Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun and it is the eighth largest of the nine planets.In Hindu mythology, Budha is the name for the planet Mercury, a son of Chandra (the moon) and Tara, the wife of Brihaspati, the Guru of the gods. He is also the god of merchandise and protector of Merchants. Budha is the zodiac ruler of Gemini and Virgo. He is friendly to the Sun and Venus; enemy to the Moon; neutral to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. 

Budha is represented as being mild, eloquent and of greenish color. He is represented holding a sword, a club and a shield. He is considered to be about 20 years old. He is endowed with an attractive physique and the capacity to make puns and use words with double meanings. He has a sense of humor. He wears green clothes and his vehicle is lion. He rides in a white chariot illuminated by light and drawn by ten horses that are as fast as the wind and the thought. His caste is Vaishya (merchant). He was given the name Budha, which means ‘intelligent or wise’, by Lord Brahma because of his quick mind. Lord Brahma made Budha (mercury) the lord of the Earth and gave him the status of a planet. He is generally considered auspicious but sensitive, and if disturbed he can trigger natural disasters such as droughts, floods and earthquakes. He is dominated by the three doshas, the wind, bile and mucus and is the lord of the direction North.All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.