Effects of Mercury in the Twelve Houses
Sutras 1-17-If Mercury is in the first house (ascendant), the native will be educated, will have early marriage and will be a devout listener of the recitation of religious scriptures. He will like to travel to many places.. He will be inclined towards Mantras and Tantras and will have the power to free people from the influence of evil spirits. He will be soft spoken, learned, of a forgiveable nature and kind hearted. He will go on pilgrimages in his 27th year and will have enormous gains of wealth and will attain distinction in academic pursuits. If Mercury is in conjunction with or in the house of a malefic, the native will suffer from diseases (possibly skin diseases), bilious troubles and jaundice. If Mercury is associated with or in the house of a benefic, the native will maintain good health. His body will glitter like gold on account of good health, he will take interest in the study of astrology. He will have a defective limb, will be antagonistic towards gentlemen and will suffer from eye diseases. In his 17th year he will have inimical relations with his brothers and will be deceitful. If Mercury is in his sign of exaltation (Virgo) or in his own sign (Gemini or Virgo), he will have happiness from the side of his brothers. He will go to heaven after his death. If Mercury is associated with or aspected by a malefic or in his sign of debilitation (Pisces), the native will go to hell after his death. He will be deprived of the comforts of bed (sexual pleasures) and will be a devotee of evil Gods. If Mercury is in conjunction with malefic like Saturn, the native will suffer the loss of sight in his left eye. If Mercury is in conjunction with the lord of the sixth or a debilitated planet, there will be no eye trouble but he will be sinful and incur expenditure on undeserving persons. If Mercury is associated with a benefic, he will definitely have wealth and a good stock of grains and will be religious minded. He will be well versed in the use of arms and in arithmetic, will be happy and gain proficiency in logic and will have a stout body.
Comments-Mercury is a significator of education, learning, intellect, logic, astrology, arithmetic etc. The ascendant amongst other things represents the body of the native. Mercury is a benefic planet unless he is associated with or aspected by a malefic or he is combust on account of nearness to the Sun. Most of the effects described in the above Sutras are logical, relevant to the significations of Mercury and the first house but there are some effects which we find difficult to accept. Our comments about them are given below:-
(1) It is stated in Sutras 5-8 that if Mercury is associated with a benefic or is in the house of a benefic, along with some of beneficial results in regard to health, learning astrology, a number of effects like having a defective limb, being antagonistic to gentlemen, having eye troubles, being inimical towards brothers and deceitful, will also accrue. Our view is that the above evil effects should not accrue when the Mercury and the first house are under benefic influence. Actually the position should be quite opposite to what has been stated above.
(2) In Sutra 13 it is stated that if Mercury in the first house is in conjunction with Saturn or other malefics, the native's left eye will be damaged but this will not happen if Mercury is associated with the lord of the sixth or a debilitated planet. In a horoscope the sixth house is considered as an evil house (Dusthana) and lord of such a house cannot be treated better than a malefic (in this connection please see our comments against Sutras 46-53 in part II chapter III and views ofJataka Desamarga given there). Similarly a debilitated planet loses the power of doing any good. How can the association with Mercury of such planets ward off the evil effects of association of malefics like Saturn with Mercury? If Mercury is in his own sign or in his sign of exaltation in the first house (which is also Lagna Kendra), Bhadra yoga (a Panch maha-purusha yoga) is formed, the effects of which are as under:-
"The person born in Bhadra yoga will be strong, will have a lion-like face, well developed chest, well proportioned limbs, he will be taciturn, will help relatives and will live up to a good old age." The following horoscope of the late Dr. S. Radha Krishnan, former President of India is a good illustration of Bhadra yoga.
Saravali-The native will have a beautiful body, will be wise and will have knowledge of his country, arts, poetry and arithmetic. He will be sweet and tactful conversationalist and will be long-lived.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will be a learned man. Phaldeepika-The person concerned will be well versed in shastras. He will be a sweet and tactful talker and will be long-lived. Chamatkar Chintamani-Mercury in the first house destroys the Arishta (evil effect on longevity) caused by other planets in the horoscope the native will be very intelligent and will earn his living by writing. Such natives will also be good physicians.
Note-All the above authorities agree that Mercury in the first house gives benefic results. But it should be kept in view that Mercury is a convertible planet and becomes a malefic if he is associated with or aspected by a malefic. Then he will give evil results.
Mercury in the Second House
Sutras 18-24-If Mercury is in the second house, the native will have a good number of children, he will be talkative, well versed in shastras, determined, contented, wealthy and full of good qualities. He will attain distinction in academic pursuits in his 15th year and will have enormous financial gains.
If Mercury is associated with a malefic, or is in the house of a malefic or- is in his sign of debilitation (Pisces), the native will remain uneducated. He will also suffer from windy troubles. If Mercury is associated with or aspected by a benefic, the native will be wealthy and educated. If Mercury is associated with or aspected by Jupiter the native will be very proficient in mathematics and will be an authority on this subject.
Comments-All the effects given are logical and relevant to the significations of Mercury and the second house. The second house is house of family. By the benefic influence of Mercury the native will have a good number of children and the family will be enlarged. It is, however, doubtful that the native can achieve distinction in academic pursuits and acquire enormous wealth at the early age of 15 (Sutra 18) unless he is an exceptionally gifted person. Mercury will give very beneficial results in the case of Taurus and Leo ascendants. For Taurus ascendant Mercury will be in his own sign in the second as the lord of the 2nd and 5th houses. For the Leo ascendant he will be in his own sign in the second as lord of the 2nd and llth houses. Good result will also be experienced in the case of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces ascendants. For the Gemini ascendant Mercury will be in the 2nd as lord of the ascendant and 4th. For Virgo ascendant Mercury will be in the 2nd as lord of the ascendant and the 10th. For Sagittarius ascendant Mercury will be in 2nd as lord of the 7fh and 10th. For Pisces ascendant Mercury will be in the 2nd as lord of the 4th and 7th. These dispositions give rise to powerful Dhana yogas:
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will be rich.
Phaldeepika-The native will acquire wealth by his intelligence. He will become a poet. He will be soft spoken and will get sweetish food to eat.
Saravali-The native will earn his livelihood by his intelligence. He will be fond of good food and drinks. He will be soft spoken' and of high moral.
Chamatkar Chintamani-The native will be wise and intelligent and will acquire name and fame. He will be a good orator and very generous. He will also be fond of luxurious living.
Note-There is a consensus among all the above authorities that Mercury when posited in the second house gives benefic results.
Mercury in the Third House
Sutras 25-31-if Mercury is in the third house the native will have a good number of brothers and will be very happy. In 15th year he will get a son and will become owner of lands. Mercury in the third house will enable the native to acquire wealth. He will be of high morals and full of good qualities. If the lord of the third is strong the native will be long-lived and tolerant. If the lord of the third is weak, the brothers will have to face sufferings and the native will be timid. If the lord of the third is strong the brothers will be long-lived.
Comments-The third house signifies brothers. Benefic influence of Mercury gives the native a number of brothers. If the lord of third is strong the brothers of the native will be long-lived. From the third Mercury aspects the ninth house which signifies Shagya, prosperity morality and also children- Thus the native will be of high morals, prosperous and will get children early in his life. The third house being 8th to-8th house is also the house of longevity. When Mercury is in the third and the lord of third is strong the native will get a long span of life.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will be a consummate rogue. Phaldeepika-The native will be courageous but of medium longevity. He will have good brothers and sisters. He will have to work very hard to earn his livelihood.
Saravali-The native will be hard working, without friends, clever and blessed with brothers and sisters, and will have unstable mind.
Chamatkar Chintamani-The native will have contacts with businessmen and will himself adopt business as his profession. He will have good nature and will remain detached from worldly affairs. His younger brothers and sisters will be dependent on him.
Note-The effects given by Brihat Jatak appear to be of Mercury associated with a malefic. Saravali says that the native will be of unstable mind. This will also happen where Mercury is under malefic influence. The effects given by Chamatkar Chintamani do not appear to be logical except in regard to brothers and sisters. Mercury is not a planet of satwik nature but of Rajasik nature and he will make the native to give up worldly attachments. The effects given by Brighu Sutras are more logical, detailed and relevant to the significations of the third house.
Mercury in the Fourth House
Sutras 32-37-If Mercury is in the fourth house, the native will have very active hands, he will be patient, will have broad eyes and happiness from parents. He will be learned and happy. In his 16th year he will acquire wealth by questionable means and acquire many kind of conveyances. If the lord of the 4th house is strong he will have palanquin as his conveyance. If Mercury is associated with Rahu, Ketu or Saturn the native will be deprived of the comforts of conveyances. He will have no land, will have bitterness with his relations and will be deceitful.
Comments-Very beneficial results have been ascribed to Mercury in the fourth house when he is alone or when the lord of the 4th is strong. Evil effects have been indicated when Mercury is associated with Saturn, Rahu or Ketu. In Sutra 32, does he mean to say that the native will be clever in handicrafts ? In the same Sutra it is said that the native will have broad eyes. Neither Mercury nor the fourth house have anything to do with eyes. This statement therefore seems to be irrelevant. We also feel that in Sutra 34 the meaning of the Sutra will then be that in his 16th year he will get wealth as a gift. In the fourth house Mercury will be in a Kendra to the ascendant. His disposition therefore in his own sign or in his sign .of exaltation (Gemini and Virgo) will give rise, to Bhadra yoga the effects of which have already been indicated earlier in this chapter.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will be learned.
Phaldeepika-The native will be learned, a flatterer, wealthy, will own lands and have good friends. He will also be happy.
Saravali-The native will be wealthy, will have good relations, will own conveyances and good clothes. He will also be learned. Chamatkar Chintamani-The native will be wise. He will have enjoyments with his friends. He will be Chief Accountant of the Government Secretariat. He will be deprived of ancestral property.
Note-All the above authorities are in agreement that Mercury in the fourth house gives beneficial results in accordance with the significations of that house. Chamatkar Chintamani, however, says that Mercury in the fourth will deprive the native of his ancestral property. This is likely to happen if the lord of the fourth house is placed in 6th, 8th or the 12th house or Mercury is in the 4th as lord of these evil houses. Mercury in the Fifth Houses Sutras 38-40-If Mercury is in the fifth house, the native's maternal uncle will suffer from a serious trouble of the throat. He will enjoy happiness from mother, will have difficulty in having children, will be highly intelligent, soft spoken and wise. If the lord of 5th is associated with malefics or is weak, there will be loss of children. Having no children he will obtain a son by adoption. He will be sinful and will have belief in mantras.
Comments-It is not clear to us how Mercury in the fifth house will make the maternal uncle of the native suffer from a throat disease. This house has nothing to do with maternal uncle. The native will have difficulty in begetting children because Mercury is a sexless planet (eunuch) but the native will certainly have children if the lord of the 5th and Jupiter (significator for children-Santan Karaka) are strong and well placed. This is implied from Sutra 39 that there will be loss of children if the lord of the 5th is with malefics or is otherwise weak. We are also of the view that Mercury will give much more beneficial results if he is in his own sign or in his sign of exaltation.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will be a minister.
Phaldeepika-The native will enjoy happiness and glory on account of his brilliant intellect. The native will have many children and he will be learned in mantra shastra.
Saravali-The native will be learned in mantra shastra and hypnotism. He will have a good number of children, will be well educated, will hold a position of authority and will be happy.
Chamatkar Chintamani-The native will get children late in his life. He will be selfish and a clever hypnotist.
Note-Almost all the authorities are in agreement that Mercury in fifth will give beneficial results in the 5th in accordance with the significations of this house. Phaldeepika and Saravali are of the view that with Mercury in the 5th, the native will have many children whereas Bhrigu Sutras holds that the native will have difficulty in begetting children. We reiterate our view ,that the native will be blessed with children if the lord of the 5th and Jupiter are well placed in the horoscope.
Mercury in the Sixth House
Sutras 41-47-If Mercury is in the sixth house the native will be respected by the king. There will, however, be obstacles in achieving success in educational pursuits. The native will be showy and proud and very proficient in creating controversies. In his 30th year he will be accorded great favour by the king (Government). The native will write letters, books etc. If Mercury is in the sign of Mars (Aries or Scorpio), the native will suffer from leprosy of the blue colour or other similar diseases of the skin. If Mercury in the 6th is associated with Saturn and Rahu or Saturn and Ketu, the native will suffer from diseases like rheumatism, shooting pains etc. He will have quarrels with enemies belonging to his community. If lord of the 6th is strong the people of the community will prove stronger. If the lord of the 6th is weak, the people of the community will get annihilated.
Comments-It will be seen from the above that Mercury in the 6th house gives mixed results but the evil effects predominate. While the native will get favour from Government, he will be showy and proud, quarrelsome and will not achieve success in the educational sphere. He will suffer from diseases and enemies if Mercury is under evil influence.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The native will be without enemies.
Phaldeepika-The native will be lazy and will have harsh speech. He will humiliate his enemies but will be fond of creating controversies.
Saravali-The native will be victorious in the battlefield and will be free from diseases. He will be lazy, without anger, harsh in speech and he will get humiliated.
Chamatkar Chintamani-He will have inimical relations with other people. He will earn wealth with his own efforts.
Note-According to above authorities, Mercury gives both favourable and unfavourable results when he is in the sixth house. They are however, agreed that the native is either without enemies or he annihilates them.
Mercury in the Seventh House
Sutras 48-56-If Mercury is in the seventh house, the native will enjoy happiness from mother and will also enjoy comforts of horses etc. He will be religiously inclined and will be broadminded. He will possess wide spread reputation and will be respected by Government. If Mercury in 7th is associated with benefics he will own a palanquin (conveyances) and will get a good wife but he will eat non-vegetarian food. If the lord of the 7th is strong the native will have only one wife. If the lord of 7th is weak or is situated in a malefic house or in conjunction with malefics like Mars, Saturn, Rahu or Ketu, there will be loss of wife. In a female horoscope the above disposition will cause loss of husband and the native herself will suffer from leprosy and will be ugly in appearance.
Comments-Seventh house by itself is not a significator of mother and conveyances, but being 4th to 4th house, such matters can also be considered from the 7th house according to 'Bhavat Bhavam' theory. The above Sutras are all logical and relevant to the significations of the 7th house and there is not much to comment upon. Mercury in the 7th will be in kendra to the ascendant. His disposition in his own sign or in his sign of exaltation (Gemini and Virgo), will give rise to Bhadra yoga the effects of which have already been described earlier in this chapter. If Jupiter or Venus are associated with Mercury in the 6th, 7th or 8th houses or if they are spread out in these three houses without any malefic association, a very beneficial yoga known as Lagnadhi yoga is formed, the effects of which are as under :-
"The person born under the Lagnadhi yoga will become a minister, a commander or a ruler (of a District or Province). He will have many wives, will be well-behaved, long-lived, virtuous and without foes."
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will possess a knowledge of law and rules of the country.
Phaldeepika-The native will be wise, well dressed and full of glory. He will be married to a wealthy wife.
Saravali-The wife of the native will be intelligent, beautiful, quarrelsome and wealthy. The native himself will be a respected person.
Chamatkar Chintamani-The native will give happiness to his wife but will not be very virile. He will be handsome and wealthy.
Note-All the above authorities have ascribed good effects to Mercury in the 7th house but it is surprising that effects given by Brihat Jatak have no relevance to the significations of the 7th house.
Mercury in the Eighth House
Sutras 57-63-If Mercury is in the 8th house, the native will get a good span of life and will be owner of a large area of land. He will have seven children. In his 25th year he will receive respect and honour in many ways and will get wide spread fame and reputation. If the lord of the 8th is strong or if the lord of the 8th is in his sign of exaltation (Virgo) and associated with benefic the native will be assured of full span -of life. If the lord of the 8th is in his sign of debilitation (Pisces) and is associated with malefics, the native will have a short life.
Comments-The above Sutras speak very well of Mercury in 8th house. The native will get lands and good reputation and also longevity. The Sutras do not mention of wealth. In our view Mercury-will aspect the 2nd house (Dhana Bhava) from the 8th and therefore the native should be wealthy also. According to Sutra 58 the native will have seven children. At the time of giving effects of Mercury in 5th house (house of children Suta Bhava), it was said in Sutra 38 that Mercury in 5th would create obstacles in getting the native children. It, there fore becomes difficult to believe that the same Mercury in the 8th house (an evil house) will give the native seven children particularly when this house has got nothing to do with children.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will be widely known for his qualities.
Phaldeepika-The native will be a person who will have authority to award punishment (judge, magistrate etc). He will have wide spread reputation and will be long-lived. He will be a supporter of his family and will be full of good qualities.
Saravali-The native will be famous, full of glory, powerful, longlived and supporter of his family. He will be like a king or a judge.
Chamatkar Chintamani-The native will live for one hundred years. He will enjoy good reputation not only in his own country but in foreign countries also. He will acquire wealth by favour of the king or by doing business. He will enjoy the company of women.
Note-All the authorities are in full agreement with Bhrigu Sutras that the-position of Mercury should be considered as very favourable in the 8th house but as pointed out by Bhrigu Sutras the disposition of the lord of the 8th should also be kept in view. It should also be remembered that as mentioned in chapter three (while dealing with the position of Mars in the sixth house) that if Mercury is in 8th house (a dusthana) as lord of an auspicious house, he will adversely affect the significations of that house but as lord of 2nd in the 8th he will not prove harmful because then he will be aspecting his own house from the 8th house.
Mercury in the Ninth House
Sutras 64-66-If Mercury is in the 9th house the native will have many children. He will be learned in Vedas and Shastras, fond of music, very patient, religious minded, full of glory, wealthy and fortunate and his father will be long-lived. He will be well cultured and will take interest in meditation.
Comments-The above Sutras have clearly established that the placement of Mercury in the ninth is very beneficial to the native and will give long life to his father. The views expressed are logical and relevant to the significations of the 9th house. For Taurus ascendant Mercury will be in the 9th as lord of the 2nd and 5th. For Gemini ascendant Mercury will be in the 9th as lord of ascendant and the 4th. For Leo ascendant, he will be in the 9th as the lord of the 2nd and llth. For Virgo ascendant he will be in the 9th as lord of ascendant and 10th. For Libra ascendant he will be in 9th as lord of 9th. For Sagittarius ascendant he will be in the 9th as lord of the 7th and 10th. For Pisces ascendant he will be in the 9th as lord of the 4th and 7th. These are powerful Dhana yogas. If Mercury is in his own sign (Gemini or Virgo) a very powerful Raja yoga will be formed giving name, fame and wealth to the native. The following horoscope of Mr. Paul Reynaud, former Prime Minister of France is an example of such Raja yoga.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will be endowed with children, wealth and happiness.
Phaldeepika-The native will be very learned, religious minded wealthy and of good conduct.
Saravali-The native will be very wealthy, very learned, of good conduct, orator, proficient in his work and religious minded.
Chamatkar Chintamani-The native will be religious minded and very wise. He will perform religious rites, bathe in the Ganges, bring good reputation to his family and will destroy those who indulge in sinful deeds.
Note-All the above authorities agree with the Bhrigu Sutras about the beneficial effects of Mercury in the 9th house.
Mercury in the Tenth House
Sutras 67-70-If Mercury is in the tenth house the native will be successful by performing virtuous deeds. He will be patient, will have wide spread reputation and will be a great thinker. In his 28th year he will suffer from eye troubles. If Mercury is in his own sign or in his sign of exaltation or is in conjunction with Jupiter, the native will perform many kinds of religious rites. If Mercury is in the house of his enemy, or is associated with a malefic, the native will be stupid, will indulge in sinful deeds and will be of bad conduct.
Comments-The above Sutras have ascribed beneficial results to Mercury in the tenth house unless he is under malefic influence. However, the statement in Sutra 68, that the native will suffer from eye troubles in his 28th year does not appear logical and relevant to the significations of Mercury and the tenth house. If Mercury is in the 10th house in his own sign Gemini he will be there as lord of the ascendant and the tenth in the 10th house. If he is in his own sign Virgo (this is also his sign of exaltation) he will be there as lord of seventh and tenth in .the tenth house. These are very favourable dispositions. Lord of 10th in the 10th or lord of 9th in 10th (Capricorn ascendant) also forms a powerful Raja yoga which is capable of giving the native great name, fame and popularity.
The following horoscope of late Shri Deen Dayal Upadhyaya a former very popular Jansangh leader illustrates the above point of view- Mercury in the tenth in his own sign or in his sign of exaltation, being in Kendra to the ascendant, will also give rise to Bhadra yoga, the effects of which have already been described earlier in this chapter.
If Mercury as a benefic occupies the tenth house from the ascendant Amia yoga is also formed, the results of which have been given as under:-
"The person will achieve lasting fame and reputation. His character will be spotless and he will lead a prosperous life."
For Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces ascendants, Mercury in the tenth as lord of the ascendant and 4th, as lord of the ascendant and the 10th, as lord of 7th and the 10th, as lord of the 4th and 7th respectively will give rise to powerful Dhan yogas.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will be happy and powerful.
Phaldeepika-The native will be learned, powerful, intelligent, happy, will perform virtuous deeds and will be successful in his life.
Saravali-The native will be highly intelligent, will perform virtuous deeds, will be successful in his life, will be educated, tolerant and powerful. He will be decorated with many honours.
Chamatkar Chintamani-The native will get paternal property. He will be respected everywhere. He will have the authority of a king. He will speak less and do more.
Note-All the above are agreed that the position of a benefic Mercury in the 10th would be one of the most favourable dispositions in a horoscope.
Mercury in the Eleventh House
Sutras 71-75-If Mercury is in the eleventh house, the native will perform many auspicious ceremonies. He will acquire wealthy through many sources. After the age of 21 he will be blessed with children and will be wealthy and kind-hearted. If Mercury is in the house of a malefic or is associated with malefics, the native will suffer loss of wealth on account of sinful deeds. If Mercury is in his own sign or in his sign of exaltation, the native will become wealthy by performing virtuous deeds.
Comments-The above Sutras have attributed very benefic results to Mercury in the eleventh house if he is not under any malefic influence. For Leo Ascendant if Mercury is in the 11th house he will be there as lord of the 2nd and 11th houses in the 11th. This will be a very good disposition for making the native very wealthy. For Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Capricorn and Pisces ascendants also Mercury in the 11th will be very beneficial.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-Mercury in the 11th house will make the person born wealthy.
Phaldeepika-The native will be long-lived, true to his words, possessor of enormous wealth and happy. He will enjoy happiness and comforts from his servants.
Saravali-The native will be wealthy, learned, happy, fond of things of luxury and famous, and will have obedient servants.
Chamatkar Chintamani-There will be no gain of wealth unless Mercury is in the eleventh house.
Note-All the above authorities and Bhrigu Sutras are in full agreement that eleventh house is a very auspicious and favourable house for Mercury.
Mercury in the Twelfth House
Sutras 76-81-The native will be learned. He will be fond of distributing things to others. If Mercury is associated with malefics, the native will have an unstable mind and he will have bitterness towards the king. If Mercury is associated with benefics, the native will incur expenditure on religious charities and will have meagre education.
Comments-The twelfth is a house of loss or expenditure (Vyaya Bhava). The only good that the benefic Mercury does is to make the native spend money on religious charities and distribute articles of necessity to the needy.
Other Views
Brihat Jatak-The person concerned will suffer degradation.
Phaldeepika-The person will be poor, lazy, cruel and without any education. He will also suffer humiliation.
Saravali-The person will be true to his words, lazy, humiliated, orator, poor and cruel.
Chamatkar Chintamani-The native will entertain Brahmins and create fear in the mind of enemies.
Note-Adverse results have been attributed to Mercury in the 12th house by the above authorities.
