Budh Graha, Mercury, is one among the navgrahas, nine planets, as per Hindu tradition. The movement of Budh Grah in a horoscope is very important in Hindu astrology. The story of the birth of Budh is of great importance as the story also gives suggestions regarding women’s freedom to move away from a bad marriage. Budh is the son of Sage Brihaspati and Tara. But he was fathered by Chandra, the Hindu Moon God. Sage Brihaspati was the Guru of the Devas and he was only interested in rituals and studies. The Sage never showed any interest in Tara. A disillusioned Tara soon fell in love with Chandra and abandoned her husband. Indra, the king of Devas, once decided to conduct a yajna to get stronger to face the Asuras or demons. Sage Brihaspati used this as an opportunity and said that he can only perform the yajna with his wife by his side. The Devas were divided on the issue. Some saw no reason in Tara returning to a husband who only needed her for rituals. They argued that Tara should remain with Chandra, who valued her as a living being. But the Devas could not stop the yajna, so Indra decided that Tara should return to Brishaspati. Tara returned reluctantly and the yajna was completed successfully. But soon it was discovered that Tara was pregnant. Both Chandra and Brihaspati claimed to be the father. Tara kept quiet. But as the debate raged, the unborn child cried out – and wanted to know who his father was? All that gathered there were amazed by the desire of the child. The gods declared that he will be Budh – the lord that rules the intellect. Tara answered to Budh that Chandra was his father. Sage Brihaspati could not tolerate the events and he cursed that the child that Chandra fathered will be neither male nor female but a neuter gender. Indra who witnessed this event chided Sage Brihaspati and said that Budh will be known as Sage’s son. From that day it was decided no matter who fathered the child, the child will be always known as the son of the husband. Tara in due course gave birth to Budh (Mercury). Lord Budh has four hands. Sword, Thaal, Gada and Varmudra are seen in his hands. Lord Budh has golden crown on his head and wears ornaments of yellow flowers and yellow clothes. According to the Atharv Ved, Budh was born to Chandrama and Tara. Since the child was very intelligent, Lord Brahma gave the name Budh to him. According to one story of Mahabharat, King Manu got married his daughter Ila to Budh Dev. King Pururva was son of Ila and Budh. According to Sreemad Bhagwat, the place of Budh Grah is higher by 2 lakh Yojan than Shukra Grah. Normally, Budh Grah is associated with good things. But when it crosses the way of Surya Grah, there is a possibility for Strong Wind (Cyclone), Flood and Drought. According to Matsyapuran, Budh Grah is yellow in colour, The Rath is white in colour and is glowing with bright light, drove by ten speedy horses. Budh Grah is the Lord of Mithun and Kanya rashi.
Chandra was a student with Brihaspati, the Teacher of devas. Tara was the wife of Brihaspati. Tara fell in love with the beauty of Chandra and started living with him deserting Brihaspati. When Brihaspati asked her to come back, she refused. Brihaspati got angry and a war eventually started between Chandra and Brihaspati. Sukracharya, the teacher of the Asuras ed Chandra in the battle. The devas ed Brihaspati in the battle. A huge battle started. As the battle was due to Tara Kama, the battle was known as Tarakaamayam. Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe feared the war might abolish the world. Hence he came down and stopped the war. He convinced Tara, took her away from Chandra and gave her back to Brihaspati. Budha, a beautiful kid was born to Tara. Both Brihaspati and Chandra claimed to be the father of Budha. But Tara kept silence. Budha himself got angry over this tussle and asked her mother to tell the truth. Tara said that Chandra was the father of Budha.[2]
[edit] Growth of Budha Chandra gives child Budha to Rohini and Kruthika, two of his wives to raise him. Budha grows under supervision of Rohini and Kruthika. He grows in to a young man but he also has the anger on his father as he grows due to the shame of his birth. He wants to rectify the sin of his birth and hence goes to Saravanavana in the Himalayas to do Tapas. Vishnu, pleased with the tapas, shows up to Budha and in his blessings Budha learns all the Vedas and arts.
[edit] Temples of Budha Thiruvenkadu in Tamil Nadu which houses the Navagraha temple has a shrine for Budha in the northern end of the Brahmavidyambhika Temple.
[edit] In astrology In Vedic astrology Budha is considered a benefic, unless he is ed with a malefic planet, in which case he becomes malefic also. Mercury rules over Mithuna (Gemini) and Kanya (Virgo), is exalted in Kanya and in his fall in Meena (Pisces). Budha is friendly with the Sun and Venus, hostile to the Moon and neutral towards the other planets.Budha represents intelligence, intellect, communication, analysis, the senses (especially the skin), science, mathematics, business, education and research. The written word and journeys of all types fall within his domain. Budha is lord of three nakshatras or lunar mansions: Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, and Revati (nakshatra). Budha has the following associations: the color green, the metal brass and gemstone emerald. The direction associated with Budha is north, the season is autumn and the element is earth.
Budha - The Mercury
Gaja Dhwajaya Vidhmahe Suka Hasthaaya Dheemahi Thanno Bhuda Pracho Dhayaath Piryangu kali Kaasyaamam Roope'naa Prathimam Budham Sowmyam sowmya Gunopetham Tham Bhudham Pranamaam Yaham. The one who is dark like the bud of Priyangu flower, One who is unequalled in beauty and is intelligent, And the son of Chandra, One who is peaceful, I prostrate that Budha. Knowledge, music, astrology, maths, sculpting, medicine, language skills are the beneficial aspects of Budha. The sthalam of Budha is Thiruvengadu, which is located 15kms from Sirgazhi enroute to Poompuhar. Budha's wife is Ilai. The presiding deities are Swedharanyeshwarar and his consort Ambal. Budha is the Lord of Mithunam and Kanni Rasi and he faces the North-East direction. The Adi Devatha is Vishnu and the Prathyathi Devatha Narayanan; his colour is light green; his vahana - the horse; the grain associated with him is full green moong dhal; the flower - white kanthal flower; fabricgreen cloth; gem - maragadam; food - rice mixed with moong dhal powder Mercury is known as Budha, the awakened discriminating intellect and the part of us that knows. Mercury is benefice if associated with benefice grahas, and malefic is associated with malefic grahas. He is known as grahapati, or lord of the planets. Mercury rules over two signs of the sidereal zodiac, Gemini and Virgo. He is exalted in Virgo at 15 degrees, and in his fall in the opposite sign of Pisces. Where the Moon is the innocent mind, Mercury is the intellect that discriminates between benefic and malefic ideas, or good and evil. The intellect is neutral and becomes whatever it is associated with. Mercury is learned in behavior. Mercury is a karaka or indicator of intelligence, commerce, education, communication writing, books, humor, scholars, thieves and astrologers. Vedic sage Parasara describes him; "Mercury is endowed with an attractive physique and the capacity to use words with many meanings. He is fond of jokes..." Mercury reaches full maturity at age 32. In Vedic myth Mercury is born of the Moon. One myth recounts how the Moon, overcome with lust, abducts Tara, the wife of
Brihaspati, or Jupiter. Out of their union Budha, or Mercury is born. Thus the intellect is born of the mind. There is a relationship of enmity between the Moon and Mercury that belies a deep truth. The Moon is innocent in its observation, while Mercury is evaluative and discriminating in its observation. Budha or Mercury is considered as the greatest among the wise. This Devata bestows wisdom and wealth etc. on his devotees. He removes evil thoughts from their minds. He is the chief among GNANIS (realized souls). He is considered Vishnu Rupi, because of his beauty and resemblance. A prayer to Him, especially on Wednesdays brings in manifold benefits like removal of all obstacles, helps one to get a progeny, possession of fertile lands etc. In the Zodiac this Devata is the Lord of Mithuna and Kanya. He stays like the Sun, one month in each Rasi completes the cycle in 12 months, more or less closely in the footsteps of the Sun. Mercury's favorite placement is rising in the 1st House. His nature is VATA, or Airy. His gem is Emerald and his metal is all form of alloys. His direction is north and his ruling day is Wednesday. In Vedic myth Mercury is born of the Moon. One myth recounts how the Moon, overcome with lust, abducts Tara, the wife of Brihaspati, or Jupiter. Out of their union Budha, or Mercury is born. Thus the intellect is born of the mind. There is a relationship of enmity between the Moon and Mercury that belies a deep truth. The Moon is innocent in its observation, while Mercury is evaluative and discriminating in its observation. Pure, innocent consciousness was at odds with the commercial, evaluative intellect in ancient India as often as it is today! This is the planet, which represents speech, communication and commerce on all levels. In his lower function he organizes and articulates material resources. On a higher level he connects us with our inner capacities, the powers of the mind. As Jupiter generally represents the higher or abstract mind, Mercury indicates the lower or concrete mind, the intellect or informational mentality. As a planet of commerce, Mercury represents trade, or articles of trade, including money. He may value communication and public opinion more than truth, and become dependent on and defensive of whatever is the strongest environmental influence. Under a strong negative Saturn influence Mercury can lose its power and show lack of intelligence. Afflictions to Mercury do not always give lack of intelligence or intellect, however. They may cause some other harm, like speech defects, nervous disorders. Other planets, like Jupiter can give intelligence, but without a strong Mercury there will be difficulty in expressing it, particularly through the written word. Telephone, radio, television and computers are products of Mercurial needs aligned with the engineering capacity of Mars.
Mercury Yantra: This yantra for Mercury is based on the number four. The numbers add up to 24 for each column and 72 for the total. METAL: ALLOY OF METALS DHYANAM: Priyangu kalikas yamam rupena pratymam Budham saumyam saumya gunopetam tam Budham prana mamyaham MOOLA MANTRA: Aum hram krom aim grahanathaya budhay savaha The Mercury And The Astronomy Mercury is a small, rocky planet that is closest to the sun. It is covered with billions of craters where meteorites have struck its surface. Its varied terrain also includes gently rolling plains; smooth, flat plains; long, steep cliffs called scarps; and hills. Mercury's surface is covered with regolith, a layer of scattered rubble created by the same impacts that caused its craters. There are large sheets of ice on the planet's polar regions. Mercury has a very thin atmosphere that is made of hydrogen, helium, potassium, and sulfur. It is the only planet besides Venus without any moons. At an average distance of 36 million miles, Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. Because of this it receives about seven times as much heat and light as the Earth does. In fact, it is hard to see the planet from Earth without a telescope because it is so close to the Sun. Mercury is the smallest inner planet; except for Pluto, it is the smallest planet. It is also a very dense planet. It would take 16 times the mass of Mercury to equal the mass of Earth. The planet's diameter is about 3,030 miles - that's about two-fifths that of the Earth. Mercury's force of gravity is about one-third as strong as Earth's. Mercury travels around the Sun faster than any other planet - that's why the ancient Romans named it in honor of the swift messenger of their gods. However, the planet spins so slowly on its axis that one day on Mercury would last 59 Earth days. That means it rotates completely on its axis every 59 Earth days. It makes one revolution around the Sun every 88 Earth days. However, the time between sunrises on Mercury is 176 Earth days. The side of Mercury that faces the Sun gets hot enough to melt lead. The temperature on that side of the planet is about 810 degrees F. The side of Mercury that faces away from the Sun gets hundreds of degrees colder than any place on Earth. The temperature on that side of the planet is about -290 degrees F.