Mangal (Mars) in Jyotish: energy and courage
Mangal (Mars) is the graha of courage, energy and action, and is the karaka of brothers and of land.
What it is
Mars owns Mesha and Vrishchika, is exalted in Makara, and is debilitated in Karka. Its dasha lasts 7 years. In the Manglik check on this site, Mars's house from the Lagna, the Moon and Venus is counted.
How it is worked out or read
Mars has a special aspect on the 4th and 8th houses from its own position, in addition to the seventh-house aspect that all grahas share.
Where it appears on this site
Mars is shown in the chart checks for the Manglik rule and in the birth chart. The Manglik dosha article explains the rule.
Mars in the chart
Mars is the graha of courage, energy, competition and action, and it is traditionally the karaka of siblings and land. It rules Mesha and Vrishchika, is exalted in Makara at 28 degrees and debilitated in Karka. Its dasha lasts seven years. Because Mars has its own aspects on the fourth and eighth houses, a Mars placement often says something about those houses as well as about the house it occupies. A reader looks at Mars's house, its sign, and the houses it aspects.
Mars and the Manglik check
The Manglik check on this site counts Mars's house from three references: the Lagna, the Moon and Venus. The houses that count are 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 12. The check reports the result for each reference separately, so a reader can see which one is met. The check does not add a judgement, and the cancellation rules are discussed separately, because traditions differ on them.
Reading Mars with care
Mars is classed as a malefic in the standard scheme, yet its strength can be read positively when it is well placed, in its own sign or exaltation, or in a house that suits its energy. The texts describe Mars as productive when directed, and difficult when unchecked. A reader should test each Mars reading against the sign, the house and the aspects before drawing any conclusion.
Key facts
Mangal rules Mesha and Vrishchika, is exalted in Makara with deepest exaltation at 28 degrees, and is debilitated in Karka. Its Vimshottari period is seven years, and it rules the nakshatras Mrigashira, Chitra and Dhanishta. Tuesday, Mangalavara, is its day. It is also called Kuja and Bhauma, both names meaning born of the Earth.
Aspects and motion
Besides the seventh aspect, Mars aspects the fourth and eighth houses from itself. It takes about 1.9 years to go round the zodiac, but its speed varies greatly: it may stay in one sign for six weeks or, when it turns retrograde every twenty-six months or so, for several months. Its retrograde periods are when it is closest to the Earth and brightest in the sky.
Reading Mangal
Mars signifies courage, energy, competition, siblings, land and technical skill. For Karka and Simha Lagnas it is the yogakaraka. Its placement in certain houses is the basis of the much-discussed Manglik dosha, whose rules, exceptions and cautions are set out in their own article; the chart checks tool on this site shows whether the rule is met and why.