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In short
Budha is the Sanskrit name for Mercury, the fourth of the nine grahas in BPHS. This app has it rule Gemini and Virgo and splits Virgo three ways for it - exalted to 15 degrees, Moolatrikona to 20, own sign after - as BPHS does. It counts Mercury a benefic everywhere, where BPHS makes it malefic when joined with a malefic.
What the term means
Budha is the Sanskrit name for Mercury as a graha. On this site Budha and Mercury are the same body, computed like the other planets: sidereal longitude, sign, degree, nakshatra, house, and a retrograde flag from its motion over the surrounding day.
Where the term comes from
BPHS Ch. 3 Sl. 10 lists Budh (the translation's spelling) fourth. Sl. 12-13 call it the "speech-giver" and Sl. 14-15 the "Prince-apparent"; Sl. 19 counts it neuter, Sl. 20 gives it rule of earth and Sl. 22 calls it rajasik. Sl. 11 makes it a benefic that turns malefic when it joins a malefic, and Saravali Ch. 4 Sl. 9 agrees. Sl. 49-50 make Kanya its exaltation sign, deepest at 15 degrees, and Sl. 51-54 split Kanya three ways: the first 15 degrees exaltation, the next 5 Mooltrikon, the last 10 its own house. Saravali Ch. 4 Sl. 10-11 gives Hemna, Vid, Gna and Bodhana as other names, and the Bhrigu Sutras head its section "the Messenger of Gods" (Part I, p. 8).
How this app uses it
- Lordship: Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo in SIGN_LORDS.
- Dignity: the DIGNITY table carries an exaltation end of 15 degrees for Mercury, so dignityOf() returns Exalted for Virgo 0-15, Moolatrikona for 15-20 and Own sign for 20-30, the BPHS split. It is debilitated in Pisces, deep point 15 degrees.
- Nature: Mercury sits in the BENEFICS list whatever it is joined with. The code notes this as a known simplification of BPHS Ch. 3 Sl. 11 (see shubha graha).
- Friendship: natural friends the Sun and Venus; natural enemy the Moon.
- Combustion: within 14 degrees of the Sun, or 12 when Mercury is retrograde.
- Kendradhipathya Dosha: the engine tests Jupiter and Venus for it but leaves Mercury out, because its source calls Mercury only half-inclined to it.
- Timing: Mercury's Vimshottari period is 17 years (BPHS Ch. 46 Sl. 15).
Pages that use this term
- Mercury in Vedic astrology - the full page on the graha.
- What a yoga in your chart means - explains why the Budha-Aditya yoga is not among the rules this app tests.
- Virgo (Kanya Rashi) - the sign of Mercury's exaltation, Moolatrikona and own house.
- Chitra nakshatra - a nakshatra page that names Budh.
- Mercury Mahadasha - the seventeen-year period.
- Birth chart calculator - shows Mercury's sign, house and dignity.
Related terms
Uchcha, Combustion, Mithuna, Kanya and Vakri.