Kundali Matching

Ashtakoot Guna Milan ("eight-fold merit matching") is the classical Vedic system for scoring the compatibility of two natal charts for marriage. Total possible: 36 points, distributed across eight kootas (compatibility axes). A minimum threshold of 18/36 is the classical "acceptable" line; 24+/36 is considered strong; 30+/36 is rare and excellent. But the raw score alone is only half the picture — Bhakoot dosha, Nadi dosha, and Manglik status can override or be cancelled by other placements, and a good astrologer weighs the felt-life implications of each koota separately rather than just checking the total.

Which chart goes in which side matters. Two of the eight kootas — Varna and Gana — are scored directionally in the classical tradition: the same two charts can score differently depending on which partner is the groom and which is the bride. Put the groom's details in the groom's section and the bride's in the bride's. This is not a formality — swapping them changes the result, because the tradition gives the two directions different verdicts.

• • Varna (1 point) — spiritual temperament comparison based on Moon-sign class (Brahmin/Kshatriya/Vaishya/Shudra). Bride's Varna should not exceed groom's.
• • Vashya (2 points) — mutual attraction based on Moon-sign category (human/quadruped/aquatic/etc). Certain pairings hold natural sway over others.
• • Tara (3 points) — nakshatra-star compatibility. Bhagya's tool credits position 8 (Ati-Mitra) as favourable per BPHS — most free tools mark it neutral, dropping a real classical positive.
• • Yoni (4 points) — animal-symbol compatibility of the birth nakshatras. 14 yoni types, with defined friend/enemy pairings.
• • Graha Maitri (5 points) — friendship between the Moon-lords of the two charts. The single most emotionally important koota.
• • Gana (6 points) — Deva / Manushya / Rakshasa temperament. Ideally match; Deva-Rakshasa is the most difficult.
• • Bhakoot (7 points) — 12-house Moon-sign distance. Certain distances (6-8, 5-9, 2-12) traditionally score zero. Cancellations Bhagya applies: same rashi-lord for both partners, or Naisargika (natural) friendship between the two Moon-lords.
• • Nadi (8 points) — the highest-weight koota, ostensibly about progeny and hereditary compatibility. Same-Nadi pairings score zero. Cancellations Bhagya applies: same nakshatra but different padas, or same rashi with different nakshatras.

Manglik (Mangal) Dosh is the classical concern about Mars-placement causing marital friction. Bhagya's matching applies the FULL classical evaluation, not just "Mars in 1st/4th/7th/8th/12th house from Lagna". We also check Mars from the Moon and Mars from Venus (the three-axis rule), and apply every classical cancellation — bride+groom both Manglik cancels the dosha; Mars in own or exalted sign cancels; Jupiter aspecting the 7th house cancels; Mars in Libra (fall) is not counted; and more. Read the full Manglik Dosh explainer for the classical logic.