Mercury Transit in Shravana

Shravana is the ear, and its second symbol is the three footprints of Vishnu, its deity. The Moon is the lord, and Mercury counts the Moon an enemy. The nakshatra lies in Capricorn, where Mercury counts Saturn, the sign lord, neutral and Saturn counts Mercury a friend, and Mercury's own remedial deity presides over a nakshatra whose lord it dislikes. That shapes the stay.

The stay is about nine days, and a retrograde seldom holds Mercury here for long. Listening is the theme. Hearing, learning by ear, recorded speech, broadcasting and a teaching handed from one person to the next all come forward, and Mercury, the graha of speech, is asked to be quiet and receive. Trade in media, sound and education does well.

Muhurta Chintamani counts Shravana chara, movable, suited to travel, beginning a course of learning and work that must reach many people. The Moon as lord lets mood colour what is heard, so a tired mind hears insult where none was meant.

Sagittarius, Libra, Leo, Gemini, Aries and Pisces Moons and lagnas hold Mercury in Phaladeepika's favourable houses from Capricorn. Capricorn, Scorpio, Virgo, Cancer, Taurus and Aquarius Moons have the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and twelfth. For them the week goes best in silence.

The transit shows whether a person can listen, and nine days is long enough to find out.

The remedy is hearing: one teaching listened to in full, once, without reply. Worship Vishnu, who is both the nakshatra's deity and Mercury's, recite Om Budhaya Namah, and give green cloth or moong on Wednesday. Milk or rice given on Monday settles the Moon as lord.