Manglik dosha OR Mangal dosha OR Kuja dosha is a very popular astrological concept even among the common people who are far away from astrological details behind it. This widely believed popularity of Mangal dosha has many things contributing to its notorious name. Things like astrological practice in modern era (even in east) have caused some yogas or dosha to be talked about more than others. While the fact is, astrology comprises of many of such yogas and dosha. Many other with many other names. The popularity of this yog increases since it is seen as major concern when it come to sukha (felt happiness) of married life.
Manglik dosha in nutshell is just an ill functional Mars exerting its influence in many ways causing you the so described troubles. But saying just this one line in stating the overall concept will be unfair towards subject with this level of hype.
Mars the planet related to this dosha, is one of the two most evil rated natural Malefic. In Indian astrology if we not talk about the nodes (Rahu & Ketu) which are shadow planets, then among the real planets - Saturn and Mars are the two top level Malefic. By their respective nature Saturn is still a milder one in physical impacts than Mars. Explaining it by an example - In extreme cases, an evil Saturn in 7th house can delay the marriage even up to the point in life that marriageable has passed. But yet marriage can happen. An evil Mars placed in 7th house under the same extreme scenario can even cause death of wife (or spouse). Which is far more a physical looking consequence, though both are harming at same intensity. This is the reason that the nature of Mars makes its responsible for quarrels and wars (fight in general). The nature of Saturn causes suffering at the levels of depression, loneliness and exploitations sometimes. The idea was to explain you that Mars is more of an active planet than Saturn, though both are natural malefic.
Definition of Mangal dosha - Manglik dosha arises when Mars is - strong, and have evil nature and similar functional capabilities in your birth chart and when such Mars is placed is 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house. Often when referring to Mangal dosha, people tend to forget or understand the 1st part of definition and just the later part is remembered and hence applied in birth chart. Which most of the time causes meaningless anxiety amongst individuals.
If we go by just the placement and position of Mars in birth chart. There are 6 houses out of all 12 houses, where if Mars is placed will cause this dosha. It is 50% chances of you having it OR 50% of the population will be having it by this way. So how can this be a rare yog. Many practicing Astrologers even recommends to look this Mars infliction / Mangal dosha even from Chandra lagna (Moon sign as Ascendant). In this way the chances increases above 50%.
This case is same as with simple Gajakesari yog, which said to be very fruitful but 1/3 of the population have the chances to get this yog. Which is practically not possible as things describe under it are rare in occurrence.
So here comes the basic knowledge of qualifiers, which makes with yogas and dosha more clear. Again read the definition and you will understand the importance of its 1st part and necessity to implement complete conditions in definition.
Why Mangal dosha happens when Mars is in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house ?
If we see in Vedic system of astrology, today what we call as Indian astrology, Mars (or Mangal) is one among the three special planets (Mars, Saturn and Jupiter), which possess this special ability to aspect fully more than one houses. Which means Mars has capacity to influence not only one but three houses by the means of aspect (planetary rays). Unlike other planets which only aspect 7th house from their positions with their full capacity. Mars can have full aspects on 4th, 7th and 8th house from its position. This special ability increases its area on influence.
So when conditions like evil functional capabilities for Mars are fulfilled in any birth chart, why the horoscopic results of Mars being placed in these houses results as something like Manglik dosha ?
Let’s have a deeper look at what happens when Mars is placed in these houses.
1st house is house for self, 7th house is related to happiness from marriage, 8th house being 2nd house from 7th supports it in many way, 4th house represents general sukha (happiness), 2nd house is related to family life, and 12th house along with 7th house supports conjugal bliss.
Mars in 1st house
When ever the Mars will be placed in one of those 6 houses he will not only be influencing that particular house of placement, but also influencing over 1 or 2 other houses as well. This ways Mars interacts with many areas related to self, marital bliss, domestic happiness and family leading to an overall heavy projection of Martial energy. Such energy when causing harm - you know what the results are.
When Mars be in 1st house - he affect 1st house by placement, 4th, 7th and 8th house by aspect and by the ability of planet to influence neighbouring houses to small level, he even influences 2nd and 12th house. Hence all house under consideration are influenced.
Mars in 2nd house
Mars when in 2nd house - cast his influence on 2nd and 8th house and to some extent 1st house. Here 3 out of those 6 houses are affected.
Mars in 4th house
Mars when placed in 4th house - affects 2 out those 6 houses with its full influencing ability. The 4th house of his placement and 7th house where he aspect.
Mars in 7th house
When Mars is placed in 7th house - affects 7th house, has his impact of 8th house and aspect the 1st house and 2nd house. Here four major houses are affected. The 1st and 7th house - self and relationships directly. Somewhat to 8th house - health and longevity. And lastly, the important 2nd house of family life.
Mars in 8th house
Mars when sitting in 8th house - harms that 8th house, which is going to represent family life conditions of spouse (it becomes spouse’s 2nd house), the 7th house which will represent spouse and relationship and 2nd house for native will be affected as well.
Mars in 12th house
When Mars is sitting in 12th house - influences 7th and 12th house and 1st house. The 12th house is not only the house expenses and loses, but also the bhog (enjoyment) associated with expenses. The 7th house and 12th house collectively indicates the conjugal bliss OR sex life. As 12th house also rules bed and sleep. It can affect this physical bonding factor in relationship.
Overall this concept of Mangal dosha takes our attentions to the very basic fact that Mars is not a domestic or internal life related planet, but an argumentative and fight related planet instead. This same nature makes him the planet of external matters more over internal. And we must not forget that natural 4th house (the sign of cancer) is debilitation point of this planet, has a same kind of backend theory.
But yet this is all real matter of concern for you when Mars is functionally behaving malefic for you and that has a broader story. And is also a foundational fact why Mars affliction or Mangal dosha affects some and not others. The reason is - it is unfortunate for someone where it has manifested so badly in chart. But when Mars is functioning well, even if strong and well placed in one of those 6 houses. It might just give good results like any other well placed and functionally good planets.
When Manglik dosha is nullified ?
Anyone who has Manglik dosha or Mangal dosha can safely marry anyone else with same level and similar strength of Manglik dosha, because the two Mangal dosha in two horoscope will cancel out each other.
It is a very valid and have general acceptance even among astrologers.
To test the level and strength of Mangal dosha in two birth chart. Simply check where this combination gets form from both Lagna and Moon. This will get level of Mangal dosha. Both chart having Mangal dosha from both prospective of Lagna and Moon will give both partners the same level of Mangal dosha.
For strength you need to check for overall strength for Mars. Remember that only extreme differences in Mangal dosha levels is a concern.
Potentially good Mars
Sometimes Mars getting involved with potential good yogas like Guru-Mangal yog (Jupiter + Mars) and Chandra-Mangal yog (Moon + Mars), etc is even said to reduce the malefic influences of Manglik dosha.
Why Mangal dosha doesn’t manifest in maximum of charts and is a rare case ?
It is true that Mars is a violent and argumentative planet. But when it is supposed to be harming you has certain alignments to it and overall chart conditions.
Mars placed in these 6 houses (1-2-4-7-8-12) will give native the good amount of those Martian qualities and this is due to the reason we saw above (of Mars having influence over those major areas of domestic and personal life). Still the evil or very unfortunate events like recurring death of spouses and complete marital misery is only the case if Mars is function malefic.
A functionally malefic Mars means - Mars which is behaving and exerting properties of those evil trik houses - the 6th, 8th or 12th house.
Conclusion
Mars becomes functionally that much evil when he is only ruling over those bad houses without ruling any of the good houses. Or in other cases when he is ruling one bad house and one good or neutral house, and is deeply influence by other planet exclusively representing only bad houses. This conditions when fulfilled along with Mars being placed in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house completes our definition of Mangal dosha (given above) and so described effects may manifest. But the complexity of Mangal dosha’s definition and the rare case of anyones chart fulfilling every conditions makes it a rather rare dosha to occur.
Mars placed in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house
When Mars is placed in one of those houses, especially 1st, 2nd and 7th, and is not a malefic planet by its functional behaviour, but a functional benefic instead. It is normal that such Mars will give good effects and general bliss. The results will not be as malevolent as described for Mangal dosha.
Here is an example where Mars functionally acts as the best planet for Leo and Cancer ascendants. But due to be fact that Mars gets debilitated in Cancer, he will be ruling good houses for both the ascendants, but will get debilitated in 1st house for Cancer and 12th house Leo, So when placed in sign of Cancer (debilitation) will cause a lot of interaction changes for both of ascendants. Such a debilitated Mars will be much better for Leo as compared to Cancer ascendant.