Mangala (Mars) in Vedic Astrology — Meaning & Mantra

Significations (karakatva)

Mars (Mangala, Kuja or Angaraka) is the planet of energy, courage, action and conflict. It signifies younger siblings, land and property, blood, muscles, injuries, surgery, fire, weapons, police and military service, engineering and sports. It is a masculine, fiery, tamasic graha and a natural malefic. Mars gains directional strength in the tenth house. In marriage matching, its placement in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house from the ascendant, Moon or Venus gives the much-discussed Kuja dosha (Manglik dosha), for which classical texts list many cancellations. A well-placed Mars gives drive, courage and technical skill; an afflicted Mars can show impulsiveness, accidents or disputes over property.

Astronomy of Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, about 6,779 km in diameter, roughly half the size of the Earth. Its reddish colour comes from iron oxide dust on its surface, which is why many cultures associated it with blood and war. It orbits the Sun in about 687 days, so it spends on average about 45 days in each sign, though this varies greatly. Roughly every 26 months the Earth overtakes Mars, and Mars appears to move backwards (retrograde) for about two months around opposition, when it is brightest. Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos.

Mythology

In Puranic accounts Mangala is the son of Bhumi Devi, the Earth goddess, and is therefore called Bhauma, 'son of the earth'. One story says he was born from a drop of Shiva's sweat that fell to the earth while Shiva was in meditation. He is depicted as red, four-armed, carrying a trident, mace, lotus and spear, and riding a ram. He is often identified with Skanda (Kartikeya), the commander of the divine army. Tuesday (Mangalavara) is named after him, and Mangala is worshipped for relief from debts and disputes, notably at the Vaitheeswaran Koil temple in Tamil Nadu.