Kundali matching: the 36 gunas explained
Ashtakoota milan compares two birth charts through eight factors (kootas), all taken from the Moon: its nakshatra and its sign. Each koota carries a fixed number of points, and together they add up to 36 gunas.
| Koota | Points | What it compares |
|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Spiritual and temperamental class, taken from the Moon sign. |
| Vashya | 2 | Mutual attraction and influence, taken from the Moon sign's category. |
| Tara | 3 | Birth-star compatibility, counted from one nakshatra to the other. |
| Yoni | 4 | The animal nature of each nakshatra, and whether the two animals are friends or adversaries. |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Friendship between the lords of the two Moon signs. |
| Gana | 6 | Temperament: Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa. |
| Bhakoot | 7 | The distance between the two Moon signs. |
| Nadi | 8 | Adi, Madhya or Antya; the same Nadi in both charts is the traditional Nadi dosha. |
| Total | 36 |
Reading the score
Tradition treats 18 of 36 as the usual minimum, and higher scores as easier agreement. The total is only a summary: a low Nadi or Bhakoot score matters more to most astrologers than a missing Varna point, and a high total does not describe a relationship on its own.
The two doshas people ask about
Nadi dosha: both charts share the same Nadi, giving 0 of 8 points. Bhakoot dosha: the Moon signs sit in a 2-12, 5-9 or 6-8 relationship, giving 0 of 7. Classical texts list exceptions that cancel both, which is why the breakdown matters more than the number.
The nakshatra each koota draws on is described in the guide to the 27 nakshatras.
Questions
How many gunas should match for marriage?
Tradition treats 18 or more of 36 as acceptable, while also weighing Nadi and Bhakoot on their own.
What is Nadi dosha?
It occurs when both people's Moon nakshatras share the same Nadi, which scores 0 of the 8 Nadi points.
Can Kundali matching be done without birth time?
Only roughly: the Moon moves about 13 degrees a day, so its nakshatra can change within the same date. An exact time gives the correct nakshatra and pada.