Mars Transit in Anuradha

Mitra, the god of friendship and contracts, presides over Anuradha, and Saturn is its lord. Its symbol is a lotus. It lies in Scorpio, Mars's own sign, and Mars is neutral toward Saturn, so the graha is strong and steadied by the discipline Saturn lends.

The stay is just under three weeks. Loyalty, devotion, alliances, work done with others and success far from home are the themes, and Mars here acts on behalf of a group. Team efforts, joint ventures and the defence of friends are its usual forms. In Scorpio, occult study gains force.

The reproductive organs and the excretory system are the sign's body areas. Suppressed anger is the hazard, since Saturn's lordship holds the temper down until it breaks, and betrayal, felt or real, is the recurring theme of a difficult Mars in Anuradha.

Virgo, Gemini and Capricorn Moons and lagnas have Mars in the third, sixth and eleventh, the houses Phaladeepika names as favourable for Mars. They gain allies and defeat opponents. Scorpio Moons carry a strong Mars on the self and should direct it outward into work. Leo, Taurus and Aries Moons, with Mars in the fourth, seventh and eighth, should guard the home, the marriage and the body.

Anuradha raises the matter of keeping faith, and Mitra treats friendship as a contract kept under strain. Mars here shows whether a person stands with friends when it costs something.

Honour Mitra by keeping your word to a friend, and worship Hanuman on Tuesday. Recite Om Angarakaya Namah and give red lentils or copper, Parashara's dana for Mars. A sesame oil lamp on Saturday acknowledges the nakshatra lord.