Budha

Budha

बुध, budha

Budha (from Sanskrit root बुध्, budh — "to awaken, to become aware"), or Mercury, is one of the navagrahas – a naturally beneficial planet, rajasic in nature.

Budha is responsible for intelligence, purposeful thinking, assimilation of knowledge, abilities in mathematics and astrology, literary talent, sense of humor, speech, communication, information exchange, trade and adaptability.

On a physical level, Budha is related to the nervous system, skin, mouth and tongue. Strong Mercury gives youthfulness.

• Zodiac signs: Gemini, Virgo
• Deity: Vishnu
• Day of the week: Wednesday (Budhavar)
• Number: 5
• Color: green.
• Gemstone: an emerald weighing from 1.5 carats (jade, green zircon or tourmaline, olivine, aquamarine weighing from 5 carats can be used as a substitute).
• Metal: silver, white gold.

Legend of budha's Birth

Chandra (Moon) was the main disciple of Brihaspati (Jupiter), Guru of devas. Brihaspati's wife, Tara ("Star"), was fond of attractive Chandra and one day, taking advantage of Brihaspati's absence, she and Chandra ran away. Returning home and finding that his wife had disappeared, Brihaspati quickly realized what was wrong. Several times he sent a messenger to Chandra with the request to return Tara. Chandra again and again refused, pointing out that Tara left with him voluntarily. Brihaspati had no choice but to turn to Indra for help.The king of devas tried to settle the matter peacefully, but he could not reason with Chandra and eventually went to war with him. In that war, the asuras and Shukracharya himself, who were at war with the devas, sided with Chandra.

The war lingered for a long time. The great rishis began to fear that the end of the world was approaching, so Angiras begged Brahma to reprimand Chandra and order him to return Tara. Chandra did not dare to disobey Brahma's order.

By that time it was already obvious that Tara was pregnant – Brihaspati's rage had no bounds. Without hesitation, he told his wife to get rid of the child. Ashamed, Tara immediately regurgitated the fetus from her womb, and it turned out that it was a beautiful boy, shining like gold. After seeing the baby, Brihaspati and Chandra began to dispute, demanding Tara to reveal the father's name. Frightened, Tara could not utter a word, and then the child exclaimed: "Why hide your sin behind deceitful modesty? Speak up!" But only when Brahma himself questioned her, Tara confessed that the father of the wonderful child was Chandra. Proud of his son, he called him Budhi for his amazing intelligent speech for a newborn.

This story is told in poetry in the Devibhagavata Purana.

Budha Mantras

Vaidika mantra

om udbudhyasvāgne pratijāgṛhi tvamiṣṭāpūrtesa sṛjethāmayañca |
asmintsadhasthe'dhyuttarasminviśvedevā yajamānaśca sīdata ||

Tantric mantras

1. om aiṁ strīṁ śrīṁ budhāya namaḥ |

2. om brāṁ brīṁ brauṁ saḥ budhāya namaḥ |

3. om strīṁ strīṁ budhāya namaḥ |

Nama mantra

om buṁ budhāya namaḥ |

Puranic mantra

om priyaṅgukalikāśyāmaṁ rūpeṇāpratimaṁ budham |
saumyaṁ somyaguṇopetaṁ taṁ budhaṁ praṇamāmyaham ||

Number of mantra repetition: 8,000 times.