Learn
Mercury (Budha) in Indian astrology
Mercury governs how a person thinks, talks and trades.
- Sanskrit
- Budha (बुध)
- Weekday
- Wednesday
- Nature
- neutral: it takes on the nature of the planets it joins
- Rules
- Gemini, Virgo
- Exalted
- Virgo (15°)
- Debilitated
- Pisces (15°)
- Dasha length
- 17 years of the 120-year Vimshottari cycle
- Signifies
- intellect, speech, writing, trade, accounts and learning
- Rules the stars
- Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati
It is the closest planet to the Sun and is often combust, which tradition reads as a mind that is busy with the self. Because Mercury behaves like whichever planet it sits with, astrologers always read it together with its neighbours.
In the dasha cycle
In the Vimshottari order, Mercury is followed by Ketu. The period of Mercury lasts 17 years when it runs in full. Read more about the system on the dasha page.
See it in your own chart
The terms on this page appear in every birth chart report, explained for your own planets and dates.