☿ Mercury in House I - Appearance and Health
Bhrigu Sutras
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.