Introduction
Mangala is the Hindu god of the planet Mars and one of the nine celestial bodies (Navagraha) of Indian astrology. His name means "auspicious", but in astrology, he is a fiery, martial planet, linked with energy, courage, aggression and conflict. He is also called Angaraka, "burning coal", Kuja, "born of the earth", and Bhauma, "son of the earth".
Family
- Father: Bhudevi
Birth
The Puranas differ on his origin. In the most common account, Mangala is the son of Bhudevi, the earth, and Vishnu in his Varaha (boar) form. In another, the Skanda Purana, a drop of Shiva's sweat fell to the earth and became a red child, Mangala, at Ujjain. In other versions, he is Shiva's son.
Iconography
Mangala is shown as red or with a red complexion, four-armed, riding a ram, and holding a trident, a mace, a lotus and a spear.
In astrology
In Jyotisha, the Indian system of astrology, Mars rules the signs Aries and Scorpio. It is exalted in Capricorn and debilitated in Cancer. Its day is Tuesday (Mangalavara), its gem is red coral (moonga), its metal copper and its colour red.
A well-known astrological concept is Mangal Dosha or Manglik, the belief that if Mars is placed in certain houses of a person's chart, it can cause difficulty in marriage. It is often considered in arranged marriages in India.
Mars and Kartikeya
In Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India, Mars is associated with Kartikeya (Murugan), the god of war, and Tuesday is a day for worshipping him.
Temples
The Mangalnath Temple in Ujjain is said to be the birthplace of Mars. The Vaitheeswaran Koil in Tamil Nadu is one of the nine Navagraha temples, and is associated with Angaraka.
In astronomy
In classical Indian astronomy, such as the Surya Siddhanta, Mars is one of the five visible planets, and its motion was calculated with great precision.