Exploring the skies has made me realise that the profound and oft-repeated idea that the ‘Universe is Maya’ or, an illusion, must have occurred to the Rishis when they stared up at the night sky, lying on their coconut rope strung beds! Yes, nothing is as it seems in the firmament– the planets that are dark and small, twinkle with the same intensity as the magnum star and often seem to influence our thoughts more than powerful energy filled stars. Black holes are actually full of gobbling energy; stars are liquid burning into gas- the cosmos seems to be in a constant state chaotic flux
Let us consider ‘Budh’, the shape shifting mercury, flowing like liquid on the surface but metal at the core- the perfect symbol of duality. As a planet, too, Mercury is a contrast, closest to sun, it has a quick orbit round the sun but is slow and sluggish on its axis. The wise sages saw in Mercury, a person born out of emotional passion and brought up in an atmosphere of intellectual discipline – person who craves emotional validation but is to a great extent an intellectual snob!
And so, Mercury’s story begins with a tumultuous love affair- Tara, beautiful wife of the rather pedantic Brihaspati, fell passionately in love with the emotional Chandra. They eloped across the wide cosmos, without a care in the world. But the patriarchal Aryans, despite obvious evidence of the contrary, believed in an organised universe; so Tara and Chandra creating patterns of moonbeams and stardust across the empty skies without any sense order was not acceptable.
The Devas wanted to avoid celestial ego clashes between Brihaspati and Chandra that would ruin the order of the universe. Brahma the lord of all creation spoke kindly to Tara about her responsibility to her husband. Obedient and accommodating, Tara returned to husband’s house, with a stain on her character and very pregnant.
Brihaspati, was annoyed, but his dry and detached personality rationalised the problem and finally, when baby Budh appeared as a charming clever child, he was completely taken in by his charm Brihaspati decided he will take the child under his care. Chandra, with his shifting moods and emotional outbursts willingly agreed to this arrangement.
Budh’s personality is therefore a complex mixture of an emotionally high-strung individual, who moral character is suspect because his Mother’s lax moral standards but intellectual environment provided by Brihaspati sharpens his wit, making it sharp to the level of cunning. Deeply confused about his relationship towards both his fathers, he is unable to establish long self-sustaining relationship. Instead, he has intense relationships that end as he moves on to something more exciting. He is a great communicator, charming and also sneaky at the same time. As Mercury casts his shadow over you, you feel a restlessness within, a deep desire to learn and grow. Or so say those who read the stars to find meaning in an illusory world.
By Sheila Bhattacharya
Also Read –
The story of the nine planets or the NavGrahas
