Decoding Mars effect on human life

Ancient Sanskrit texts on astronomy throw more insight into the planet whose colour was described as ‘flame red’, claim Vedic astrologers in the city. According to them, Mars is called Mangal in Sanskrit, meaning auspicious and Chevaai in Tamil, which is closer in describing the colour of the celestial object. And when Mangalyaan entered Mars’s orbit, there was a glimmer of hope that India’s space exploration would validate the assertions made in the vedic texts.

“Mangal or Kuja or Angarakan is 487 lakh miles from earth but is slow in orbiting. The Surya Siddhanta (earliest known Sanskrit doctrines in astronomy) and the Padmapuranam describe the qualities and nature of Mars,” claims Dr M. Raghu, astro and Vastu researcher.

It has about 60 per cent elements found on earth, especially mountains, river, soil and fire/air. “The Brihat Samhita describes five different facets of Kuja, including heat, ashrumukha (crying face) and rakthamukha (blood faced). This planet moves in retrograde (apparent backward) motion for two months once in two years to match the speed of Budha (Mercury) and Sukran (Venus),” he adds.

In vedic astrology, the fiery planet rules over the signs of Aries and Scorpio and is often depicted as the god with a red body, Kuja being an indicator of brothers/siblings, assertion, aggressiveness, soldiers and military endeavours, besides mechanical ability, engineers, surgeons, commanders and rulers.

“In a weak horoscope, he can cause debts, illness afflicting the skin or eyesight or impulsiveness,” says J. Subramanian, a Sanskrit scholar and astrologer.

“I don’t think there is any mention of life on Mars in Sanskrit. Our ancestors have studied the position and movement of planets and their influence on lives. It will be a dream come true if Mangalyaan could prove that this ‘burning charcoal’ planet is habitable,” opines Raghu.