Budhaबुध

Budha (बुध) is the planet Mercury deified, the quickest and most mercurial of the Navagraha. His name derives from the root for awakening and understanding, and his domain is accordingly the nimble faculties: intellect, speech, wit, calculation and trade. He should not be confused with the Buddha, whose name comes from the same root but names a different figure entirely.

Birth

Budha's origin is one of the pantheon's scandals. When Chandra, the moon, abducted Tara, wife of Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods, the affair provoked a celestial war; Tara was restored to her husband, but the son she bore was the moon's. The child's brilliance disarmed judgement, and he was named Budha, the wise. His epithet Saumya, son of Soma, remembers the parentage.

Ila and the lunar line

Budha married Ila, a figure who by curse or divine decree alternated between female and male forms. Their son Pururavas became the first great king of the Chandravamsha, the lunar dynasty, from which epic genealogy derives the Kurus of the Mahabharata and the Yadavas of Krishna. Half the royal houses of Indian legend thus trace themselves to the planet of intellect, as the solar line traces itself to the sun.

In astrology

As a graha, Budha is counted neither firmly benefic nor malefic; tradition holds that he takes on the character of the planets that accompany him, fittingly for the lord of impressionable youth. His day is Wednesday, Budhavara, his colour green, his gem the emerald. A strong Budha is credited with eloquence, sharp trade and quick learning; an afflicted one with nervousness and deceit. Merchants, writers and students are his natural clients.