Navagraha · बुधः
Budh (Mercury): mantra, gemstone and remedies
Budh, Mercury, is the prince among the grahas and the planet of the thinking mind. It shows how a person learns, speaks, calculates and trades, and it takes on the nature of the planets it sits with.
Where Budh is today
27/10/2026, 6:00 am IST
- Rashi
- Tula तुला (Libra), 26°13′
- Nakshatra
- Vishakha, pada 2
- Motion
- Retrograde
- Next sign change
- Into Vrishchika (Scorpio) on 02/12/2026
All nine grahas are on planet positions today; this year’s sign changes are on planet transits and the retrograde periods on retrograde planets.
Budh at a glance
| Names | Sanskrit: बुधः · Hindi: बुध · English: Mercury · also called Saumya, Budha |
|---|---|
| Signifies (karaka) | intellect and learning; speech and writing; trade, accounts and business; skills, humour and quick thinking; friends and the maternal uncle |
| Signs it rules | Mithuna (मिथुन) and Kanya (कन्या) |
| Exalted in | Kanya (कन्या) |
| Debilitated in | Meena (मीन) |
| Friends | Surya and Shukra |
| Neutral | Mangal, Guru and Shani |
| Enemies | Chandra |
| Nakshatras it rules | Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati |
| Weekday | Wednesday |
| Number | 5 |
| Colour | Green |
| Ratna (gemstone) | Emerald, पन्ना (Panna) |
| Vimshottari mahadasha | 17 years (9 of 9 in the dasha order) |
| Lal Kitab | Pakka ghar 7; stands for sisters, daughters, aunts, speech and trade |
What Budh signifies
- intellect and learning
- speech and writing
- trade, accounts and business
- skills, humour and quick thinking
- friends and the maternal uncle
Budh mahadasha (17 years): Study, communication, trade and skills. A period for learning, writing and business. Find your running dasha with the dasha calculator.
Budh mantra
Budh beej mantra
ॐ ब्रां ब्रीं ब्रौं सः बुधाय नमः
Romanised: Om brāṃ brīṃ brauṃ saḥ budhāya namaḥ
Meaning: Om, the seed sounds of Mercury, salutations to Budh.
Budh verse of the Navagraha stotra
प्रियङ्गुकलिकाश्यामं रूपेणाप्रतिमं बुधम्।
सौम्यं सौम्यगुणोपेतं तं बुधं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
Romanised: priyaṅgu-kalikā-śyāmaṃ rūpeṇāpratimaṃ budham /
saumyaṃ saumya-guṇopetaṃ taṃ budhaṃ praṇamāmyaham
Meaning: I bow to Budh, dark like the bud of the priyangu flower, of matchless form, gentle and full of gentle qualities.
The Navagraha stotra is traditionally ascribed to the sage Vyasa and has one verse for each graha.
Japa count (commonly suggested): 9,000. Commonly suggested total for a full japa (anushthan), completed over several days in rounds of 108 on a mala. For daily practice, one round of 108 is the usual suggestion. Some manuals give other totals; follow the count your pandit or astrologer gives.
Tradition suggests learning the pronunciation from a teacher or priest. A mantra is a practice of faith and focus, not a guarantee of any result.
Simple remedies for Budh (commonly suggested)
These are practices commonly suggested in the tradition. Whether a graha needs attention in your chart is decided from the whole Kundli.
- Recite the beej mantra 108 times on Wednesdays.
- Feed green fodder to a cow.
- Give green moong in charity on a Wednesday.
- Keep your word, speak kindly and keep learning something new.
Gemstone: the ratna of Budh is Emerald, पन्ना (Panna); commonly suggested substitutes are Peridot and Green Tourmaline. Wear a gemstone only after Namieta has checked your Kundli. A ratna strengthens its planet, and a planet that is weak or troublesome in your chart can make a stone unsuitable even when it matches your Mulank. Crystals are a gentler choice to keep at home or work. The gemstone calculator shows the stone of your Mulank.
Lal Kitab: the Lal Kitab remedies for Budh are on Lal Kitab remedies.
← Mangal · All nine grahas · Guru →
Questions about Budh
What is the Budh beej mantra?
ॐ ब्रां ब्रीं ब्रौं सः बुधाय नमः (Om brāṃ brīṃ brauṃ saḥ budhāya namaḥ). Om, the seed sounds of Mercury, salutations to Budh.
How many times should the Budh mantra be chanted?
One round of 108 on a mala is the usual daily suggestion, often begun on a Wednesday. For a full japa the total commonly given is 9,000, completed over several days. What suits you depends on your chart.
Which gemstone is for Budh?
Emerald, पन्ना (Panna); commonly suggested substitutes are Peridot and Green Tourmaline. A ratna strengthens its planet, so wear one only after your Kundli has been checked. The gemstone calculator shows the stone of your Mulank.
How long is the Budh mahadasha?
17 years in the Vimshottari dasha. Study, communication, trade and skills. A period for learning, writing and business.
Is Budh a bad planet?
No graha is simply good or bad. Among other things, Budh stands for intellect and learning, and for speech and writing; how it works for you depends on its sign, house and strength in your own Kundli, and on the running dasha.