Graha · The Nine Planets
♂ Mars मंगल
Energy, courage, the warrior — drive, anger and the brother.
Mars is raw, directed energy — the courage to act and, unchecked, the heat to destroy. As the natural karaka of siblings, land and competition, its placement shows where you fight, strive and assert. Well-placed, Mars gives drive, physical courage and the spine to lead; afflicted, it brings anger, accidents, inflammation and conflict. It is the planet behind Mangal (kuja) dosha in matching, which is why its house position matters so much in synastry.
| Sanskrit name | Mangala मंगल |
|---|---|
| Glyph | ♂ |
| Significations (karaka) | Courage (parakrama), energy, siblings (younger), land and property, war, surgery, blood, muscle. |
| Nature | Malefic — hot, fiery and aggressive; the commander (senapati) of the planetary cabinet. |
| Element / Guna | Fire · Tamas |
| Gender | Masculine |
| Day | Tuesday |
| Deity | Subramanya / Kartikeya |
| Gemstone | Red coral |
| Metal | Copper |
| Exaltation | Capricorn (Makara) |
| Debilitation | Cancer (Karka) |
| Own sign(s) | Aries (Mesha), Scorpio (Vrischika) |
| Friends | Sun, Moon, Jupiter |
| Enemies | Mercury |
| Dasha length | 7 years |
What Mars signifies
Mars is the karaka (natural significator) of courage (parakrama), energy, siblings (younger), land and property, war, surgery, blood, muscle. In the body it governs muscles, bone marrow, blood, the head, energy and stamina. Professionally it favours military, police, engineering, surgery, sports, real estate, anything physical or competitive.
When Mars is strong
Courage, drive, leadership under pressure, good stamina, decisiveness, protective instinct.
When Mars is weak or afflicted
Anger, accidents, blood/inflammation issues, conflict with siblings, impulsiveness, Mangal dosha.
Dignity — where Mars is strong and weak
Mars is exalted in Capricorn (Makara) and debilitated in Cancer (Karka). It rules Aries (Mesha), Scorpio (Vrischika) as its own sign, where it is comfortable and strong. It treats Sun, Moon, Jupiter as friends and Mercury as enemies, and is neutral to Venus, Saturn. We compute dignity precisely (exalted, moolatrikona, own, friend, neutral, enemy, debilitated) in your live chart using Lahiri sidereal positions.
Remedies for Mars
Strengthen or pacify Mars only when it genuinely suits your ascendant — gems in particular can backfire. General classical remedies:
- Hanuman Chalisa / Mangala mantra on Tuesdays
- Wear red coral in copper or gold (if Mars suits your lagna)
- Physical discipline — channel the energy, don’t suppress it
- Donate red lentils / support younger siblings