Ashtakoota Guna Milan — “matching of qualities in eight groups” — is the most widely used method of kundli matching in north and west India. It compares two people on eight tests (kootas), each worth a fixed number of points (gunas), for a total of 36.
One thing surprises most people: it uses very little of the birth chart. Every koota is computed from just two quantities per person — the Moon’s rashi and the Moon’s nakshatra. Ashtakoota is a comparison of two Moons, not of two whole charts.
The eight kootas
The weights rise from one point to eight, and the heavier kootas are treated as the more serious tests. The table is read from this site’s matching engine.
| # | Koota | Points | What it is read for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varna | 1 | Spiritual and temperamental compatibility |
| 2 | Vashya | 2 | Mutual influence and the balance of authority |
| 3 | Tara | 3 | Health, fortune and destiny for one another |
| 4 | Yoni | 4 | Physical and intimate compatibility |
| 5 | Graha Maitri | 5 | Mental affinity, friendship and shared outlook |
| 6 | Gana | 6 | Temperament and disposition |
| 7 | Bhakoot | 7 | Prosperity of the household and family welfare |
| 8 | Nadi | 8 | Constitution, vitality and progeny |
| Total | 36 |
How each one is scored
- Varna (1) — each rashi has a varna; the point is given when the groom’s is not lower than the bride’s. It is the lightest of the eight tests.
- Vashya (2) — each rashi belongs to one of five groups (human, quadruped, water, wild, insect), and pairs of groups are scored 0 to 2. Sagittarius and Capricorn change group at 15°, so the Moon’s degree matters here.
- Tara (3) — count the nakshatras from one Moon to the other, in both directions, and reduce by nine. A remainder of 3, 5 or 7 (Vipat, Pratyari, Vadha) is unfavourable. Each direction is worth 1½ points.
- Yoni (4) — each nakshatra has an animal; the same animal scores 4, hostile pairs such as cat and rat score 0.
- Graha Maitri (5) — the natural friendship between the lords of the two Moon signs: 5 for mutual friends or the same lord, down to 0 for mutual enemies.
- Gana (6) — Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa temperament by nakshatra. Matching ganas score 6; Deva with Rakshasa scores little or nothing.
- Bhakoot (7) — the distance between the two Moon signs. Pairs that sit 2/12, 5/9 or 6/8 apart score 0; all others score 7.
- Nadi (8) — each nakshatra has one of three nadis. Different nadis score 8; the same nadi scores 0, which is Nadi Dosha.
Bhakoot and Nadi together carry 15 of the 36 points and are all-or-nothing, which is why they get their own article.
What the score means
The customary minimum is 18 of 36, half the total. This site grades the result on that basis:
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 32–36 | Excellent |
| 26–31 | Very good |
| 18–25 | Acceptable |
| 13–17 | Below threshold |
| 0–12 | Poor |
The bands above 18 are this site’s own labels, not a classical scale. The texts set the threshold; they do not grade above it.
What the score leaves out
- Mangal Dosha is not part of the 36 points. It is checked separately — see Mangal Dosha.
- Cancellations. The texts give exceptions under which a zero in Nadi or Bhakoot is not held against the match. The site lists them beside the score rather than silently adding points back.
- The rest of the chart. Because only the Moons are compared, traditional astrologers read both full charts before deciding, especially when the score is close to 18.
- Regional systems. In much of South India, matching uses the ten poruthams (Dasha Porutham) rather than Ashtakoota. This site computes Ashtakoota only.
Guna Milan is a traditional practice. A score describes what the tradition holds about two Moon positions; it is not evidence about a relationship.