Mercury Mahadasha Effects

Mercury, called Budha or Budhan, is the planet of the thinking mind. It rules speech, writing, calculation, trade and quick learning. Its mahadasha lasts 17 years and comes straight after the 19 years of Saturn. Many people feel the change clearly: after Saturn's slow, heavy years, life becomes lighter, quicker and more social.

Mercury in brief

Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun and is never more than about 28 degrees from it in the sky. It represents:

• intelligence, logic and memory;
• speech, writing, teaching and media;
• business, accounts, brokerage and banking;
• mathematics, computing and astrology itself;
• friends, maternal uncles and younger people.

Mercury is called a neutral or adaptable planet. Joined with benefics it acts as a benefic. Joined with malefics it takes on their colour. So the planets with Mercury matter more than usual.

People born with the Moon in Ashlesha, Jyeshtha or Revati begin life in Mercury dasa. The way the balance at birth is found is shown in Vimshottari Dasha Calculation Explained.

What Mercury rules for each Lagna

Lagna	Mercury rules	General reading
Aries	3rd and 6th	Effort, competition, service
Taurus	2nd and 5th	Wealth, family, intellect; a good period
Gemini	1st and 4th	Lagna lord; self, home, education
Cancer	3rd and 12th	Effort, travel, expenses
Leo	2nd and 11th	Income and savings
Virgo	1st and 10th	Lagna lord; self and career
Libra	9th and 12th	Fortune, travel, higher study; a good period
Scorpio	8th and 11th	Gains with sudden changes
Sagittarius	7th and 10th	Partnership and career; two kendras
Capricorn	6th and 9th	Fortune after effort
Aquarius	5th and 8th	Intellect, research, some sudden changes
Pisces	4th and 7th	Home and partnership; two kendras

When Mercury dasa gives its best

• Mercury as Lagna lord for Gemini and Virgo.
• Mercury as a trikona lord for Taurus (5th), Libra (9th), Capricorn (9th) and Aquarius (5th).
• Mercury strong by sign: in Virgo, which is both its own and its exaltation sign, in Gemini, or in the signs of its friends the Sun and Venus.
• Mercury in the Lagna, where it has directional strength. See Dig Bala Directional Strength of Planets.
• Mercury with the Sun but not too close, which forms Budha Aditya Yoga.

In such charts the 17 years often bring degrees and qualifications, a move into business or a professional practice, writing or teaching, many contacts and steady growth in income.

When Mercury dasa tests

• Mercury debilitated in Pisces without cancellation.
• Mercury closely combust, within a few degrees of the Sun. The standard orb is about 14 degrees, but the effect is felt mainly when the two are very close. See Combustion of Planets in Vedic Astrology.
• Mercury joined with Mars, Saturn, Rahu or Ketu without any benefic influence.
• Mercury in the 6th, 8th or 12th house and weak.

The usual difficulties are of Mercury's own kind: too many plans at once, nervous restlessness, careless paperwork, misunderstandings in speech or writing, and decisions that are changed too often.

The nine bhuktis of Mercury mahadasha

Bhukti	Approx. length	Traditional themes
Mercury	2 years 4 months 27 days	A new start after Saturn: study, contacts, fresh plans
Ketu	11 months 27 days	A pause; inward turn; finish old work before starting more
Venus	2 years 10 months	Often the best bhukti: comforts, marriage, creative and business success
Sun	10 months 6 days	Recognition, dealings with government or superiors
Moon	1 year 5 months	Home, mother, public contact; changing moods
Mars	11 months 27 days	Energy and argument; be careful with documents and disputes
Rahu	2 years 6 months 18 days	Ambition, technology, foreign links; check facts before acting
Jupiter	2 years 3 months 6 days	Learning, children, advice; family events
Saturn	2 years 8 months 9 days	Consolidation and responsibility; a steady close to the dasa

Each bhukti also depends on the sub-lord's own house and strength in your chart.

Practical advice for Mercury dasa

1. Keep learning. A course, a certification or a new language pays back many times in this period.
2. Write things down. Agreements, accounts and promises should be on paper. Mercury rewards good records.
3. Finish what you start. Choose two or three projects, not ten.
4. Use the habits Saturn taught. People who carry forward the discipline of the previous period do best. That period is described in Saturn Mahadasha Effects.
5. Rest the mind. Regular sleep, time outdoors and less screen time help a busy Mercury.

Remedies

• Wednesday prayers to Lord Vishnu, or reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama.
• Giving books, pens or school fees to students.
• Offering green gram (moong) or green leafy vegetables on Wednesdays, a traditional practice.
• Respect for teachers and for one's maternal uncles.
• Truthful, careful speech, which is the remedy Mercury values most.

Summary

Mercury mahadasha lasts 17 years. For Gemini, Virgo, Taurus and Libra Lagnas, and wherever Mercury is strong and well accompanied, it is a period of learning, trade and wide contacts. Where Mercury is weak, the same period asks for focus, careful paperwork and a calm mind. Read it through the houses Mercury rules, the planets joined with it and the bhukti lords.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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See Also:mercury mahadasha budha dasa budh mahadasha vimshottari dasa bhukti remedies