Kundli matching explained

Kundli matching — Guna Milan or Ashtakoota Milan — is the North Indian method of comparing two horoscopes before marriage. It looks only at each partner’s natal Moon: its sign and its nakshatra.

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1. Varna (1 point)

Each Moon sign belongs to one of four varnas. The groom’s varna should be equal to or higher than the bride’s for the point to be awarded.

2. Vashya (2 points)

Signs are grouped as quadruped (Aries, Taurus, second half of Sagittarius, first half of Capricorn), human (Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Aquarius, first half of Sagittarius), water (Cancer, Pisces, second half of Capricorn), wild (Leo) and insect (Scorpio). Same group scores 2; other combinations score between 0 and 1.

3. Tara (3 points)

Count from one partner’s nakshatra to the other’s and divide by nine. Remainders 3, 5 and 7 (Vipat, Pratyari and Naidhana tara) are inauspicious. The count is made in both directions, each worth 1.5 points.

4. Yoni (4 points)

Each nakshatra is assigned an animal. The same animal scores 4; natural enemies — horse and buffalo, elephant and lion, sheep and monkey, serpent and mongoose, dog and deer, cat and rat, cow and tiger — score 0.

5. Graha Maitri (5 points)

Compares the lords of the two Moon signs using natural planetary friendship. The same lord or mutual friends score 5; friend and neutral 4; both neutral 3; friend and enemy 1; neutral and enemy 0.5; mutual enemies 0.

6. Gana (6 points)

Nakshatras are Deva (divine), Manushya (human) or Rakshasa (demonic) in temperament. The same gana scores 6; Deva with Manushya scores 5–6; Rakshasa with Deva scores 1; Rakshasa with Manushya scores 0.

7. Bhakoot (7 points)

Counts the distance between the two Moon signs. The pairs 2/12, 5/9 and 6/8 cause Bhakoot Dosha and score 0; all other combinations score 7. A commonly cited cancellation applies when both Moon signs share the same lord or their lords are mutual friends.

8. Nadi (8 points)

Each nakshatra belongs to one of three nadis. Different nadis score 8; the same nadi scores 0 — Nadi Dosha, the most discussed dosha in matching.

Traditional exceptions include both Moons in the same sign but different nakshatras, or the same nakshatra but different padas.

Reading the total

Conventions used by our calculator

Traditions vary slightly in the Vashya and Gana tables. We use the most widely published North Indian tables, take the Moon’s sidereal position with the Lahiri ayanamsha, and list dosha exceptions separately instead of silently changing the score.