Vedic Compatibility (Kundli Matching): Complete Guide

Ashtakoot means "eight groups" and refers to the eight factors (Koots) assessed in Guna Milan. Each factor carries a specific maximum point value, and the total maximum score is 36. A score of 18 or above (50%) is generally considered acceptable for marriage. Scores above 24 are considered excellent, and scores below 18 raise compatibility concerns that warrant deeper analysis.

Varna (1 point maximum) assesses spiritual compatibility by comparing the Varna (spiritual class) of each partner's Nakshatra. The four Varnas are Brahmin (priestly, intellectual), Kshatriya (warrior, administrative), Vaishya (merchant, commercial), and Shudra (service-oriented). The groom's Varna should ideally be equal to or higher than the bride's for this point to be awarded. This factor carries the least weight, reflecting that spiritual orientation, while relevant, is the least critical factor in daily married life.

Vashya (2 points maximum) measures the degree of mutual attraction and magnetic pull between partners. It categorizes Rashis (Moon signs) into five types — Chatushpada (quadruped), Manava (human), Jalachara (water creature), Vanachara (wild animal), and Keeta (insect) — and assesses which combinations produce natural mutual attraction. Full Vashya compatibility suggests that partners will naturally gravitate toward each other and maintain magnetic interest over time.

Tara (3 points maximum) evaluates the health and wellbeing compatibility based on the relative position of each partner's birth Nakshatra. The 27 Nakshatras are divided into nine groups of three, and the relative group position determines whether the Tara is favorable, neutral, or unfavorable. This factor is believed to influence the couple's physical health and vitality when together.

Yoni (4 points maximum) assesses sexual and temperamental compatibility through the animal symbols assigned to each Nakshatra. Each Nakshatra is associated with a male or female form of one of 14 animals (horse, elephant, sheep, serpent, dog, cat, rat, cow, buffalo, tiger, deer, monkey, mongoose, lion). Same-animal pairings score highest, friendly-animal pairings score moderately, and enemy-animal pairings (like cat-rat or serpent-mongoose) score zero. Despite its sexual connotation, Yoni compatibility reflects broader temperamental harmony.

Graha Maitri (5 points maximum) measures the friendship between the ruling planets of each partner's Moon sign. If the Moon sign lords are mutual friends (like Jupiter and Mars), full points are awarded. Neutral relationships score partially, and enmity (like Sun and Saturn) scores zero. This factor reflects how well the couple's fundamental natures harmonize at the planetary level.

Gana (6 points maximum) assesses temperament compatibility. Each Nakshatra is classified as Deva (divine — gentle, refined), Manushya (human — balanced, pragmatic), or Rakshasa (fierce — intense, independent). Same-Gana matches score highest. Deva-Manushya scores moderately. Deva-Rakshasa and Manushya-Rakshasa combinations score lowest, reflecting the friction between gentle and fierce temperaments.

Bhakoota (7 points maximum) evaluates the relative position of the couple's Moon signs. Certain Moon sign combinations (like 2/12, 5/9, 6/8) are considered favorable or unfavorable based on the houses these signs activate from each other. This factor carries heavy weight because it reflects how the couple's emotional and financial energies interact.

Nadi (8 points maximum) is the single most weighted factor, assessing physiological and genetic compatibility. Each Nakshatra falls into one of three Nadis: Aadi (beginning), Madhya (middle), or Antya (end). Same-Nadi matches score zero and are considered the most serious compatibility red flag, as classical texts associate it with health issues for the couple and potential problems with progeny. Different-Nadi matches score the full 8 points.

The 36-point score provides a structured overview but should never be treated as an absolute verdict. Here is how to interpret the ranges realistically.

Scores below 18 (below 50%) indicate significant compatibility challenges across multiple dimensions. This does not mean the marriage will fail, but it suggests that the couple will need to actively work on areas of friction. Deeper chart analysis is strongly recommended to identify whether the low score reflects genuinely problematic combinations or simply neutral-scoring factors that do not actually cause problems in practice.

Scores between 18 and 24 (50-67%) represent acceptable compatibility. Most successful marriages fall in this range. The couple has enough harmony across the assessed dimensions to build a stable relationship, with some areas requiring conscious effort and compromise. This is a realistic, healthy score range that accommodates the natural differences between any two individuals.

Scores between 24 and 30 (67-83%) indicate strong compatibility across most dimensions. The couple naturally harmonizes in temperament, attraction, and fundamental nature. Relationships in this range tend to feel relatively effortless in their emotional dynamics, though external challenges (career, family, health) still require normal human navigation.

Scores above 30 (above 83%) represent exceptional compatibility on paper. While this is clearly positive, some astrologers caution that extremely high scores can indicate a relationship that is too comfortable, potentially lacking the creative tension that drives mutual growth. A high score also does not compensate for serious afflictions elsewhere in the individual charts.

The critical caveat: Guna Milan assesses only Nakshatra-based compatibility. It does not evaluate the overall strength of the 7th house in each chart, the condition of Venus (significator of marriage), the Dasha periods both partners will be running during the marriage, or the presence of serious Doshas. These factors can override a high Guna score or mitigate a low one.

Experienced Vedic astrologers never rely on Guna Milan alone. Several additional chart factors are essential for a truly comprehensive compatibility assessment.

The 7th house and its lord in each chart must be evaluated independently. A person with a severely afflicted 7th house (multiple malefics, debilitated 7th lord, 7th lord in the 6th or 8th house) faces marriage challenges regardless of how high their Guna Milan score is with a specific partner. Similarly, a strong 7th house can buffer a modest Guna score.

Venus's condition in both charts is critical. Venus is the natural significator (Karaka) of marriage, romance, and partnership. If Venus is combust, debilitated, or heavily afflicted in one partner's chart, they may struggle with the emotional and relational dimensions of marriage even with a perfectly compatible partner on paper.

Mangal Dosha comparison is the most widely known supplementary check. Both charts should be assessed for Mars's placement in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, and 12th houses, with attention to cancellation conditions. The principle that two Mangliks cancel each other's Dosha is widely applied.

The Navamsa (D9) charts of both partners should be compared, as the Navamsa is specifically associated with marriage. Favorable connections between the partners' Navamsa charts (planets in compatible signs, benefics influencing each other's 7th houses) strengthen the compatibility assessment beyond what Guna Milan alone reveals.

Finally, the Dasha periods both partners will be running during the early years of marriage are worth examining. If one partner enters a highly challenging Dasha (afflicted Saturn or Rahu period) shortly after marriage, the relationship will face pressure regardless of compatibility scores. Timing awareness allows couples to prepare for and navigate these periods consciously.

Nadi Dosha occurs when both partners share the same Nadi (Aadi, Madhya, or Antya), scoring zero on the most heavily weighted factor in Guna Milan. Classical texts associate same-Nadi matches with health problems for the couple and issues with progeny, making it the most feared compatibility defect in traditional marriage matching.

However, Nadi Dosha also has recognized cancellation conditions. If both partners share the same Moon sign (Rashi) but have different Nakshatras, the Nadi Dosha is significantly reduced. If both partners share the same Nakshatra but different Padas (quarters), the Dosha is also mitigated. If both partners share the same Nakshatra and same Pada, the Dosha is considered most severe, though even this has exceptions based on specific Nakshatras.

The physiological rationale often cited for Nadi Dosha is related to Ayurvedic constitution matching. Aadi Nadi corresponds roughly to Vata (air) constitution, Madhya to Pitta (fire), and Antya to Kapha (water). Same-Nadi couples may share constitutional vulnerabilities, leading to similar health weaknesses being amplified rather than balanced in their offspring. While this theory is not empirically validated by modern science, it reflects the ancient Indian approach of seeking complementary rather than identical constitutional types in marriage.

In practice, Nadi Dosha should be taken seriously but not treated as an absolute deal-breaker. Evaluate the cancellation conditions, check the overall chart compatibility (especially the 5th house, which governs children), and weigh the Nadi factor against the complete picture. Many happy, healthy marriages exist between same-Nadi partners, particularly when other compatibility factors are strong.

While the Ashtakoot system provides a valuable framework, modern practitioners recognize several important considerations that classical texts did not anticipate.

First, the system was designed for arranged marriages where the couple had limited prior interaction. In the context of love marriages, where partners have already demonstrated real-world compatibility through years of dating, a low Guna score should be weighed against lived experience rather than treated as a disqualifying verdict.

Second, the gender assumptions embedded in some Koots (like Varna, which traditionally requires the groom's Varna to be equal or higher) reflect historical social structures that may not align with modern values. Progressive practitioners either modify these factors or weight them less heavily in their assessments.

Third, the system is designed for heterosexual matches and does not directly address same-sex partnerships. The underlying principles of Nakshatra compatibility (temperamental harmony, magnetic attraction, constitutional balance) are gender-neutral, but the specific scoring rules may need adaptation for non-traditional pairings.

Fourth, long-distance and cross-cultural marriages introduce dynamics that Guna Milan was not designed to assess. A couple with a strong Guna score but fundamentally incompatible cultural expectations, communication styles, or life goals may struggle more than a low-scoring couple who shares deep alignment on values and lifestyle.

Kaala's approach to compatibility takes all these nuances into account. Jyoti presents the Guna Milan score alongside deeper chart analysis, Mangal Dosha assessment, and Dasha timing evaluation — giving you a holistic compatibility picture rather than a reductive numerical verdict.