Hanuman and Mangal
Tuesday (Mangalvar) is named after Mangal, the planet Mars, and in most of North India it is above all Hanuman ji's day. The Mangalvar Vrat joins the two: worship of Hanuman, the remover of troubles (Sankat Mochan), and a remedy for an afflicted Mars in the horoscope. People keep it for courage and strength, protection from fear and enemies, relief from debt and illness, and — very commonly — for Mangal dosh affecting marriage.
How many Tuesdays
The usual sankalpa is 21 Tuesdays; 45 Tuesdays and "as long as life" are also common. Begin on a Tuesday in shukla paksha, ideally in a month other than Pitru Paksha or Kharmas, and keep the sequence. Women traditionally pause on days of menstruation and continue the next week.
The vidhi
- Bathe early, wear red or saffron clothes, and take the sankalpa before an image of Hanuman (with Rama and Sita, if possible).
- Offer sindoor mixed with jasmine oil (chola), red flowers, a lamp of ghee or jasmine oil, incense and a janeu if your tradition does so.
- Recite the Hanuman Chalisa (once or seven times), and if time allows the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak or Bajrang Baan; read the Mangalvar vrat katha.
- Offer bhog of gur-chana, boondi or besan laddu, and close with Hanuman aarti.
- Eat once, after the puja — traditionally sweet food of wheat and jaggery, without salt.
Udyapan
After the last Tuesday, complete the vow with udyapan: a fuller Hanuman puja, a havan if possible, feeding 21 brahmins or the needy (or as many as you can), and donating red cloth, wheat, jaggery and masoor dal — items associated with Mangal.
Cautions
- Keep the day sattvic: no meat, alcohol, quarrels or harsh speech.
- Hanuman is a brahmachari; many traditions ask women to offer worship without touching the murti — follow your temple's custom.
- A Mangal dosh remedy prescribed by an astrologer may involve specific mantras or counts; the vrat supports, rather than replaces, such advice.
Frequently asked questions
How many Mangalvar vrats should be kept?
Usually 21; some keep 45, or keep the vrat lifelong.
What can be eaten in Mangalvar Vrat?
One meal after the puja, traditionally of wheat and jaggery, without salt.
Does Mangalvar Vrat help with Mangal dosh?
It is one of the most common traditional remedies for Mangal dosh, alongside Hanuman worship and Mangal mantras.
Can women keep Mangalvar Vrat?
Yes. Women pause on days of menstruation and continue the following Tuesday.
What should be donated on Tuesday?
Red cloth, wheat, jaggery and masoor dal are traditional donations associated with Mangal.
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