Talk:Mangala

maṅgala (‘the auspicious’) See ASTAMAÑGALAS. The planet mars, one of the nine mentioned in the works on astrology is also known as Maṅgala. Its other names are: Aṅgāraka, Kuja, Bhauma, Āvaneya, Lohitāñga and Krurākṣa. It is supposed to rule over the colour red and ruled over by God Kārttikeya or Subrahmaṅya and the element of fire. It is said to be a malefic planet but give beneficial results in southern direction. Its nature is that of a kṣattriya. Its residence in the body is the marrow whereas outside, it lives in the fire-place. Actually, these details are useful in astrological predictions. This rite comes after the saptapadī. (See SAPTAPADĪ.) The sṅtra generally consists of a string with golden and other beads including a coin-shaped amulet. Though this is considered as one of the most important aspects of the marriage ritual now, it has not been mentioned in the earlier dharmaśāstra works. The Saunakasmrti is the earliest treatise that mentions it. The practice must have come into vogue around A. D. 1000. In some works, the tying of kaṅkaṇa (protective cord) by the couple to each other’s hands is mentioned as ‘kaṅkaṇabandhana’. This cord itself is called maṅgalasutra.