Budha

Budha (Sanskrit: बुध) or Saumya (Sanskrit: सौम्य, lit. son of Moon) is the Hindu god of merchandise and the protector of merchants. In Hindu mythology, Budha is also the name and personification of the planet Mercury. Budha is said to be the son of lunar god Chandra and Taraka (the goddess of felicity and the divine consort of Hindu god Brihaspati). His consort is the female form of Hindu androgyne god Ila.

Budha is represented as being mild, eloquent, and having a greenish complexion. He is also represented holding a scimitar, a club and a shield, riding a winged lion in Bhudhan Temple. In other illustrations, he holds a sceptre and lotus and rides a carpet or an eagle or a chariot drawn by lions.

Budha presides over midweek 'Budhavara' or Wednesday. In modern Hindi, Oriya, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Urdu, Kannada and Gujarati, Wednesday is called Budhavara; Tamil: Budhan kizhamai; Malayalam: Budhanazhcha; Thai: Wan Phut (วันพุธ).

Budha married Ila, the daughter of Vaivasvata Manu, and fathered a son, Pururava.