Mercury Transit in Shatabhisha

Varuna, lord of the waters and of rita, the order of things, is the deity of Shatabhisha. Its symbol is an empty circle or a hundred healers, and Rahu is the lord. It lies in Aquarius, Saturn's sign, and Mercury counts both Rahu and Saturn neutral, and Rahu, Shanivat in nature, treats Mercury as a friend in the usual lists and lends it reach.

About eight days is the usual stay. The hundred healers make this the nakshatra of medicine, and Mercury, karaka of the nerves and of diagnosis, does its best analytical work here. Pharmacology, research, statistics, code and the finding of the one fault among a hundred are the themes. Secrecy is also Varuna's. A person may keep to themselves for the stay.

Muhurta Chintamani counts Shatabhisha chara, movable, and the days suit travel, medicine and work done alone. Rahu as lord gives a taste for the foreign, the technical and the unconventional, and the thinking can become obsessive. The empty circle is the mind with nothing in it, which is either meditation or a blank, depending on the person.

Capricorn, Scorpio, Virgo, Cancer, Taurus and Aries Moons and lagnas hold Mercury in the favourable houses Phaladeepika names from Aquarius. Aquarius, Sagittarius, Libra, Leo, Gemini and Pisces Moons have the others. For them the week can bring a diagnosis, of the body or of a plan, that is hard to hear.

The transit leaves the mind alone with a problem, and shows whether it heals the problem or worries it.

Varuna binds the liar, so his remedy is water offered and truth kept. Recite Om Budhaya Namah, worship Vishnu, and give green cloth or moong on Wednesday. For Rahu as lord, take no intoxicants for the stay, and honour Durga on Saturday.