Mercury

Mercury is called Budh in Sanskrit and stands for 'buddhi' (intellect or intelligence). It signifies logic (all good lawyers and debaters have a strong Mercury), memory, the ability to observe and collect information, understand and communicate what one has understood, to understand what one reads or listens, the effort that one makes to understand something, and overall intelligence in general.

It rules two houses, Gemini and Virgo. The symbol of Gemini is two faces, one looking inward and other facing outward. This represents the ability of Mercury to take in data, make sense of it using contemplation ability (the face turned inward) and then express or communicate it's understanding (the face facing outward) to others. It is because of this unique ability that Mercury is assigned the lordship of the power of oral communication. The inward looking face is also related to the fact that Mercury rules the nervous system. An afflicted Mercury can cause illnesses related to the nervous system.

The symbol of Virgo is a young virgin with grain seeds in her hands riding a boat. It symbolizes Mercury's connection with day-to-day service and mundane business affairs of civilization (everyone needs foodgrains which represented the basic good in an agrarian society). The artisan class, the skilled professional class or the trained workforce earning its livelihood using the acquired skills is represented by Mercury as the ruler of Virgo, which is the sixth house of everyday work in the Kaalpurush horoscope. The virgin riding the boat of life symbolizes the fact that our intellect is like a 'virgin', completely innocent till it is 'impregnated' with knowledge of any kind, which is then used to earn one's daily bread. Without this 'virgin' like innocence or emptiness of our intellect, we would not be able to learn anything, and earn anything, so that we can row the boat of our life, over the turbulent waters of our existence in this inherently shaky world.

The 'virgin' also signifies the immense fertility of our intellect which can give birth to so many 'seeds' or ideas, which in turn helps us to solve our problems (8th house). You can see this Virgo connection to the solution of our problems by realizing that Virgo being the 6th house in the Kaalpurush horoscope, is 11th (house of gains) from 8th. The idea is that when we are faced with problems or obstacles (8th house signification), we need to apply our intellect (Mercury) in order to 'gain' (11th house) or come up with ideas which resolve those problems. Mercury of Virgo is that limitless inventiveness. That is the reason why Mercury is deemed exalted in Virgo. Our intellect (Mercury) reaches full maturity by grappling with and solving a million problems or obstacles.

Mercury is the Lord of the 4th day of the week. Wednesday is called Budhwaar (the day of Mercury) in Indian calendar. It comes after Sun-day, Moon-day (Monday), and Mars-day (Mangalwaar in Indian calendar, but known as Tuesday in English calendar). What does it signify? It signifies the fact that the turbulent mind (Mother Moon), the Queen of the zodiac, in order to find peace and success in life, needs not only the will power and strength of her first son, the strong Mars, but also the intelligence and ability to learn ever new skills of her extremely intelligent second son, Mercury. Will power (Mars) without intelligence (Mercury) is only going to cause incessant wars and battles with others. Peace and truce are possible only through intelligent communication and exchange of ideas and consideration for each other's interests. All these qualities are represented by Mercury. Without the good graces of Mercury, neither a person nor a society can enjoy peace that comes from intelligent understanding and thereby prosper.

Mercury is also the ideal student to the Devaguru Jupiter who rules the next day of the Indian weekly calendar. Thursday is called Brihaspati-waar or Guru-waar in Indian calendar. Both Brihaspati and Guru are Indian names for the planet Jupiter which rules wisdom (as the Lord of Saggitarius, the 9th house in the Kaalpurush horoscope) and enlightenment (as lord of Pisces, the 12th house in the Kaalpurush horoscope). The idea is that, Mother Moon (our Mind) cannot gain true wisdom without her two sons (Mars and Mercury - will power and intellect respectively) surrendering before a Sadguru (a knower of Supreme Truth represented by the Jupiter archetype) and learning about the Truth from him.

This relationship of discipleship of Mercury with Jupiter can also be seen from the fact that the houses ruled by Jupiter are the other end of the two poles ruled by Mercury. Saggitarius is the culmination of the Gemini pole being the house opposite to it, and Pisces stands in the same relationship to Virgo. Gemini, the intellect can gain wisdom (Saggitarius aspect of Jupiter) and Virgo, the infinite fertility of the intellect can gain enlightenment (knowledge of the INFINITE (Pisces aspect of Jupiter) if it is guided by a wise and enlightened teacher (Jupiter)!!

Since intelligence is always useful, Mercury is classified as a 'shubh' or auspicious planet along with Venus (enjoyment, refinement, culture, class) and Jupiter (wisdom, enlightenment). Another unique thing about Mercury is that all the three sets of 9 nakshatras end with a nakshatra ruled by Mercury. Not only that, the last pada of the last nakshatra in all these three sets are ruled by Mercury. This is so amazing, and certainly hides one of the deepest secrets of life in it. Let us see what that secret could be!! But first let us understand what I meant.

The first set of the 9 tamasik nakshatras starts with Ashwini (ruled by Ketu) and ends with Ashlesha (ruled by Mercury). Similarly, the second rajasik set starts with Magha (ruled by Ketu) and ends with Jyeshtha (ruled by Mercury). The third satwik set starts with Moola (ruled by Ketu) and ends with Revati ( ruled by Mercury). Also, every zodiac sign is divided into 9 parts to caste the Navamsha chart or D9 chart, which is considered the most important divisional chart in Vedic Astrology after the Lagna chart. These nine divisions of each zodiac coincide with the nakshatra padas exactly. The first pada in each zodiac is ruled by Ketu and the 9th and last pada is always ruled by Mercury. Not only that, the Vimshottari dasa system begins with the period of Ketu and ends with the period of Mercury. Again, all these facts are so amazing!! This tells you of the fact that according to the Rishis of ancient India, who founded the system of Vedic Astrology, Mercury is one of the most important planets. The story of an individual's life begins with Ketu and ends with Mercury!! Ketu cannot attain Moksha or liberation that it craves without the help of Mercury!!

Why is this so? Let's see if we can understand this mystery. Ketu doesn't have a head (intellect) and only has a craving for enlightenment. It craves the 'light’ and yet doesn't know where to find it. It is the job of the Mercury (intellect) to find the place where wisdom is (great books, courses, programs, ashrams, teachers etc.) and absorb it into its nervous system (ruled by Mercury!!). Enlightenment is not possible unless Mercury is able to discriminate the true path and travels on it. One needs the intellect to walk on the true path, to recognize the Sadguru (True Teacher), and to recognize the Divine Light when IT reveals itself in deep meditation.

Another unique thing about Mercury is that it is the only planet which does not become combust (a technical term for losing their power due to excessive light of the Sun overpowering the planet ) by being very close to the Sun. Every other planet's influence becomes combust when they get too close to the Sun. In fact when Mercury is conjunct Sun, it forms a well known Rajyog (an auspicious planetary combination capable of helping the native get huge success in life) called the Budhhaditya Yog. This Yog is supposed to make the native very brilliant. Why is this so? It is so because Mercury represents the intellect and the Sun represents the Truth or the Soul. An intellect illumined by the light of the truth or the Soul brings greater enlightenment or wisdom to the native and is in no way harmful. The famous Gayathri Mantra implores the Divine Sun to illuminate the intellect (Mercury) with it's glorious light in order to bring greater enlightenment. This clearly tells us why Mercury doesn't get combust by Sun's rays. In fact, it becomes more powerful when illumined by the Sun or the Soul.

It is also the planet which is nearest to the Sun. This indicates the fact that apart from the life force that emanates from the Soul (Sun) and animates the body, the intellect (Mercury) is the most important factor in life. Without a bright intellect illumined by the Sun's brilliance, a man can accomplish only that much in life. Our entire education and ability to learn from our observations and life experiences depends upon the brightness of our intellect (Mercury).

Mercury rules the first 6 years of life. This is because a child learns to identify and name every relevant object and person around him in this phase of life. This capacity helps him to learn the basic language of his society. Mercury rules language and communication, which a child learns in these vital first years of life. Mercury is also the most curious and restless among all the planets except for Moon. This is so because it completes its movement around the 12 zodiac signs in lesser time than all the other planets except for Moon. We can see how curious and restless the children are in this phase of life. A person with a very strong Mercury retains his curiosity throughout life. He keeps learning and growing in knowledge throughout life. He is an avid reader and student for life. Jupiter (the Teacher or Guru) just loves such a curious and brilliant student.

We can now perhaps see why Mercury is such an important planet. May Lord Ganesha bless us so that our intellects blossom fully. God bless.