Mercury Transit in Purva Bhadrapada

Aja Ekapada, the one-footed goat, counted among the Rudras in some lists, is the deity of Purva Bhadrapada. Jupiter is the lord, and the symbols are the front legs of a funeral cot and a sword. Three padas lie in Aquarius, Saturn's sign, and the fourth in Pisces, where Mercury is debilitated. Mercury counts Jupiter neutral and Jupiter counts Mercury an enemy, which makes this a hard stay for the graha.

It lasts about eight days. Purva Bhadrapada is tapas, the heat of austerity, and its themes are intensity, penance, the occult and a willingness to burn what is comfortable. Mercury's intellect turns severe and philosophical. Writing on death, renunciation and the hidden side of things does well, and ordinary trade slows.

Muhurta Chintamani counts the nakshatra ugra, fierce, suited to severe vows, the cutting away of an addiction and work with fire and weapons, and unsuited to marriage, a first lesson or a gentle sale. In the Pisces pada Mercury's judgement weakens. Check any decision made there once the graha moves on.

For the Aquarius padas, Capricorn, Scorpio, Virgo, Cancer, Taurus and Aries Moons and lagnas hold Mercury in Phaladeepika's favourable houses. For the Pisces pada the gaining Moons are Aquarius, Sagittarius, Libra, Leo, Gemini and Taurus. Aquarius, Sagittarius, Libra, Leo, Gemini and Pisces Moons have the harder houses for most of the stay. They should make no vow they cannot keep.

The transit shows what a person is willing to give up, and the week answers whether wisdom or anger holds the sword.

Keep a small austerity for the stay: one meal less, one hour of silence, one habit set down. Recite Om Budhaya Namah, worship Vishnu, and give green cloth or moong on Wednesday. Om Namah Shivaya honours Aja Ekapada, and a Thursday offering pleases the lord.