Ruchaka Yoga is one of the pancha mahapurusha yogas in Hindu astrology. It is reckoned as a very important planetary combination in predictive astrology. Ruchaka yoga gets constituted when the planet Mars or Mangal occupies a Kendra (quadrant) house from the ascendant (1st house or lagna) in the natal chart. Also the house occupied by Mangal must be its own or its mulatrikona or exalted sign. Since Mars own Aries and Scorpio and gets exalted in Capricorn, with Aries being its mooltrikona sign also, presence of this planet in a Kendra (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th) house in the natal chart from the lagna (1st house) in these three signs constitutes this celebrated Ruchaka Yoga.
The classical text says – A person born under the Ruchaka Yoga will be enthusiastic, brave, courageous, wealthy, famous, dear to the king, victorious in struggle, strong, fickle and of angry disposition. He may be of bilious temperament and with a slim waist.
In short, Ruchaka Yoga is formed when Mars is in Aries (Mesha Rashi), Scorpio (Vrischika Rashi) and Capricorn (Makar Rashi) signs, which happen to be the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house in the natal horoscope. According to other texts, this yoga will be more effective if Mangal or Mars happens to be in Mesha or Makara Rashi, since these signs are its mulatrikona and exaltation signs, respectively. Ownership mulatrikona and exaltation signs indicate the potency of the planet in ascending order.
Some classical texts mention that even in Mangal be found in these signs, which also happen to be a Kendra house from the moon sign in the natal chart, it amounts to the constitution of Ruchaka Yoga.
Mars is believed to be the ruler of traits like heroism, valor, courage, enthusiasm and bravery. This planet symbolizes, Kartikeya, the commandant-in-chief of the divine army. The presence of Ruchaka Yoga in a chart accentuates all these Martian traits in the native.