Sri Angaraka Stotram

Angaraka, the glowing one, is the planet Mars, also called Mangala, Kuja and Bhauma. This short stotram is little more than a garland of his names set into four verses, followed by three verses on the fruit of reciting them. It begins Angarakah Shaktidharo Lohitango Dharasutah: he is the bearer of the shakti spear, red-limbed, son of the Earth. The same verse goes on to call him Kumara, Mangala, Bhauma, Mahakaya and Dhanaprada, the giver of wealth.

The names

The names show both faces of the planet. He is Rinaharta, remover of debt, and Roganashana, destroyer of illness, yet also Rogakrit, the cause of illness, Vranakara, the cause of wounds, and Dhanahrit, the one who can take wealth away. Red runs through the stotra: he wears red garments and red garlands, his eyes are large and red, his whole form is red, and he wears golden earrings. He is also Samaganapriya, fond of the chanting of the Sama Veda, and Grahanayaka, a leader among the planets. In jyotisha, Mars governs strength, courage, land and the bond between brothers.

Significance

The stotra states its own phala. Whoever recites these names constantly is freed of debt, misfortune and poverty, gains wealth, a pleasing spouse and a son who brings honour to the family. Worshipping Mangala on his own day with many flowers, the last verse says, removes all affliction caused by the planets. Devotees therefore turn to it when Mars is troublesome in the horoscope, including in questions of Kuja dosha at the time of marriage, and above all for relief from debt. These are the stotra's words and the tradition's hope, offered alongside honest effort.

How and when to chant

Tuesday is Mangala's day. Chant the stotram in the morning facing south, offering red flowers, and where it is the household custom, give red cloth or togari bele as dana, as is done for Kuja in Karnataka navagraha worship. Reciting it on each Tuesday for a fixed number of weeks is a common vow, and Angaraki Chaturthi, when Sankashti falls on a Tuesday, is considered especially favourable.