Walter Mercado
Encyclopedia
Walter Mercado (now known as Shanti Ananda) is a Puerto Rican
astrologer
. Mercado announced (January 8, 2010) that he and Univision
have parted ways after fifteen years.
to Puerto Rico
by ship.
, he hosted a weekly astrology television
show, first on WKAQ-TV, and later on its spinoff station, WRIK-TV (channel 7 in Puerto Rico
). Westinghouse
remained a steady and long-time sponsor.
When WRIK-TV was bought by Tommy Muñiz
, Mercado stayed for two years, then moved his show to WKBM-TV which later became WLII-TV, Tele Once (Channel 11). From 1995 to 2010, he appeared on Primer Impacto
, which airs on the Univision
network. He also appears on various radio segments.
of "peace happiness." He says a "being of light" imparted a spiritual revelation to him, which he refers to as his "authentic mystic name." He is planning to write a book in 2012 under this new name.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
astrologer
Astrologer
An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a horoscope for the time of an event, such as a person's birth, and interprets celestial points and their placements at the time of the event to better understand someone, determine the auspiciousness of an...
. Mercado announced (January 8, 2010) that he and Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
have parted ways after fifteen years.
Early years
Mercado was born at sea while his parents traveled from SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
by ship.
TV Debut
On returning to Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, he hosted a weekly astrology television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show, first on WKAQ-TV, and later on its spinoff station, WRIK-TV (channel 7 in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
). Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
remained a steady and long-time sponsor.
When WRIK-TV was bought by Tommy Muñiz
Tommy Muñiz
Lucas Tomás Muñiz Ramírez , better known as Tommy Muñiz, was a Puerto Rican comedy and drama actor, media producer, businessman and network owner...
, Mercado stayed for two years, then moved his show to WKBM-TV which later became WLII-TV, Tele Once (Channel 11). From 1995 to 2010, he appeared on Primer Impacto
Primer Impacto
Primer Impacto is a Spanish language television news program broadcast by Univision in the USA weekdays at 5pm ET. A later program at 11pm ET/PT airs on Univision affiliates without a local news department , leading into the network's 11:30pm newscast, Noticiero Univision Edicion Nocturna.The...
, which airs on the Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
network. He also appears on various radio segments.
Name change
In October 2010, Mercado announced that he would now be referred to as "Shanti Ananda," a translation in SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
of "peace happiness." He says a "being of light" imparted a spiritual revelation to him, which he refers to as his "authentic mystic name." He is planning to write a book in 2012 under this new name.