Mercury (Budh) Mahadasha: Duration, Antardashas and Remedies
Mercury (Budh) (बुध) mahadasha lasts 17 years and is the 9th period in the 120-year Vimshottari cycle, after Saturn and before Ketu. Find the exact dates of yours below.
Mercury mahadasha at a glance
| Length | 17 years |
|---|---|
| Nakshatras ruled | Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati |
| Nature | Intellect / Communication |
| Element | Earth |
| Governs | intelligence, communication, business, education, speech |
| Body parts | Skin, Nervous system, Tongue, Lungs |
| Day · colour · gemstone | Wednesday · Green · Emerald |
| Deity | Budh (Mercury) |
Antardashas inside Mercury mahadasha
Each antardasha lasts (mahadasha years × antardasha lord's years) ÷ 120. The sub-periods begin with Mercury itself and follow the Vimshottari order.
| Antardasha | Length | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury–Mercury | 2 yrs 4 mo 27 d | 2 yrs 4 mo 27 d |
| Mercury–Ketu | 0 yrs 11 mo 27 d | 3 yrs 4 mo 24 d |
| Mercury–Venus | 2 yrs 9 mo 30 d | 6 yrs 2 mo 24 d |
| Mercury–Sun | 0 yrs 10 mo 6 d | 7 yrs 0 mo 30 d |
| Mercury–Moon | 1 yr 4 mo 30 d | 8 yrs 6 mo 0 d |
| Mercury–Mars | 0 yrs 11 mo 27 d | 9 yrs 5 mo 28 d |
| Mercury–Rahu | 2 yrs 6 mo 17 d | 12 yrs 0 mo 15 d |
| Mercury–Jupiter | 2 yrs 3 mo 6 d | 14 yrs 3 mo 21 d |
| Mercury–Saturn | 2 yrs 8 mo 9 d | 16 yrs 11 mo 30 d |
At what age does Mercury mahadasha run?
It depends on the dasha you were born into, which is set by your birth nakshatra's lord. Because the Moon's exact position decides how much of that first dasha was left at birth, the start is a range:
| Born in a nakshatra ruled by | Mercury mahadasha starts at age | Ends at age |
|---|---|---|
| Ketu | 96–103 | 113–120 |
| Venus | 76–96 | 93–113 |
| Sun | 70–76 | 87–93 |
| Moon | 60–70 | 77–87 |
| Mars | 53–60 | 70–77 |
| Rahu | 35–53 | 52–70 |
| Jupiter | 19–35 | 36–52 |
| Saturn | 0–19 | 17–36 |
| Mercury | From birth | 0–17 |
Ages are approximate ranges; the calculator above gives your exact dates. Windows starting after about age 100 are omitted.
Traditional remedies for Mercury mahadasha
The remedies below are the practices recorded for Mercury (Budh) in this site's classical-source catalogue. They are devotional disciplines, not guarantees.
Mantras
- Om Budhaya Namaha — Chant 108 times daily for 40 consecutive days
- Budh Beej Mantra — Chant 108 times on Wednesdays
- Vishnu Sahasranamam — Recite on Wednesdays (Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva)
Fasting
- Fast on Wednesdays — eat green vegetables only
- Consume green moong dal khichdi as the only meal
Donations
- Donate green gram (moong), green cloth, or books on Wednesdays
- Give green-colored sweets or fruits
- Donate to schools or educational institutions
Full vidhi, mantra text and step-by-step puja: Mercury (Budh) remedies and mantra guide. For remedies matched to your own chart and life concerns, use the remedy finder.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Mercury (Budh) mahadasha?
Mercury (Budh) mahadasha lasts 17 years in the Vimshottari dasha system, which totals 120 years. It follows Saturn mahadasha and is followed by Ketu mahadasha.
Which birth nakshatras start with Mercury mahadasha?
Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati are ruled by Mercury. If your Moon was in one of them at birth, your life began in Mercury mahadasha, with part of its 17 years already elapsed.
What is the first antardasha of Mercury mahadasha?
Mercury–Mercury: every mahadasha begins with the antardasha of its own lord (2 yrs 4 mo 27 d here), followed by the other eight planets in Vimshottari order.
Is Mercury mahadasha good or bad?
There is no single answer. Classical texts read a mahadasha from the planet's sign, house, aspects and the houses it rules in your own chart, and from the running antardasha. This page gives the timing; the planet's general significations are listed above.
How do I find out when my Mercury mahadasha starts and ends?
Enter your birth date, time and place in the calculator on this page. It gives your exact mahadasha and antardasha dates from the Moon's position at birth.