Reasons behind Mercury's' Exaltation

Let’ try to understand why Mercury gets exalted in Virgo sign and in Hasta Nakshatra. Let’s see what these energies represent –

Mercury - Mercury represents communication skills, marketing, calculative ability, younger siblings, hobbies, skills with hands, intelligence, quick decision making, logical thinking, youthfulness etc.

Hasta - Hasta is nakshatra of healing, health care and skillful people. It also represents hard work. For more info on Hasta, please check this link - https://www.astrosaxena.com/hastnaksh.

Virgo - As Hasta is a part of Virgo, Virgo sign and its representations also become important. Virgo is the 6th sign of zodiac belt, hence it represents almost all the things which are represented by the 6th house of horoscope like Debts, Diseases, Obstacles, Serving the under-privileged, Service Life, etc. Besides this, Virgo represents analytical or critical nature of people, being perfectionist and healing abilities. Virgo's basic representation is the lady coming in boat with wheat and herbs in her hands. So, Virgo is basically a sign of healing. Virgo consists of next set of 2 and half nakshatra. i.e. Uttara-Phalguni, Hasta and Chitra. Virgo's lord is Mercury.

Please go through the introductory article 

- https://www.astrosaxena.com/exdeb .

Reasons behind exaltation of Mercury in Virgo – Mercury is the only planet which gets exalted in own sign which is also its Mool Trikon Sign. Mercury owns two signs; i.e. Gemini and Virgo. The difference between Mercury in Gemini and Mercury in Virgo is the difference of Childish Mercury and Serious Mercury. Mercury in Gemini is gossipmonger and scatters its energy everywhere. But Mercury also represents our intellect, decision making skills and our ability to reason. Hence, it finds the best environment in Virgo which is the sign of analysis and details, perfection and being critical because to analyse something or criticise something, you need to have some intellect working which can bring you best reasons behind that analysis or criticism. Also, Gemini is Air Sign and Virgo is Earth Sign. Mercury in Gemini can be all over the place whereas Mercury in Virgo gets the stability and practicality of Earth. So, it is again because of environment of Virgo, Mercury feels best here.

Reasons behind exaltation of Mercury in Hasta – Now, Virgo is again consisted of 2.5 Nakshatras. Why Mercury is only getting exalted in Hasta? As I see, there are two reasons –

a. Hasta is ruled by Moon. Mercury is Moon’s child as per story of Pushya Nakshatra. Although, Mercury keeps an enmity towards Moon as Moon was Mercury’s illegitimate Father, but Mercury getting exalted when it enters in Moon’s Nakshatra Hasta only shows that ideally, even if Child keeps some grudges against Father, a dignified and wise Father is one who still welcomes his Child when Child comes home and doesn’t keep any enmity from his side.

b. Another reason is that Hasta falls in middle portion of Virgo from 10 degree to 23 degree 20 minutes. As I always say, middle portion of any sign exhibits the characteristics of that particular sign at the highest intensity. Hence, the Hasta nakshatra does represent the traits and characteristics of Virgo in best way possible.

Reasons behind exaltation of Mercury in Virgo at 15 degree – And this is also the reason behind Mercury’s exaltation at 15 degree of Virgo. It is right at the middle of sign, exhibiting Virgo traits with highest intensity.

Conclusion – As I see, these are the reasons why I feel Mercury is exalted in Virgo sign and Hasta Nakshatra at 15 degrees.