Mercury in the 6th house
The results given by Mercury in the sixth house of the horoscope
Mercury in the sixth house: This is the house of illnesses. If Mercury is in conjunction with or under the aspect of malefics, the person may often be ill. These can be skin, nervous or mental illnesses. Also Mercury in the 6th house gives new growths in the body, illnesses of digestion and a loss of appetite after middle age. With their analytical mind they determine the nutrition that is right for them. Conflicts with relatives, friends and subordinates. There is no desire to have domestic animals. The person has no enemies, but if there are any, he defeats them through debates. If Mercury is under the aspect of malefics, it gives poor health, problems with enemies, court cases, debts.
Retrograde Mercury in the 6th house: The person did not think about the good of society. He did not respect and treated with contempt his colleagues at work. Here the lesson consists in the person relating responsibly to the needs of society without expecting a reward, respecting his colleagues. (Mahesh Dharmadasa)
Mercury (Buddha) in the 6th house
Mercury in the 6th house. An inclination towards competition, arguments and quarrels, pride, many enemies, journeys abroad, persistence in work, a love of solitude, literary inclinations. Problems in obtaining an education or interruptions in education are possible, an interest in religion, law, success in the courts. (Indubala)
Mercury in the 6th house: lazy, harsh, well-to-do, interested in questions of health; a poor memory, a weak nervous system. Such a position influences the maternal uncle negatively. Mercury in the 6th house in the sign of Virgo promises wealth acquired thanks to the help of cousins. With a conjunction of Mercury with one of the lunar nodes in the 6th, 8th or 12th house nervous illnesses arise. (Shri Govind Swarup Agarwal)
“Bhrigu Sutra” 4.41-47
Mercury in the 6th house of the horoscope will give a proud, arrogant person who loves to arrange arguments and quarrels. He will act ostentatiously, for outward effect. The owner of the horoscope will meet obstacles in obtaining an education. In the 30th year of his life he will win great favour from the king or the government. He will write a great deal. A person who has Mercury in the signs of Mars will suffer leprosy or other skin diseases. When Mercury in the 6th house is joined with Saturn and Rahu or with Saturn and Ketu, then the owner of the horoscope will have rheumatism or acute pains. He will have many enemies. If the lord of the 6th house is strong, then the enemies will gain the upper hand; if the lord is weak — the enemies will be destroyed.
Comments:
Mercury in the 6th house gives mixed results, but the bad characteristics nevertheless predominate. Vidya-karaka (the indicator of knowledge), Mercury, being placed in the house whose significator it is, will bring obstacles in obtaining an education or its absence, according to the theory of “Karaka-bhava-nashaya”. The 6th house is a house of upachaya, the ninth (fortune) counting from the 10th house (the government), and the presence of an undamaged Mercury in it explains the favour of the king or the government.
Other opinions concerning Mercury in the 6th house:
“Brihat Jataka” — the owner of the horoscope will have no enemies.
“Phaladipika” — laziness, coarse speech, a quarrelsome character, victory over enemies.
“Saravali” — a person who has Mercury in the 6th house of the horoscope will be healthy, lazy, coarse and will have many enemies.
“Chamatkar Chintamani” — the owner of the horoscope will earn wealth by his own efforts. He will have hostile relations with other people.
Note: All the authoritative sources, like the “Bhrigu Sutra”, describe both the favourable and the unfavourable aspects of Mercury's stay in the 6th house.
“Bhrigu Sutra” with commentaries by Indubala
«Jataka Bharanam» 17.42
The results of the placement of Mercury (Buddha) in the 5th house
In the case of the placement of Buddha in the 6th bhava the person is drawn into discussions and arguments, has some illness, his heart is like a stone, he dwells in sorrow because of enmity with many people and receives troubles because of his laziness.
Comments: The position of Buddha [Mercury] in the 6th Bhava [house] is not considered favourable. If Buddha is in this Bhava, then the person often argues with those with whom he associates. In the natural birth chart Buddha is the ruler of the 6th Bhava, therefore he is naturally connected with illnesses. And if he is in conjunction with malefic Grahas [planets], then illnesses of the stomach, the respiratory tract and the skin are likely for the person. If the malefic influences are numerous, then there is the danger of getting illnesses of the Vata Dosha (“wind”), leprosy, stomach upsets and spasms of the abdomen (an upset of the intestines, diarrhoea or constipation). Such a person expresses his views in such a manner that other people often do not agree with him. The sage Parashara holds the same opinion. If in the 6th house Mercury is under the influence of benefic planets, then the person is a benefactor for the relatives on the mother's side (the maternal uncle and others). If the placement is the opposite, then this indicates that the person's maternal uncle will have poor health and a short life.