In this guide
Quick answer
How Kundli matching works: the eight kootas of Guna Milan, how many gunas should match for marriage, Nadi and Bhakoot dosha, and what a score really tells you.
Kundli Matching: The 36 Gunas Explained
Kundli matching, also called Kundli Milan or Guna Milan, is the traditional Vedic method of checking compatibility before marriage. It compares the Moon in both birth charts across eight factors, the Ashtakoota, worth a combined 36 points.
The eight kootas
| Koota | Max points | What it checks | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Spiritual and work compatibility | Moon sign |
| Vashya | 2 | Mutual attraction and influence | Moon sign |
| Tara | 3 | Health and wellbeing | Nakshatras |
| Yoni | 4 | Physical and intimate harmony | Nakshatras |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Mental compatibility, friendship | Moon-sign lords |
| Gana | 6 | Temperament | Nakshatras |
| Bhakoot | 7 | Love, family welfare, prosperity | Moon signs |
| Nadi | 8 | Health and progeny | Nakshatras |
The kootas are weighted so that the deepest areas, health, family and temperament, count the most.
How many gunas should match?
| Score | Traditional view |
|---|---|
| Below 18 | Not recommended without further analysis |
| 18–24 | Acceptable / good |
| 25–32 | Very good |
| 33–36 | Excellent |
The three doshas astrologers check first
Nadi dosha (0 of 8)
Every nakshatra belongs to one of three Nadis: Aadi, Madhya or Antya. When both partners share a Nadi, Nadi koota scores zero. It's traditionally linked to health and progeny concerns. It is cancelled in several cases, for example when both Moons are in the same sign but different nakshatras.
Bhakoot dosha (0 of 7)
Bhakoot looks at the distance between the two Moon signs. A 2/12, 5/9 or 6/8 relationship scores zero. It's usually cancelled when the two sign lords are friends or the same planet.
Gana dosha
A Rakshasa (fierce) temperament paired with Deva or Manushya scores low on Gana and is said to cause friction.
Beyond the number
Guna Milan only uses the Moon. A complete compatibility reading also compares:
- the 7th house and its lord in both charts
- Venus and Mars
- the Navamsa (D9) chart
- Manglik dosha
- the running dasha periods
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Match two charts
Use our free Kundli matching tool. Enter both partners' birth date, time and city to get all eight koota scores with explanations and a Manglik check for each person.