The god of Mars goes by many names: Mangala, Kuja, Angaraka, Sutabhumi.

The Puranas offer different versions of Mangala’s birth.

In one account, Shiva’s beloved wife, Sati, could not bear the insult her father Daksha had shown to Shiva, so she immolated herself.

Grief-stricken, Shiva entered deep meditation.

From a drop of sweat that fell from his brow as he practised austerities, Mangala was born.

Shiva included Mangala among the Navagraha (nine planetary deities) and appointed him as protector of wives and land ownership (Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita 1.10, Skanda Purana 4.1.17).

Another legend from the Skanda Purana says that Shiva once married Vikeshi, daughter of Hiranyaksha.

While they were enjoying their union, Agni, the god of fire, appeared.

Shiva, angered by this interruption, glared at Agni so fiercely that a drop of hot moisture fell from Shiva’s eye onto Vikeshi’s face.

Vikeshi soon became pregnant, but could not bear the power of the unborn child and cast the foetus into the Himalayas.

The Earth goddess Bhumi adopted the child and nourished him with her milk.

This son was named Mangala or Sutabhumi — “son of Bhumi”.

The Devi Bhagavata also states that Mangala was the son of Bhumi Devi (Mother Earth) and Varahi, the boar incarnation of Mahavishnu.

During the Varaha Kalpa (age of Varaha), all the gods and celestial beings worshipped Bhumi Devi.

Sometimes the Puranas identify Mangala with Kartikeya, commander of the celestial army and son of Shiva.

These myths illustrate how Mars, or Mangala, is deeply connected to divine energies, martial strength, and protection — embodying the fiery, action-oriented principle within Jyotish.