Mercury in Vedic Astrology

Saying two things with a single word: that is Budha's favorite game. Mercury, fourth graha, embodies the voice of the cosmic being in the very ancient system. He can give you a knack for words with double meanings and for humor; he can also give some difficulty in speech.

Within the court of the grahas, he plays the crown prince, still in training. His mind adjusts and takes on the nature of the graha that accompanies him. Alone, he is benefic, and joined with a malefic he tips over. You can also hold him to be neutral, with no inclination of his own. Neither masculine nor feminine, he belongs to the element earth and the quality rajas.

Budha rules Mithuna and Kanya. In Kanya, his territory is split in three: the first fifteen degrees for exaltation, the next five for moolatrikona, the last ten for domicile. His moolatrikona can also be placed between 16 and 20 degrees. His peak of exaltation lies at the fifteenth degree, and his fall takes place in Meena.

Surya and Shukra count among his friends, Chandra is his adversary, and the other three remain neutral. His directional strength comes from the Lagna, the rising sign, and he keeps his vigor by day and by night. His daily motion varies from about 65 to 100 minutes of arc. He becomes combust within 14 degrees of Surya, and within 12 when retrograde.

He signifies the maternal relatives, read at the sixth house counting from him, as well as bhava 10.

Budha rules Gemini sidereal, Mithuna and Virgo sidereal, Kanya.