Budha

Budha is the son of Candra (the deva of the moon) and Tārā. He was born after Candra took Tārā by force from her husband Bṛhaspati. Budha is the adhideva (presiding deva) of Budha-graha, the planet Mercury, and of Budhavāra, Wednesday. The Prakṛti Khaṇḍa of the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa gives his birth as the end of the story of Tārā, Candra and Bṛhaspati. It then follows his line down to king Sūratha, the devotee of Durgā.

Birth

Budha was born to Tārā after Candra took her from Bṛhaspati’s āśrama (hermitage) and kept her with him for a hundred years. Through all this time Tārā stayed faithful in her heart, and her virtue left a mark that can be seen, the shape of a rabbit, on Candra’s disc. The devas stepped in, and Brahmā himself came with the ṛṣis to Śukra’s fortress. Then Tārā was given back to Bṛhaspati. She had already conceived while she was held by Candra.

When the child was born, he shone with a golden colour and great radiance. Both Candra and Bṛhaspati came forward and claimed him. Brahmā pressed Tārā again and again, and under that pressure she said: Candra is the father. Candra then took the boy and named him Budha. Brahmā returned Tārā to Bṛhaspati, who took her back without any hesitation (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Chapters 57–60).

Marriage and descendants

Budha grew into a brilliant young man. In Nandanavana, the garden of the devas, he met Citrā, the daughter of Kubera and Ghṛtācī. They were married by gāndharva vivāha. Their son was Caitra. The line went on: Caitra’s son was Ādhīratha, and Ādhīratha’s son was Sūratha. Sūratha was the great king who later pleased Durgā and was given the vara (boon) of becoming Sāvarṇi Manu (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Chapters 60–61).

Place in the worlds

Budha is the adhideva of Budha-graha (the planet Mercury) and presides over Budhavāra (Wednesday). He is the son of Candra, so he belongs to the lunar line. His birth came about in unusual circumstances. His line joins the story in the world of the devas, the account of Tārā and Candra, to the royal line of kings on earth that leads to Sūratha (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Chapters 60–61).

The Devī Bhāgavata account

The Devī Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa also tells of Budha’s birth. It does so in the family history that joins Vyāsa’s line to the Lunar dynasty (Candra-vaṃśa). Tārā, the wife of Bṛhaspati, was taken by Candra and held by him against her will. This led to the Tārakāmaya war, the great conflict in which the devas, led by Indra and fighting for Bṛhaspati’s honour, met the asuras who took Candra’s side. The war went on until Brahmā himself stepped in with a direct order and made Candra give Tārā back to her husband. After Tārā returned to Bṛhaspati, Budha was born. When Brahmā asked her directly, Tārā said that Candra was the father (Devī Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Skandha 1, Chapter 11).

This Purāṇa gives Budha’s birth while tracing the Candra-vaṃśa, which leads to Purūravas and on through the Lunar dynasty. In this way it joins the origin of the line in the world of the devas to the kings on earth who are the subject of many ākhyānas (accounts) in the later skandhas.

Sources

• Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Chapters 57–61
• Devī Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Skandha 1, Chapter 11