Astronomy:
Red coloured Mars is one of the outer planets.
In fact, it is the nearest outer planet from the earth. The mean
distance between the Sun and Mars is 141 million miles. Mars take
687 days to revolve around the Sun. Mars is smaller than the earth
and its diameter is around 4, 200 miles. It is just double the size
of Moon. Its mass is about 1/10th the mass of the earth. Mars takes
24hours 37 minutes and 23 seconds to rotate on its axis. Mars resembles
our earth in various ways especially with regards to time of rotation
and to the tilt in axis, which makes us feel that it is an escaped
satellite of Earth.
Mythology:
According to
Hindu Mythology
Managal is
considered as
Bhumi – putra. He is considered to be the
son of mother Earth. It is said that when earth was lying submerged
in vast expanse of the sea.
Lord Vishnu in his
Varaha
Avatar lifted the earth and brought it out and placed it in
a suitable orbit. Mother earth was grateful and asked for a feminine
boon. “O God give me a child of yours!” To which God agreed.
Mangal is
the result of this godly union with the rescued Earth. One such story
relates to Mars being the son of Lord Shiva and mother earth.
In western mythology Mars is considered as God
of war and also hunting. In the bible Mars is symbolized by the devil.
It is the God of force and energy. Mars is considered the Commander
in chief of the celestial armies.
Astrological Significance:
Following are some of the signification of Mars
as per Uttara Kalamrita
a) Valor b) land c) Strength d) Battle e) Foes
f) Archeologist g) Quadrupeds h) King i) Fire j) Bile k) Wounds l)
Heat m) Sword n) Obstacles o) Worship of Subrahmanya p) Eating non
- vegetarian food q) Bitterness of taste r) Strong towards the end
of the night s) Gold t) Man u) Character v) Painful urination w)
Blood x) Desire y) Anger z) Snake
It is generally seen that a strong Mars will give
a good result with respect to above-mentioned significations while
a weak Mars represents the deficiency of the same.
Other Astrological Considerations:
Mangal own two signs namely
Mesha and
Vrischik.
It is deeply exalted at 28 degrees
Makara and deeply debilitated
at 28 degrees
Karkata. Its
Mooltrikona Rashi is
Mesha.
Mars represents ones strength and it holds the rank of Commander
in Chief in the Planetary Cabinet. His stature is high and has a
blood red complexion;
Kartikeya represents it. It is of
masculine gender having predominance of Fire. It is of
Kshatriya
Varna having the predominance of
Tamsik Gunas.
Mars is cruel, has blood red eyes, and is fickle
minded, liberal hearted, bilious and has thin waist and thin physique.
It represents bone marrow and lives in the place of fire and it represents
a day (
Ahoratra i.e., a period from one sunrise to other
sunrise). It represents bitter taste; it is strong in the south direction.
It is friendly to Sun, Moon and Jupiter. It is inimical to Mercury
and neutral to Venus and Saturn.
