Devtas

Budh

Other names- Buddh, Saumya

Lord Budh is the heavenly personification of the planet Mercury, as we know in astronomy. Budh has four hands bearing a Sword, Thaal, Gada and the fourth hand is in Varmudra (a gesture of giving). Lord Budh has a golden crown on his head and wears ornaments of yellow flowers and yellow clothes. According to the Atharva Veda, Budh was born to Chandra (Moon) and Tara. He is the most intelligent planet of all and he removes all the obstacles of those who worship him. As far as possible he causes no inauspicious events, but rather creates prosperity for everyone. By providing all living beings with supreme discernment and illuminates their paths, both mundane and spiritual, through life. Since the child Mercury was very intelligent, Lord Brahma gave the name Budh to him. According to one story of the Mahabharata, King Manu got his daughter Ila married to Budh Dev.

There is an often told story in Vedic astrology about the birth of Mercury. Brihaspati, the Lord of wisdom and the personified personality of planet Jupiter, was married to a beautiful and intelligent woman, Tara (meaning “star”). One day, the love-struck Moon (Chandra), caught a glimpse of Tara and greatly desired to have her. After some effort to Chandra’s delight, he convinced Tara to run away with him.

Now, when Brihaspati (Jupiter) found out that Moon had taken away his beautiful wife, he became furious and went to Lord Brahma for help. Lord Brahma agreed to intervene and approached Tara, encouraging her to return to her rightful husband. Tara did not want to start a war between Chandra and her husband Jupiter, so she agreed and returned home like a dutiful wife with a stain on her character.
As the months went by, Tara realized she was pregnant with Moon’s progeny and soon gave birth to a son, Budh. Jupiter was furious with the news, but once he saw the beauty and playfulness of little Budh, well, he just fell in love with him and insisted that he be considered the father. Chandra (Moon), being of such a changing nature, gave in to Jupiter’s request.

So Budh, the planet of intellect and discrimination, is the son of the Moon (the emotional mind) and Tara (the wife of Jupiter, planet of wisdom). This explains Budh’s role as the go-between one’s emotional mind and higher mind. He occupies the middle ground – the discriminating, practical, worldly intellect. It also explains why Budh is not friendly with the Moon in astrology – he is still upset with his father having given him away. For this reason, when Budh is conjunct with Moon in the birth chart, it is said to disturb Budh and the discriminating mind. One of Mercury's names is Saumya, "belonging to the Moon". Mercury’s color is green, the green of the sacred durva (holy Bermuda grass). He has a splendid, slender body and is eternally energetic. He always speaks with distinct, pure, sweet words, but loves to use ambiguities, puns and words with double meanings. He is fond of jokes and of fun and games; ever auspicious, always clever, he is a Vaishya, a commercial caste. This great Sage Mercury, who has a pronounced aptitude for Mathematics and business, rules the skin, the rational mind and speech. His metal is brass and gem Emerald. Vata, Pitta and Kapha (air, bile and phlegm, the three humours of the body) are all mixed in his constitution and he is fond of all tastes. Lord of the North, of Wednesday (Budhwar in Hindus) and of the constellations Gemini and Virgo, he is reckoned as the Golden-Eyed, the bewitching, the gentle, the knower and the awakener.

Budh (Mercury) is the planet of intellect and communication. It can be seen in the morning and evening as a shining star – and sometimes even during the day because of its power of radiation. Mercury is the smallest planet of our solar system.
Budh rules education, writers, lecturers, artists, teachers, traders, businessmen, the nervous system, lungs, and intestines. It rules intelligence, speech, self-confidence, humor, wit, astrology, mathematics and short journeys.
Friends of Mercury are the Sun, Venus, Rahu, and Ketu (north and south nodes of the moon), Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are neutral to Mercury. Mercury maintains enmity with the Moon.

Budh is adored for bestowment of blessings of good education, business, sharp intellect, and pleasing appearance and also to keep off from heat-induced ailments, general debility and depressions. The planet also monitors the family affairs in life. It is related to peace of mind, earnings, intellect, education and business if it is favourable.

Budh has two faces; it gives double nature and makes one detached and independent as well as an extremist. Budh loves the company of learned. It is the lord of the north direction.

In Vedic numerology the number for mercury is 5. It is the number of success, inheritance, business, communication and cleverness.