Kundali Matching by Date of Birth: Guna Milan Score for Marriage

How Is the Kundali Matching Score Calculated?

The score comes from the Ashtakoota system, also called Guna Milan or Koota Milan. Each of the 8 kootas compares one part of the 2 Moon charts and carries a fixed number of points. Together they add up to 36.

Koota	What it compares	Points
Varna	Temperament and outlook, from the Moon sign	1
Vashya	Mutual attraction and influence	2
Tara	The distance between the 2 nakshatras	3
Yoni	Physical nature and intimacy	4
Graha Maitri	Friendship between the 2 Moon sign lords	5
Gana	Nature: Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa	6
Bhakoot	The distance between the 2 Moon signs	7
Nadi	Constitution, from the nakshatra	8

Varna, Vashya and Gana are read from the groom to the bride, so the order of the 2 profiles can change the score. Tara is counted both ways. The full scoring rules and tables for each koota are in Guna Milan Explained.

A Worked Example

Take a groom with the Moon in Rohini and a bride with the Moon in Mrigashira. Both Moons sit in Taurus.

A shared Moon sign gives full points in Varna (1), Vashya (2), Graha Maitri (5) and Bhakoot (7). Rohini to Mrigashira is the 2nd star, and Mrigashira back to Rohini is the 27th. Both counts are benefic, so Tara gives 3. Both nakshatras have the snake yoni, which gives 4.

Rohini is Manushya Gana and Mrigashira is Deva Gana. A Manushya groom with a Deva bride scores 5 of 6. Rohini is Antya Nadi and Mrigashira is Madhya Nadi, so Nadi gives the full 8. The total is 35 out of 36.

Swap the 2 profiles and Gana gives 6, for a total of 36. This is why the calculator asks for the groom and the bride separately.

How Many Gunas Should Match for Marriage?

Tradition asks for at least 18 of the 36 gunas. Your result falls in one of these bands:

Score	Reading
0 to 17	Below the traditional minimum. Read both full charts before deciding.
18 to 24	Acceptable. Some kootas need attention.
25 to 32	Good agreement between the 2 Moon charts.
33 to 36	Excellent agreement.

The total is only part of the result. A score of 26 with 0 in Nadi asks for more care than a score of 22 with full points in Nadi and Bhakoot. Look at the points for each koota, starting with the 2 heaviest.

Doshas in Kundali Matching

A koota that scores 0 is called a dosha. Nadi, Bhakoot and Gana carry the most weight in a match.

• Nadi Dosha: both Moons fall in the same Nadi, so Nadi gives 0 of 8. It is cancelled when the 2 share a Moon sign in different nakshatras, or share a nakshatra in different signs or padas.
• Bhakoot Dosha: the Moon signs sit 2/12, 5/9 or 6/8 from each other, so Bhakoot gives 0 of 7. It is set aside when one planet rules both Moon signs, or when the 2 lords are mutual friends.
• Gana Dosha: one partner is Rakshasa Gana and the other is not. The same rule on the Moon sign lords sets it aside.

When an exception applies, the dosha is no longer held against the match. For what the tradition says about a shared Nadi and its remedies, read Nadi Dosha in Kundali Matching.

Mangal Dosha sits outside the 36 points. Families often check it alongside the guna score, so run each partner's chart through the Manglik calculator as well.

What the Guna Score Does Not Show

Guna Milan reads the 2 Moons alone. It shows where the 2 natures agree with ease and where they will need patience.

The rest of each chart decides how a marriage unfolds. An astrologer reads the 7th house and its lord, Venus and Jupiter, the navamsa, and the dashas running for both partners. A strong 7th house in both charts can carry a modest score well.

Use the score as the first filter, then have both full charts read together before any decision.

Frequently asked questions

How many gunas are needed for marriage?

Tradition asks for at least 18 of the 36 gunas. A score from 18 to 24 is acceptable, 25 to 32 is good and 33 to 36 is excellent. Check the points for Nadi and Bhakoot as well as the total.

Which guna is the most important in kundali matching?

Nadi carries the most weight at 8 points, followed by Bhakoot at 7 and Gana at 6. These 3 kootas hold 21 of the 36 points. A 0 in any of them is a dosha unless an exception cancels it.

Can kundali matching be done by name?

Yes, when birth details are not known. The first syllable of each name gives a nakshatra, and matching runs from those. A match from the actual birth details is more accurate, so use the date, time and place of birth when you have them.

Do we need the exact birth time for kundali matching?

The birth time matters when the Moon changed nakshatra or sign on the day of birth. The Moon moves about 13° a day and a nakshatra spans 13°20', so a few hours can change the result. The Nakshatra calculator shows the Moon nakshatra and pada for each partner.

Does the order of bride and groom matter?

Yes. Varna, Vashya and Gana are read from the groom to the bride, so swapping the 2 profiles can change the score. Enter each person in the right field.

Is janmakshar or patrika matching the same as kundali matching?

Yes. Janmakshar, patrika and jathakam are regional names for the horoscope, and their matching is the same practice. South Indian families often use the 10-porutham system. This calculator uses the 36-point Ashtakoota method.

Should we marry if the guna score is low?

A low score asks for a closer look at both charts before any decision. Check which kootas scored 0 and whether an exception cancels them. The 7th house, Venus and the dashas of both partners decide more than the total alone.