Born out of the romance of Chandra, the Hindu Moon-God, and Tara, the wife of Jupiter, Budha, the planet Mercury has one of the most interesting tales among the Navagraha or Nine planet cluster. In Hindu astrology, also known as Jyotisha Vidya, Budha is the ruler of intellect, who bestows intelligence and wisdom and guides a person towards good or bad decisions. The controller of Budhi or mental faculties, Budha is a powerful planetary deity in Hinduism, worshipped to gain stability and strength of mind.
The moon god Chandra was a beautiful being, who was cherished by the Apsaras, the most enchanting women. Charmed by his persona, Tara, the wife of Devguru Brihaspati fell in love with Chandra and from their union was born Budha. In the meantime, Tara was made to return to the home of Brihaspati and when Budha came into the world, he was sent to Chandraloka, the realm of Chandra.
Here, Budha was taken care of by Rohini, the wife of Chandra and daughter of Prajapati Daksha. Brihaspati however was not happy even after the return of his wife. The transgression of Tara and Chandra was unbearable for him. Angrily, he cursed the child, Budha. He was to become genderless, a neuter being who belonged to both genders. Blaming his father Chandra for his state, Budha grew up despising him. This hatred of Budha (Mercury) for Chandra is expressed in the Jyotisha, where Budha is present as a hostile planet for the moon.
Everyone in the creation of God has someone they are meant to end up with. Even Budha, worried and agitated with his genderless existence, met Ila, another being who was living as a neuter. Every month, Ila changed gender. Known as Sudyumna when a man, and Ila when a woman, they were the perfect partner for Budha. They married and Ila lived as Budha’s wife, while Sudyumna was his Shishya (student). The son of Budha and Ila was named Pururavas, who went on to establish the powerful Chandravansha, the Lunar dynasty.
Worshipped along with the Navagrahas and sometimes in isolation, Budha or Mercury in Hindusim represents the power of intellect. He rules over the spheres of communication and commerce. Associated with the color green, Budha is especially worshipped on Budhvar or Wednesday. The benevolence of Budha in one’s life results in an intelligent and effective personality, also making one an assertive communicator. Being able to control and balance male and female energies, Budha also bestows progeny and fertility and is worshipped by many for fecundity and auspiciousness.
A beautiful and powerful deity, Budha in Indian art is represented as a four-armed (Chaturbhuja) God, radiant and divine. He carries the sword, shield, and club and wears a heavenly garment. Budha rides a lion and sometimes is shown sitting on the majestic Yali, the legendary animal that is a blend of lion and elephant.
According to Jyotisha experts, a person who has a weak Budha or Mercury in their Kundali (birth chart) can worship the Lord of Obstacles, Vighneshwara, Sri Ganesha. Both Budha and Ganesha rule the realms of intellect, wisdom, and knowledge. As the bestower of wisdom, Ganesha becomes a guardian against the negative effects of Budha and helps a person ascend to better states of mental and spiritual being in their life. Worshipping Ganesha ritually, with aarti, shloka, stotram, flowers, and Durva grass on Budhvar (Wednesday) is believed to be beneficial as the worshipper receives goodness and positivity from Budha and Ganesha.
The simplest and most powerful way to worship Budha and pray for its kindness and beneficial gaze is the mantra
“Om Bum Budhaya Namah” (ॐ बुं बुधाय नम:)
or the Mantra
“Om Bram Breem Braum Sah Budhaya Namah” (ॐ ब्रां ब्रीं ब्रौं सः बुधाय नमः).
Chanting this mantra on Wednesday, with Puja offered to Budha is a highly recommended way of attracting the optimistic energies of Budha in life. The mantra of Sri Ganesha “Om Gam Ganapataye Namah” (ॐ गं गणपतये नमः) is also a powerful mantra for Budhvar (Wednesday), which can be recited with devotion to appeal to Ganapati, who ensures positive results from Budha.
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