Kundli Matching
Match two birth charts the traditional way: enter the boy's details, then the girl's, and see the gunas, the doshas and what they mean.
Kundli Matching
Enter boy's details
What we check
- Ashtakoota guna milan: the eight kootas, out of 36 gunas
- Manglik dosha for both, and whether it cancels
- Nadi, Bhakoot and Gana doshas, with their traditional exceptions
- A numerology match of the two birth dates
What is kundli matching?
Kundli matching (kundali milan, or guna milan) compares two birth charts before marriage. The classical method, Ashtakoota, compares the Moon's sign and nakshatra in both charts across eight kootas, worth 36 gunas (points) in all. The more gunas match, the better the two are traditionally thought to suit each other.
This page works it out from both birth dates, times and places, then checks Manglik dosha for both and the Nadi, Bhakoot and Gana doshas with their classical exceptions.
The eight kootas and their points
| Koota | Points | What it compares |
|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Temperament and outlook, from the class of each Moon sign |
| Vashya | 2 | Mutual attraction and the give and take between the two |
| Tara | 3 | Harmony of the birth stars (nakshatras), counted from each other |
| Yoni | 4 | Nature and physical compatibility, from the animal of each nakshatra |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Friendship of the two Moon sign lords: how the minds meet |
| Gana | 6 | Temperament: deva, manushya or rakshasa nakshatras |
| Bhakoot | 7 | How the two Moon signs stand to each other: family life and shared money |
| Nadi | 8 | The three nadis, read by tradition for the couple's constitution and children |
| Total | 36 |
Read more on each koota and how the points are counted: Ashtakoota guna milan explained
How many gunas should match?
Tradition asks for at least 18 of the 36 gunas. The total is read like this:
| Gunas | How tradition reads it |
|---|---|
| Below 18 | Traditionally not advised on its own; astrologers look for strength elsewhere in the two charts |
| 18 to 24 | Acceptable: an average match |
| 25 to 32 | Good: the two are well suited |
| 33 to 36 | Excellent: rarely found |
The score is one part of a match. A good score with a serious dosha, or a modest score with strong charts, are both read with the whole of the two kundlis.
Manglik, Nadi and Bhakoot dosha
- Manglik dosha: Mars in the 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house from the Lagna, Moon or Venus. When both partners are Manglik it is traditionally balanced, and several classical rules cancel it.
- Nadi dosha: both partners in the same nadi, which takes all 8 Nadi points away. It is cancelled when, for example, the two share a Moon sign but not a nakshatra, or their Moon sign lords are the same.
- Bhakoot dosha: the two Moon signs 6/8, 5/9 or 2/12 from each other. It is cancelled when the two sign lords are friends or the same planet.
The checks behind each dosha and their exceptions: Manglik dosha from the Lagna, Moon and Venus Nadi, Bhakoot and Gana dosha cancellations
What you need for kundli matching
- Both partners' date of birth.
- Both birth times, as close as you can (a birth certificate or the family's record). The Moon's nakshatra can change during a day, so the time matters.
- Both birth places (town or city), for the right time zone and sunrise.
Questions
How many gunas should match for marriage?
Tradition asks for at least 18 of the 36 gunas. 18 to 24 is read as an average match, 25 to 32 as good and 33 to 36 as excellent. The score is read together with the doshas and the two charts as a whole.
What is Nadi dosha?
Nadi dosha is when both partners' Moon nakshatras fall in the same nadi (Adi, Madhya or Antya), which takes the 8 Nadi points away. Classical rules cancel it in several cases, such as the same Moon sign with different nakshatras.
Can kundli matching be done by name?
Name matching guesses each nakshatra from the first syllable of the name, so it is a rough substitute. Matching by date, time and place of birth uses the real nakshatras, which is what this page does.
Can we match kundlis without the birth time?
Yes, from the dates and places, but the Moon can change nakshatra during a day, which changes several kootas. Add the times when you can for a dependable score.
What if both partners are Manglik?
When both are Manglik the dosha is traditionally balanced. It is also cancelled by several classical rules, such as Mars in its own or exaltation sign.
Is a low guna score a reason not to marry?
Not on its own. Tradition uses the score as a first guide; astrologers then read both charts, the doshas and their exceptions, and families decide with all of it in view.