Budh (Mercury) Shanti Yagya By Saptarishis Astrology

Let’s discuss in detail the Vedic Yagya for Mercury better referred to as Budh Shanti Yagya or Budh Graha Pooja. Budh Pooja is performed in order to rectify the malefic mercury in a horoscope to remove negativity or to avail benefits from already benefic mercury in horoscope for positivity. Budha pooja starts and end on Wednesday generally but it may end on some other day in accordance with the time required by the pundits to complete the enchantment of Budh Vedic Mantra which takes place in 1 Day usually if 6-7 vedic pandits do it collectively. Different steps in Budh pooja are called Budh pooja Vidhi. The main step in whole pooja is the chanting of the whole mantra jaap that may go as high as 9000 in the count of Vedic mantras. All the other steps/procedure in Budh Pooja Vidhi is based around these chants. Then a specific day is chosen for the starting and ending of mercury Pooja which is Wednesday in case of this pooja or yagya. The reason behind choosing this pooja is because priests/pundits generally take 1 Day to complete the pooja . In the starting of any pooja “a Sankalpam” or “resolution” is taken by head pundit on behalf of other assistant pundits. In this Sankalpam it is mentioned that they are performing mercury Yagya on behalf of the native (his name), his father’s name, Gotra, name of assistant pundits, time duration for the completion of yagya is proposed and it is mentioned that they shall perform chanting of 9,000 Budh Vedic mantra in order to pacify the malefic Mercury or avail benefits from the already benefic mercury and for the native to be blessed on the successful completion of pooja. Additional requests and wishes made by the natives are also mentioned in this step.

This is an important and powerful procedure and this Pooja should be performed by trained pundits only. In this Havana a direct connection between the corresponding planet and natives is established by the mantras from pundits. It is a bit technical step and involves accuracy and precision in practice. A holy fire is lit which is called Yagna. In this process after the chant of each mantra, an offering is donated to the fire of Havan-Kund. With the end of each mantra a sound of “Swaha” is produced and then offering is devoted to the fire. This process goes in sync for long and is repeated again and again. These things offered to the fire from Pooja Samagri and may differ for different Poojas. At the end, dry coconuts filled with specific fillings recommended by pundits are offered to the holy-yagna and mantras are chanted by pundits on native’s behalf. After which the native is asked to go circles around the havan- kund. These circles may be of 1, 3 or 7 in number according to the nature of pooja and this step is called “Parikrama”. This marks the end of Budh pooja.

The point to note here is that Budh Pooja can be conducted with or without the presence of Native. The Pooja can be conducted by pundits on native’s behalf if he is unable to be present due to certain circumstances. A photograph is kept as a symbol of the native and head pundit mentions the name of the pundit who shall perform mantras on native’s behalf and the native should be blessed. The Pundit designated first performs the native’s mantras and then his. This way with the help of assistant pundits, Mercury Pooja or Yagya can be conducted with or without the presence of the native.