Mangal Dosha

Mangal Dosha is an astrological combination that occurs if Mars is in the 1st,2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house of the Vedic astrology Ascendant chart. A person born in the presence of this condition is termed a manglik.

This condition is astrologically believed to be devastating for marriages, causing discomfort and tension in relationship, leading to severe disharmony among the spouses and eventually to other bigger problems. This is attributed to the "fiery" nature of this planet. However, if a manglik person is born on Tuesday, the negative effects of Kuja Dosha gets cancelled by itself. Also, if two mangliks marry, the negative effects are believed to cancel each other out. However, Mars is not the only planet in Vedic Astrology that is supposed to affect the relationship and these effects should be seen in a broader perspective of overall astrological compatibility.

There is also a belief that the negative consequences for a single-manglik marriage can be resolved if the manglik first performs a ceremony called a kumbh vivah, in which the manglik "marries" a banana tree, a peepal tree, or a silver or golden idol (Murti) of the Hindu God Vishnu. Before her marriage to Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai one of India's most famous film stars faced a lawsuit, after being accused of entering into a "false marriage" ('marrying' a tree) by Lawyers on behalf of some human rights groups.

Any person suffering from Manglik Dosh is called a Manglik. So when someone says "I'm a Manglik", it simply means that they have Manglik Dosh in their horoscope.

The bad effects of Manglik Dosh can be reduced with the help of astrological remedies which would generally include the application of Pooja, Mantras, Gemstones and Charities and these remedies are different for different individuals depending upon their horoscopes.

An increasing number of individuals are placing less emphasis on Manglik dosha, during the selection of a life partner, as evidenced from the data from online matrimony sites. However, there is still a pretty large following of people who give credence to Manglik Dosha.

Marriage of Mangaliks

Mangaliks are perfectly normal humans who lead normal lives. Superstition and incompetent guidance by half-baked astrologers has created negative hype about their marriage prospects, says Pandit Aradhya.

Prateek wanted to marry Shyamala. They made a fine couple, had been friends since school days, and were persevering professionals. But Prateek’s parents Ghanshyam and Mrinalini were vehemently against this marriage because, according to an astrologer, Shyamala was a Mangalik, and Prateek would die if he married her. When I hear such stories I wonder, are Mangaliks some kind of spouse-devouring cannibals or abnormal, poisonous humans? Who is a Mangalik? Is Mangal Dosh relevant only to marriage and to no other aspect of life? Or is it superstition handed down the generations?

Prateek approached me for advice. He had a point when he said, “I have travelled all over the world, but it seems to me that Mangaliks exist only in India. I wonder how the rest of the world carries on with their marriages?”

Remember the movie, Lage Raho Munnabhai? The stylish non-Mangalik Abhishek Bachhan steps in to marry the Mangalik bride played by Diya Mirza and laces his act with whacky, romantic dialogues. That was reel life. Now cut to real life. Here he, a non- Mangalik, marries Aishwarya, a Mangalik. According to some newspaper reports later denied vehemently by Bachchan Sr, before she ties knots with him, she marries a Peepul tree so that the brunt of her Mangalik Dosh may fall on her tree husband and the second husband, Mr. Bachchan, is spared. Quite an ingenious solution. I wonder whether the unfortunate Peepul tree will wither away after being married to the most beautiful Mangalik on earth!

The Mangal stigma is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Vedic astrology. A majority of astrologers are well educated, intuitive, rational and scientific and know the Mangal effect well. But we still have an army of half-baked ‘punditjis’ who have created a negative hype around this word.

Mangaliks are normal humans who lead normal lives, and to be a Mangalik is neither a fault nor a problem. It only means that the person has strong energies and needs an equally strong spouse.

Who are Mangaliks?

First, we must understand the enormous complexity of the human body, not only in its physical construction, but the subtle construction and functioning. Besides the physical body, it has five subtle bodies that the yogis and spiritual seekers talk about: Annamaya kosha, Pranamaya kosha, Manomaya kosha, Vijnanamaya kosha and Anandamaya kosha. There are five Pranas which keep us alive: Prana, Apana, Udana, Samana, and

Vyana. The brain emits four types of brainwaves: Alpha, Beta, Theta and Delta, from high state of mental activity to peace and sleep. Beyond the known five senses, it has the intuitive sense for which J.B.Rhine coined the word ESP which makes us aware of the thoughts emanating from the minds of others, even though they may be far removed in space.

This complicated human being is also a powerful transmitter of thought patterns, energy patterns, emotive patterns, good and bad vibrations, subtle and gross energies. All that we are and all that we strive to be is transmitted in a subtle form to those around us. As it transmits, it also receives similar transmissions from other humans and reacts to them, mostly without its conscious knowledge and control. We all feel elated, sometime or the other, in the company of certain persons or in a spiritually beautiful environment, and hate a stranger for no obvious reason. The closer the person is, the deeper and more profound is the influence.

The credit goes to the Pineal Gland near the brain. This gland has been known to the yogis as the organ through which the brain receives impressions by the medium of vibrations caused by thoughts projected from other brains. Each planet, ‘rashi’ and ‘nakshatra’ has a meaning in Vedic astrology. Mars stands for chivalry, valour, courage, fearlessness, leadership qualities, strength, a sense of purpose in life, tremendous discipline, armed forces, law and order, land, real estate, machinery etc. But it also indicates fiery temperament, battles, blood, weapons, destruction and accidents. It is an indicator of how powerful or meek, how strong or week, how gross or refined, how murderous or loving in thoughts and by nature, how fiercely independent or temperamental are we. Therefore, if it is positioned well in the birth chart, it would be an indication of emanation of good and positive vibrations from the person to those around, and the reverse would indicate strong negative energies of his subtle bodies and thoughts. The closer a person is, the deeper and more profound is the influence on us. And few

others can have deeper and more powerful influence than a life partner. Mangaliks are strong and powerful individuals and have strong and powerful vibrations. The vibrations of their thought and energy patterns can be overwhelming and powerful for a meek person. To live a lifetime with someone whose mind and body emanates subtle but strong vibes which are in tune with another partner can make life a pleasure to live, and that is the entire purpose of astrological matchmaking. But if they are not in tune, it is likely to manifest as mental and psychological blocks, and in extreme cases, even as physical ailments.

What is the solution?

Sometimes, Mangal Dosh is nullified if certain astrological requirements are met with in the horoscope. The second solution is to let strong marry strong. Sage Parasher, one of the founders of astrological principles, wrote: "If a woman with the widowhood yoga marries a man with a similar yoga of loss of spouse, then such yoga will get cancelled." (Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, chapter 81, verse 48) Like all horoscopes, a Mangalik’s should be analysed thoroughly by a competent astrologer. Half-baked knowledge is dangerous. A proper understanding of Mangal Dosh can help avoid post-marital problems. But circumventing the problem by marrying a Peepal tree or a vessel or an animal is neither graceful nor correct: who would want a tree or a goat for a spouse?

That is being superstitious!

Pandit. Aradhya

Aradhya Astro-Vision

aradhya.astrovision@gmail.com

Bangalore - Mob. +91-7676405656