In one paragraph
Ashtakoot guna milan is the traditional North Indian method of comparing two charts for marriage. It runs eight tests, or kootas, on the Moon's sign and birth star in each chart, and scores them out of 36 points. It is quick, standardised and widely used as a first filter. It is also deliberately narrow: it looks only at the two Moons, and a full compatibility reading goes well beyond the number it produces.
The eight kootas
| Koota | Points | Read from | What it compares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Moon sign | Outlook and values — the four temperament classes of the signs |
| Vashya | 2 | Moon sign | Mutual influence — how readily each partner adapts to the other |
| Tara | 3 | Birth star | Wellbeing — the count from one birth star to the other |
| Yoni | 4 | Birth star | Physical and instinctive compatibility |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Moon-sign lord | Friendship between the two ruling planets — mental rapport |
| Gana | 6 | Birth star | Temperament — Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa |
| Bhakoot | 7 | Moon sign | The position of one Moon sign from the other — family life and prosperity |
| Nadi | 8 | Birth star | Constitution — Aadi, Madhya or Antya — traditionally linked to health and children |
What the method actually compares
All eight tests are read from just two facts per person: the sign the Moon is in and the nakshatra it occupies. Nothing else in either chart enters the score — not the Lagna, not Venus or Mars, not the seventh house.
That is a strength and a limit. It makes the result objective and repeatable, since two astrologers given the same birth details will reach the same number. It also means the score describes temperamental and instinctive fit — how two minds sit together — and says nothing directly about careers, health, or the timing of events in the marriage.
The three heaviest kootas
Nadi, Bhakoot and Gana carry 8, 7 and 6 points — 21 of the 36 between them — so they decide most outcomes.
Nadi assigns every nakshatra to one of three constitutions. Partners with different nadis receive the full 8 points; partners with the same nadi receive none, which is called Nadi dosha. The three groups are:
- Aadi: Ashwini, Ardra, Punarvasu, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Jyeshtha, Mula, Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada
- Madhya: Bharani, Mrigashira, Pushya, Purva Phalguni, Chitra, Anuradha, Purva Ashadha, Dhanishtha, Uttara Bhadrapada
- Antya: Krittika, Rohini, Ashlesha, Magha, Swati, Vishakha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Revati
Bhakoot looks at how far one Moon sign is from the other. Three relationships score zero in the classical table — when the signs are 2nd and 12th, 5th and 9th, or 6th and 8th from each other; every other pairing scores the full 7.
Gana compares temperament. The nine Deva nakshatras are Ashwini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Shravana, Revati; the nine Rakshasa nakshatras are Krittika, Ashlesha, Magha, Chitra, Vishakha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Dhanishtha, Shatabhisha; the remaining nine are Manushya. Two people of the same gana score the full 6 points; a Rakshasa–Manushya pairing scores lowest.
The other five
- Varna groups the signs into four classes by element — water, fire, earth and air — and checks that the pair are compatible in outlook.
- Vashya groups the signs into five types and asks how naturally each partner accommodates the other.
- Tara counts from one birth star to the other in cycles of nine; certain counts are favourable and others are not.
- Yoni gives each nakshatra an animal symbol and scores the pair by how those animals relate — from natural friends to natural enemies.
- Graha Maitri compares the planets that rule the two Moon signs, using the standard table of planetary friendships.
Reading the total
The figure most often quoted is that 18 points out of 36 — half — is the minimum for a match to be considered. Scores in the mid-twenties are regarded as good and scores above 30 as very good. These bands are convention rather than scripture, and they vary a little between astrologers.
A high score with a zero in Nadi or Bhakoot is treated more cautiously than a moderate score with points spread evenly. The classical texts also list exceptions that cancel Nadi and Bhakoot dosha in particular cases — for example when the two Moon signs are ruled by the same planet — so a zero in one koota is the start of a closer look, not the end of the discussion.
What the score leaves out
A responsible matching goes on to check several things the eight kootas cannot see:
- Mangal dosha in both charts, and whether it is cancelled
- The seventh house and its lord in each chart, and the condition of Venus and Jupiter
- The Navamsa of each person, which is the principal chart for marriage
- The dashas each partner will be running in the years ahead
Regional practice differs too. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala the usual method is the ten-porutham system rather than the eight kootas. The two overlap heavily but are scored differently.
Guna milan is a traditional tool for reflection and conversation between families. It is not a guarantee of how a marriage will go, and it is no substitute for the two people involved knowing each other.
Frequently asked questions
- How many gunas should match for marriage?
- The commonly quoted minimum is 18 out of 36. Around 24 or more is generally considered good. These are conventions, and most astrologers weigh which kootas scored the points as well as the total.
- What is Nadi dosha?
- It arises when both partners' birth stars belong to the same nadi, so the Nadi koota scores 0 of its 8 points. Classical texts list several conditions under which it is considered cancelled.
- What is Bhakoot dosha?
- It arises when the two Moon signs are 2nd and 12th, 5th and 9th, or 6th and 8th from each other, so the Bhakoot koota scores 0 of its 7 points. Like Nadi dosha it has recognised exceptions.
- Is a high guna score enough to confirm a match?
- No. The score is drawn only from the two Moons. A fuller assessment also considers Mangal dosha, the seventh house, the Navamsa charts and the dashas ahead.
- Is guna milan the same as the free compatibility tool?
- No. Astronaad's free Compatibility tool is a Western-style synastry of planetary aspects. The 36-point Vedic guna milan is part of the Matchmaking report.
Work it out for yourself
These tools compute what this guide explains, from real astronomical positions.
- Matchmaking →The full 36-point Ashtakoot score with Mangal dosha check.
- Love Compatibility →Free synastry between two birth dates.
How this guide was written
The reference tables on this page are generated from the same data Astronaad’s calculators run on, so the guide and the tools cannot disagree. Where classical authorities differ, the text says so and names the convention Astronaad follows. Astrology is a traditional system of interpretation: nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.