Mercury Transit in Dhanishta

The eight Vasus, gods of the elements and of wealth, are the deities of Dhanishta, and a drum is its symbol. Mars is the lord. The first two padas lie in Capricorn and the last two in Aquarius, both Saturn's signs, and Mercury counts Mars and Saturn neutral, so the lords neither help nor hinder it and rhythm sets the tone.

Mercury stays about nine days, a month under a retrograde. Music, rhythm, timing, wealth counted and shared, and fame won by a skill done in public are the themes. Speech falls into cadence. Good speech holds a room here, and careless words get repeated.

Dhanishta is chara in Muhurta Chintamani's count, movable, and good for travel, vehicles and any work that keeps time. Mars adds drive and a taste for competition. In the Aquarius padas the mind turns to groups, networks and wealth held in common, and Mercury's trade becomes the trade of a community.

For the Capricorn padas, Sagittarius, Libra, Leo, Gemini, Aries and Pisces Moons hold Mercury in Phaladeepika's favourable houses. For the Aquarius padas the gaining Moons are Capricorn, Scorpio, Virgo, Cancer, Taurus and Aries. Aquarius, Sagittarius, Libra, Leo, Gemini and Pisces Moons have the harder houses in Aquarius, and should keep to the time others have set. The lagna is read by the same count.

The transit shows a person's sense of timing, in speech and in money.

Keep rhythm as the remedy: japa of Om Budhaya Namah on a mala at a fixed hour for the length of the stay. Worship Vishnu and give green cloth or moong on Wednesday. Hanuman on Tuesday settles Mars as lord, and a gift to a musician honours the Vasus.