disorders, giddiness, and lung ailments like asthma, speech ailments, and digestive disorders relating to the intestines, like constipation.