Mars & Buddhism

[astrovedic]

It has been told that Mars rules over Buddhism and Buddhist monks. Is it merely because of the association with the red colour ? Mars and Buddhism seem to have nothing in common, Mercury seems more apt in signifying Buddhism.

[Indvedic]

Not sure how a single planet could signify a religion some also associate Ketu with Islam and Jupiter with Hinduism.

Mars is associated with wars and violence while as far as I know Buddhism is completely opposite of it. I think they are associating it with Mars because some Buddhist monks in China practise martial arts and Kung fu as a means of self defence and to have complete control over their body and mind. Personally I attribute religion to the 9th house. Planets within them and condition of ninth Lord can show if a person is religious or an atheist.

[ashy]

Mercury represents Buddhi - intellect. And the word Buddha that is often associated with Mercury is again a reference to intellect as opposed to 'awakened ones'. Sometimes planets are used to look up the Ishta Devata for an individual, and I've read that Mercury represents the Buddha or otherwise some Vishnu-related deity. But I have never heard anything about a single planet representing an entire religion. The only connection I can draw between Mars and Buddhism is the 'kshatriya class' system. The kshatriyas are supposed to represent the warrior class (rulers, princes, generals, etc) of a society and the Buddha is supposed to have been born under the kshatriya class. He was a prince and well trained in the art of war. So that's the only Mars connection I can find.