Astronomy:
Mercury or
Budha is at an average distance
of 36 million kilometers from the Sun. At the Apogee, the distance
is about 43 million miles and at the perigee it is about 29 million
miles from the Sun. It revolves round the Sun in 88 days. Its diameter
is nearly 3,200 miles. As the size of Mercury is very small and its
mass is very little its gravitational pull is naturally very weak.
There is no atmosphere around it since it is very
close to the Sun. Further, one half of Mercury is very hot and the
temperature would be around 360 degrees centigrade; the other half
is very cold, much cooler than our arctic region during severe winter.
The time of rotation and revolution is the same therefore, only one
part of Mercury will face the Sun and other part will always remain
dark with temperatures below freezing point.
Mythology:
Mercury was born out of association of Moon and
Tara the
wife of
Brihaspati, the
Deva Guru. The story is
that Moon abducted Tara and took refuse in the Ashram of
Shukracharya -
the guru of Asuras. After all the gods appealed for the better judgement
to Moon he understood his mistake. A remorseful moon returned
Tara to
Brihaspati.
Tara was
carrying Moon’s child. The child was duly delivered. The child was
very beautiful.
Tara had disclosed the paternity to
Brihaspati who
in a Brahmanical forgiving gesture accepted the inevitable.
In Greek Mythology Mercury is considered to be
the son of Jupiter and Maia, the daughter of Atlas. He is said to
be a friend of Apollo, maybe since it is closest to the Sun.
Astrological Significance:
Some important signification of Mercury as per
Uttara Kalamrita are:
a) Education b) Treasury c) Mathematics d) Knowledge
e) Speech f) Infantry g) writing h) Green color i) astrology and
astronomy j) Commerce k) Eunuch l) Skin m) Worship of Vishnu n) Atharva
Vedas o) Fond of north – west direction p) Well versed in Puranas
or major epic q) Grammar r) Maternal uncle s) Yantras t) Very powerful
Tantrik u) Self control v) Devotion w) Navel x) Child y) Humility
z) strong at sunrise.
It is generally seen if Mercury is strong a good
result pertaining to the above-mentioned significations will be noticed
and vice versa if Mercury is weak.
Other Astrological Considerations:
Mercury rules over
Mithuna and
Kanya
Rashis. It is deeply exalted at 15 degree Virgo and deeply
debilitated at 15 degree Pisces. Its
Mooltrikona sign
is
Kanya. It is the only planet finding exaltation in
it’s own sign. (
Kanya Rashi is ruled by Budha, all other
planets are exalted in signs ruled by someone else – meaning the
other planet but
Budha is exalted in it’s own sign
Kanya).
Mercury is the significator of speech. In the planetary
cabinet it is considered as an heir apparent. Its complexion is akin
to that of grass. The presiding deity being Vishnu and it is neuter
(it is impotent or neutral) in gender. It represents Earth as an
element of
Panchbhootas (five elements). It represents
Vaishya
Varna or Commercial Community. It has the predominance of
Rajsik
Gunas.
Mercury possesses an attractive physique and the
ability to make pun or to speak words having double meaning, sense
of humour. He has the blend of all three humours of Bile, Phlegm
and wind. It represents the skin. It can be found in playground.
It represents one
Ritu (Season) (It is
of about 2 month’s duration). It represents mixed taste. It is powerful
in the eastern direction. It is Friendly to Sun and Venus. It is
inimical to Moon and Neutral to Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. It is neutral
to both
Rahu and Ketu.
