What is Mangala Dosha? - Excerpt from 'Elements of Vedic Astrology'

I have written enough about the Sevvai dosham (tamil) or Mangal Dosha. Mangal Dosha is caused by the planet Mars When it is placed in 2,4,7,8 and 12th houses from Moon Sign / Rashi. In the south India Mangal Dosha is considered for 2nd house and in north India 1st house is dosha sthana. Here is the excerpt from the popular book, 'Elements of Vedic Astrology' -by Dr. K.S. Charak.

Dr. Charak is a popular Astologer who teach astrology in 'Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan', New Delhi. This excerpt will clear any doubts about mangal dosha, its remedies, and marraige compatibility between dosha horoscopes.

The Blemish of Mars

The disposition of Mars in chart is considered to be of special significance while considering a marital relationship. The location of Mars in the houses 1, 4, 7, 8 and 12 is labelled as 'Mangala Dosha' or the blemish of Mars. If Mars is located in any of these houses, in the chart of the girl, it is said to lead to widowhood by causing death of her husband. Similar disposition of Mars in the chart of the boy can cause death of the wife. It is said that such disposition of Mars in a horoscope must be considered both from the lagna as well as the Moon. When the horoscopes of the bride and the groom both are free from Mangala Dosha, when considered both from the lagna and the Moon, the situation is favourable and needs further study.

The blemish of Mars may be considered nullified in the following circumstances:
a) When the blemish exists in the horoscopes of both the boy and the girl.

b) When one chart had the blemish of Mars while the other chart shows its neutralisation by the placement of another malefic (sun, Saturn, Rahu or ketu) in one of the houses mentioned above.

From the above it is apparent that any malefic located in the houses 1, 4, 7, 8 or 12 from the lagna as well as the Moon in a given chart is not good for marital hormony unless equally matched by a similar disposition of malefics in the chart of the spouse. Preferably, the number of malefics influencing these houses must also be matched. Sometimes, remedial measures are prescribed to neutralise the Mangala Dosha.

This what Dr. Charak wrote about Mangal Dosha in his book 'Elements of Vedic Astrology'.