Short answer
Mangal Dosha is checked by seeing whether Mars sits in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house, counted from the Lagna (ascendant) and, in some traditions, also from the Moon and Venus. It is very common, roughly 40–50% of charts by some counts, and many traditional cancellations apply, so it is rarely the final word on a marriage.
How ChiChakra reads this
Because the houses are counted from the Lagna, you need an accurate birth time and place, not just a Moon sign. A careful reader then checks the cancellations before calling it a dosha (affliction) at all. Mars itself stands for energy, courage and drive; the traditional concern is only that it may bring extra heat into married life.
Cancellations and what to do
The best-known cancellation is when both partners have Mars in these positions, which traditional matching treats as balanced. Many other exceptions depend on Mars's sign and aspects, and they vary by school.
If a match is flagged, ask which reference point and which cancellations were checked. A one-word 'manglik' label hides most of the picture.
Families weigh the whole chart and real-life compatibility: shared values, kindness and how you handle disagreement count for far more than one placement.
Good to know
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