Navagraha are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according to Hinduism and Hindu astrology. This blog will narrate to you the various aspects and stories associated with the third of the Navagraha – Budh.
Budh, is the Navagraha deity that rules the planet which is closest to the sun in the solar system, Mercury. Wednesday also known as Budhvar is dedicated to this planet. Budh or Mercury has four hands, bearing a Sword, Thaal (Plate with offerings), Gada (circular head with handle generally made from metal) 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. 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.
Budh’s mother, Tara was married to Brihaspati, but the biological father of Budh is Chandra. The story behind the birth of Budh goes as follows. Once Chandra decided to perform the greatest of Yagnas, Rajasuya Yagna. Chandra requested Brihaspathi (Deva Guru) to preside as the main priest to perform the yagna. Due to some other reason, Brihaspathi could not go and asked his wife Taara to preside over the yagna. As the yagna was progressing, Chandra began to attain more and more beautiful form, his divine beauty kept increasing to such an extent that all the Apsaras (Angels), Devalok women and including Deva Guru’s wife Taara began to fall for Chandra’s beauty. Tara returned home pregnant, and everybody questioned whose child is in the womb.
Tara revealed that the child in the womb is of the moon god. Listening to this sentence, Brihaspati got so much anger and cursed the child that he will be an androgynous being, meaning one who is genderless.
It also explains why Budh is not friendly with the Moon in astrology. For this reason, when Budh is conjunct with Moon in the birth chart, it is said to disturb Budh and the discriminating mind.
