Mars is the nearest outer planet from Earth. Mars completes its orbit around the Sun approximately about every twenty one and half months.

By nature Mars is masculine, dry and fiery.  In Vedic astrology it is generally considered as a malefic planet.  Its fundamental nature and purpose is to provide protection to living creatures and humans. It represents energy, both constructive and destructive; ambition, desire and animal instincts. Military personnel who are in combat as well as supporting combat forces such as air force, navy, marines etc., are the manifestations of Mars.  Defense minister, law and enforcement units such as police, special units to combat criminals and others come under Mars.

Mars deals with emotions until we understand its teaching.  And then it frees us from bondage of pain and pleasures. It deals with the process of self-discovery.  The higher the personal ego more the challenges and difficulties. Mars when fully transformed– one becomes enlightened (Gautam Buddha, Gandhi, Elbert Schweitzer, Mother Teresa and many others like them who devoted their lives to serve humanity). Also, the researchers, philosophers, teachers, philanthropist and even entrepreneurs with the intention of serving humanity are the examples of people who finally understood the Mars’s principle.  In essence, in my opinion, Mars is the driving force behind the process when we undo the things we did in the first half of our life and gain some wisdom.

Among the twelve zodiac signs Mars rules Aries and Scorpio.  Mars becomes exalted in Capricorn, and becomes weak in Cancer. While the Fire and Earth signs are more suitable for Mars to reside, an air or water sign (except Scorpio) is generally not so favorable for Mars to reside. Among the planets, in general, his friends are Sun, Moon and Jupiter. The incompatible planets for Mars are Saturn, Mercury and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. Among the modern planets depending on the placements of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto in a natal chart they can be either complementary or opposites. Red is Mars’s color, and he rules Tuesdays.  For those who have dominant and positive Mars in their birth chart are likely to experience dramatic changes in their lives on Tuesdays, and red is their lucky color.  

Mars in fire signs is very comfortable and can blossom to its full potential if its in either trine or in mutual reception with the ruler of the sign it’s in. Mars displays its essential character (or Dharma) to its fullest in fire signs since the fire signs represent the life force and tends to point to the purpose in life. Sportsmen, warriors, fighters, commanders, leaders, etc., belong to this category.

An earth sign Mars if placed in a favorable house loves to accumulate wealth and prestige. Such people work hard and financially do exceedingly well in their life.  

If Mars is in an air sign and placed in a favorable house the person is likely to be very intelligent, analytical and very driven by the passion of discovering the mysteries of universe. Usually scientists, researchers, professors, mathematicians are likely to have air sign resident Mars.

Water sign resident Mars is usually not desirable since Mars is not capable of handling emotions. Although Mars rules Scorpio, Scorpio is the least understood sign. Scorpion Mars tends to make person excel in any endeavor it’s involved in despite the emotional outbreaks.

Following is a list of adjectives and nouns that describe Mar’s characteristics:

Fierce, masculine, energetic, ambitious, courageous, forceful, competitive, dominating, fighter, soldier, aggressive, short tempered, very independent, violent, animal, impulsive, gambler, sportsman, leader, resourceful, generous, noble, adventurous, hardworking, stubborn, confident, executioner, selfish, self centered, proud , resourceful, successful

Revenge, resistance, competition, fights, success, never easily gives up, big ego, machismo, anger , temperamental, quarrelsome, predatory, extremist, leaps before thinks, 

People in military, army, navy, and air force; captain, general, farmers, butchers, barbers, thieves, robbers , siblings

Blood, fire, burns, hot summer months, fever, sharp weapons, body heat, bleeding, murders, killing, being attacked by cruel animals, accidents, fine by the law, poison, authority, ammunition, copper, engineering, chemistry, chemicals, surgery, medicine, mathematics , land

Tuesdays, red color, body nervous system

Influence of Mars due to House Disposition    

By occupying a certain house in the natal chart, the influence of Mars on an individual is summarized below.  However, it must be remembered that a specific inference and subsequent astrological interpretation will depend on several other factors such as disposition of other planets with respect to Mars, and their relationship among each other through house ownership and aspects.

First House:    Mars in the first house makes one very energetic and strong. The person may be tall, with a bit of reddish eyes.  He is perceived as an impatient, impulsive, aggressive, and an ambitious person.  He is confident, determined, insistent, hardworking, very independent, and a true self starter.  Anger and perhaps revenge might be his biggest weaknesses.  But he never lets up.  He loves power, loves to command others, and therefore, it’s no wonder he has a natural inclination towards politics, corporate world where he can exercise his authority and power.  He may have a birthmark on his face.  If Mars is associated with either Uranus or one of the lunar nodes (Rahu or Ketu), he tends to be accident prone and frequently cause injuries to himself.  

Second House: Mars in the second house is generally a difficult situation.  The person is very  industrious and possessive.  He is bold; but due to his impatient and impulsive nature he is a poor money manager.  He may get in trouble due to his over- generous characteristics.  He may incur problems with his eyes.  He is argumentative.  In association with Mercury in this house he has a potential for successfully pursuing a career as a debater or critique.  He is likely to be perceived as a bashful, impolite rascal.  He loves meat, spicy, and greasy food.  If inflicted with Uranus, expect at least a few financial turmoil in his life.  

Third House:  The third house is suitable for enhancing the positive qualities of Mars.  The person is adventurous, courageous, risk taker, and usually successful in his ventures.  He is a strong soldier; and his general characteristics include: fearlessness, adamant, assertiveness, impulsive, and loves difficult challenges.  His handwriting probably shows sharp angles and narrow hooks.  

Fourth House: The Mars alone in the fourth house without any positive support from other planets either through association, angle, or aspect creates turbulent atmosphere in the person’s home (family) life.  The person tends to be an accident prone (especially if the Mars is with Uranus in this house).  Usually he experiences difficulties in the latter part of his life.  His relationship with his mother is likely to be strenuous.  His mother may have a serious and chronic illness.  

Fifth House:   The person may not get along with his own children.  For females, it’s very likely to have a miscarriage or a similar problem at the time of delivery.  He may develop gambling tendencies and perhaps lose money.  

Sixth House:   Due to the sixth house Mars the person may have frequent acute fevers, chicken pox, measles, mumps, inflammatory complaints, burns, hemorrhage, bleeding.  He is likely to have at least few surgical operations in his life.  This Mars, however, is excellent for his profession.  He would, most of the time, be victorious over his adversaries.  His adversaries usually be scared of him.  

Seventh House: Seventh house Mars means the person is very likely to have a spouse who is aggressive, impatient, and impulsive.  He may have a problem of getting along with his spouse;  and they may separate as a result.  Also, he may experience problems in getting along with his business partners or with his superiors in his profession.  

Eighth House: Unless it is influenced by a beneficial planet, the Mars in the eighth house alone brings financial misfortunes to the person.  

Ninth House:  Mars in the ninth house is usually responsible for person’s success, fame, and heroic deeds.  The person is very independent and self-made.  He is likely to be a doctor or an engineer.  He loves sports and is likely to be a natural athlete.   

Tenth House: The tenth house Mars makes one very ambitious, energetic, and an excellent fighter.  He is an opportunist and power hungry.  He is an exceptionally adventurous, very dynamic, and fast acting.  He is a winner!.  He loves challenges, and loves beating his opponents against all odds.  He is likely to make frequent professional changes to rise to the top.  

Eleventh House: Mars in the eleventh house makes one possessive, hard working, and a successful one! The person is likely to be perceived as bashful, and may have a very few friends.  He is likely to have trouble in getting along with his own children.  

Twelfth House: From the seventh house standpoint, the twelfth house Mars is not a happy situation.  The person is likely to be misunderstood.  He has a natural inclination to be drawn into a quarrel or fight.  He may experience problems with his eyes. A bankruptcy and going to a prison are real possibilities in his life.   

Influence of zodiac signs on Mars

While Mars enjoys being in the fire (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) sign,  in the earth sign Capricorn and the water sign Scorpio, it certainly becomes uncomfortable in very emotional sign Cancer and Pisces.  As mentioned earlier, it rules Aries (fire) and Scorpio (water), and it becomes exalted in Capricorn.  The following is a brief description, which includes how a person’s unique quality of presenting to others and being understood by others can be influenced by Mars’s zodiac sign in his birth chart.  Note that the influence of the relative position of other planets in the birth chart with respect to Mars will affect the final analysis of the chart, and therefore, it’s dangerous to conclude astrological analysis solely based on Mars’s position in the birth chart.

Aries: 

Mars in Aries is very positive as it rules Aries. In this fire sign, all the positive characteristics of Mars are likely to get enhanced unless Mars receives negative influence from a malefic planet like Saturn, Rahu, Ketu or Uranus. When inflicted with a malefic planet, the inherent dynamic and impulsive nature of Mars is totally gets confused in the volatile and aggressive sign Aries. Such people are likely to be highly opinionated and become very judgmental of others.  They likely to insist on things which are not practical. They can become uncompassionate and ruthless in their behavior. Of course, the position of Mars in a favorable house in the natal chart can completely alter this behavior.

Taurus:

Taurus is an earth sign ruled by Venus. Venus and Mars are neutral with each other. Taurus being the earth sign, Mars tends to focus on accumulating earth by working hard. With favorable house disposition of Mars, the person can quickly rise to the top and become rich.  He is likely to take care of his family, and likely to enjoy all the material pleasures.

Gemini:

Mars in Gemini makes the person naturally curious. Gemini being the air and mutable sign ruled by Mercury, it’s a perfect sign for Mars to carry out research activities (scientists), intelligence gatherings (detectives and diplomats), and shrewd activities for politicians and savvy dealings for businessmen. Gemini Mars further enhances Mercury’s strength if Mercury is positively placed in the chart. Being a mutable sign this Mars knows how to adapt to a given situation to make progress.  

Cancer:

Cancer being the water sign ruled by Moon, the debilitated Mars in Cancer means emotional challenges. The person spends good part of his or her life in difficulties and adverse conditions. And such conditions are usually are the result of his or her unique behavior characteristics. However, in the latter part of his life, through learning, observing, and being aware, he or she gets it and modifies the behavior pattern to finally figure the life out. In that sense Cancer is an important sign for Mars as it offers person an opportunity to transform himself or herself to a level of free of karmic cycles.

Leo:

Leo is ruled by Sun, a fire and fixed sign.  Sun is a natural friend of Mars. The leadership quality of Mars is further enhanced with Leo’s characteristics of being fortunate, royal and lucky with almost no difficulties in life,  If inflicted with either Saturn or lunar node, the may have an inflated ego and soon finds out that life is not that rosy. A series of misfortune and obstacles teaches the person to be subdued and modest.  But through this very process, the person is actually blessed with a tremendous opportunity to potentially transform by understanding the true meaning of life. And perhaps then he or she spends rest of life to serve humanity.

Virgo:

Mars in Virgo is can be positive if Mercury and Mars either in mutual reception, Parivartan Yoga or they rule auspicious houses. In that case, Virgo being a detailed oriented, analytical sign, Mars’s creativity is reflected in research oriented, hard working scientists, entrepreneurs and skilled laborers. On the downside when Mars occupies unfavorable house and Mercury being non friendly to Mars, person can be a liar, manipulative and can have destructive tendencies to hurt others.

Libra:

Mars in Libra can be very positive if it is favorably connected wit Venus. People who achieve fame by working hard towards one goal with amazing stamina and patience, and that their work reflects service to humanity are usually have Libra Mars or Libra rising with prominently placed Mars. Libra Mars also produce artists, poets, musicians, singers, film producers and directors, hermits, philosophers, yogis, and social leaders. Inflicted Mars in Libra due to association with Sun or lunar nodes may make person having difficulty in dealing with people around him or her.

Scorpio:

Scorpio is a fixed and water sign. It is also a mystic as well as a very secretive sign ruled by Mars. It’s not surprising therefore to see Mars to get suffocated and become excessively emotional in this sign unless the planet Mars makes a favorable aspect with Jupiter or Moon. The person is likely to be very withdrawn and difficult to open up to others, and likely to be misunderstood. In addition, due to unhealthy emotions, the person is likely to go off track and can become self destructive. Since Scorpio can be a spiritual sign (being mystical) it can provide the spiritual energy to Mars to enhance spiritual life of the person if Mars is well connected with a spiritual house.

Sagittarius:

Mars in Sagittarius is very dynamic, energetic and focused. Furthermore, with Jupiter’s auspicious aspect or angle, Mars’s energy can be directed in a very auspicious way.  Usually such people have natural inclination towards academic profession. Also, philosophers, philanthropist and social reformers, supreme court judges can have Sagittarius Mars with well placed Jupiter. The Mars, being the hardworking and dedicated planet, it can one pursue to become monk or an enlightened person.

Capricorn:

Mars being exalted in Capricorn, it’s a perfect sign for Mars to reside in. Being earth sign Mars does very well in profession, rises to the top very quickly and leads and manages quite a few people. They are usually successful businessmen, CEO’s of big companies, industrialist, venture capitalists, bankers, managers, chief operating officers of corporations, etc. Usually such people have their wishes come true.  They usually end up accumulating lot of wealth. 

Aquarius:

Mars in Aquarius, if well connected with Saturn and falls in a favorable house in natal chart makes one very intelligent and is very conducive for becoming scientist, researcher, philanthropist, philosopher, social reformer or a religious leader. His sole interest in life is to serve humanity.

Pisces:

Mars is Pisces (water sign) cannot handle emotions very well. The person keeps his or her emotions bottle up until those emotions explodes.  It’s a very miserable situation. He or she can become pessimist about life and may have a tendency to give up easily on almost any activity or work he or she undertakes. Such people lack self-confidence and never can be a leader. If Mars is well connected with Jupiter, the person directs his or her energy towards serving humanity, helping needy and poor.