Mercury Transit in Uttara Bhadrapada

Ahirbudhnya, the serpent of the deep, is the deity of Uttara Bhadrapada, and Saturn is the lord. Its symbols are the back legs of a funeral cot and a pair of twins. The nakshatra lies in Pisces, Jupiter's sign, and holds Mercury's deepest debilitation at the fifteenth degree, as Brihat Jataka gives it. Mercury counts Saturn and Jupiter neutral, and here it is at its weakest by dignity.

The stay is about eight days, and a retrograde can hold Mercury here for over a month. A debilitated Mercury reasons poorly and the intellect softens into intuition, so the accounts blur and a person believes more than they can show. Saturn's lordship steadies this. The mood is patient, withdrawn and serious, and the nakshatra is counted among the best for deep sadhana.

Muhurta Chintamani counts Uttara Bhadrapada dhruva, fixed, suited to foundations, vows meant to last, meditation retreats and settling a family matter for good. Mercury's trade and travel go slowly. Contracts want a second reading after the graha has left Pisces.

Aquarius, Sagittarius, Libra, Leo, Gemini and Taurus Moons and lagnas hold Mercury in Phaladeepika's favourable houses, and for them the weakness is mild. Pisces, Capricorn, Scorpio, Virgo, Cancer and Aries Moons have the harder houses, and should delay any decision that depends on a calculation.

With neecha Mercury the clever reply goes quiet, and in that quiet a person may hear something the reasoning usually covers. A person of practice benefits most from this nakshatra.

The remedy is meditation. Recite Om Budhaya Namah, worship Vishnu, and give green cloth or moong on Wednesday. Sesame oil in a lamp on Saturday honours Saturn as lord, and milk offered at a Shiva shrine honours Ahirbudhnya, counted among the Rudras in some lists.