Mercury: effects and importance in Indian astrology

Mercury (Budh), the nearest planet to Sun, moves with quick, weird motions. It is believed that this is the reason that Mercury is an unbiased planet and hence its impact transforms according to its placement in zodiac signs and house. It also influences people to be restless and fickle minded. People with Mercury in strong position in their chart have sharp thinking, diverse interests, inborn anxiety, resourcefulness and are indecisive in nature.
Body parts that are ruled by Mercury are the arms, ear hearing system, intestines, lungs and nervous system. It is a dual natured planet and owns the dual natured signs, Virgo and Gemini.
Mercury similar to Jupiter represents human intelligence. Mercury points to the immature side of intelligence as compared to the more mature side of Jupiter. Mercury influences quick thinking, smooth and accurate expression of thoughts, colorful imagination with natural flair in linguistics in the birth chart. It is a planet of logic and therefore people with strong influence of Mercury in their birth chart possess a powerful reasoning and analyzing ability and excellent grasping power. This also enables it’s to enquire about scientific research work. With Mercury in the horoscope intellect is cold, abstract, but honest, and the execution of manual work, absolutely perfect.
It controls means of communication too; therefore it also governs telephone, telegraphs, e-mails, couriers and post etc. Therefore well-placed, strong mercury is usually seen in horoscopes of writers, astrologers, mathematician, engineer, dealers, brokers, businessmen (a person with Mercury in strong position in their chart is undeniably charming and shrewd), and media persons. Mercury also develops verbal communication and hand skills. Hence many lecturers, artists, sculptors and salesmen are also the result of well-placed mercury.
Mercury is the smallest planet of the solar system. The author has compared mercury with a bat, which keeps hanging upside down and pounces upon the face of a child at the first opportunity. The native fails to understand anything and meanwhile the mysterious and mischievous mercury turns the cycle of fortune in the reverse gear. Mercury produces the effects of the planets or the planet it is associated with. Mercury is considered malefic in 3rd, 8th, 9th and 12th houses in the horoscope chart.Rahu gives bad results in 1st, 5th, 7th and 11th house .If Mercury and Rahu both are in their auspicious houses then mercury causes havoc in the relatives houses and produces disastrous results like putting the native behind the bars or creating troubles of the same sort. Mercury is considered auspicious in the 1st,2nd,4th ,5th,6th and the 7th houses in horoscope chart and gives bad results when placed in the 3rd,8th,9th,10th 11th and 12th houses in the horoscope chart. Its colour is green and moon is the enemy for the planet Mercury whereas the Sun, Venus and Rahu are the friends and Mars, Saturn and Ketu are neutral to its.7th house is the permanent house of the Mercury. It stands exalted in the 6th house and gets debilitated in the 12th house. Affected Venus causes disease of tooth and nervous system. If Mercury is placed alone in any house then native keeps running and wasting time here and there.