Ashtakoota guna milan for two birth charts: the points for each of the eight kootas, out of 36.
Each koota compares the two Moon signs or birth stars. Together they give 36 points.
| Koota | Points | What it compares | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Compares the class (varna) the texts give each Moon sign. The rule asks that the bride’s sign not rank above the groom’s. | MC 6.22 |
| Vashya | 2 | Whether one Moon sign holds sway over the other, is friendly with it, hostile to it, or prey to it. Mutual sway scores highest. | MC 6.23 |
| Tara | 3 | Counts the birth stars from each partner to the other in cycles of nine. Counts of 3, 5 and 7 are unlucky. | MC 6.24 |
| Yoni | 4 | Each birth star has an animal. The same animal scores highest; natural enemies such as cat and rat score nothing. | MC 6.25–26 |
| Graha maitri | 5 | Whether the planets that rule the two Moon signs are natural friends. | MC 6.27–28 |
| Gana | 6 | Each birth star is deva, manushya or rakshasa. The same class means the most affection. | MC 6.30 |
| Bhakoot | 7 | The distance between the two Moon signs. Signs 6/8, 9/5 or 2/12 apart score nothing. | MC 6.31 |
| Nadi | 8 | Each birth star belongs to one of three nadis. The same nadi for both partners is the most serious fault. | MC 6.34 |
| Total | 36 | Adds the eight. More than 18 out of 36 is auspicious, and the higher the better. | MM v. 1 |
Muhurta Martanda (v. 1) calls a total above 18 of 36 auspicious, and its commentary adds that the higher the total, the better.
No text read gives grades at 18, 24 or 28, so the result shows the points and this one threshold.
A 0 in nadi, bhakoot or gana is a dosha. The texts set some aside: a bhakoot fault when the sign lords are friends or the same planet, the navamsa lords are friends, or tara or vashya agree, and only when nadi is clear (MC 6.32–33). Nadi and gana faults do not apply when the partners share a Moon sign but not a nakshatra, or a nakshatra but not a sign (MC 6.36).
Mangal dosha is checked by Khankhoje’s rule (1943, pp. 223–226). Counts from the Moon or Venus, and the 2nd house, are common practice, not in the texts read, so they are shown and never change the result.
Ashtakoota uses only the Moon’s sign and nakshatra, so a partner can be entered by birth star and pada alone. If the Moon changed sign or nakshatra on the birth date, the result says so. Mangal needs a lagna, so it is skipped for a partner entered by birth star.
The sample kundli’s subject, Example (Scorpio Moon, Anuradha 2), with a partner entered by birth star (Rohini 2): 26½ of 36.
Kundli milan, or kundli matching, compares two birth charts before a marriage. The Ashtakoota method used here scores eight factors, the kootas, from the Moon’s sign and nakshatra in each chart, out of 36 points in all.
Muhurta Martanda (v. 1) calls a total above 18 of 36 auspicious, and its commentary adds that the higher the total, the better.
Varna (1 point), vashya (2), tara (3), yoni (4), graha maitri (5), gana (6), bhakoot (7) and nadi (8).
Every nakshatra belongs to one of three nadis: adi, madhya or antya. When both partners share a nadi, nadi scores 0 of 8. Muhurta Chintamani (6.34) treats it as the most serious fault.
Bhakoot looks at the distance between the two Moon signs. Signs 6 and 8, 5 and 9, or 2 and 12 apart score 0 of 7 (Muhurta Chintamani 6.31).
The texts allow some exceptions, listed above. The result marks a cancelled fault with its reason; the points stay as scored.
Yes. Ashtakoota uses only the Moon’s sign and nakshatra, so a partner can be entered by birth star and pada alone.
Yes, by the one rule with a source: Mars in the 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house from the lagna (Khankhoje, 1943), with the same author’s cancellation.
Varna, vashya and gana are scored by direction in the texts. Each rule compares the bride’s sign or class with the groom’s.
Only when the birth details are missing. Muhurta Martanda (v. 54) says the birth star governs whenever it is known. Typing the name in Devanagari gives an exact reading.
Wedding dates for this couple: the year’s listed vivah dates at your wedding place, checked against both kundlis.
