What is Kundli matching?
Kundli matching (Kundli Milan or Guna Milan) compares the Moon placements of two people to judge how well they will get along in marriage. The North Indian method, Ashtakoot, scores eight factors (kootas) for a total of 36 points. Each koota looks at a different part of married life, from temperament and attraction to health and family harmony.
Because the Moon changes nakshatra roughly once a day, the date of birth matters most. An accurate birth time matters when the Moon was close to a boundary, and it is needed for a reliable Manglik check from the Lagna.
The 8 kootas and their points
| Koota | Points | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Spiritual and working compatibility, ego balance |
| Vashya | 2 | Mutual attraction and influence |
| Tara | 3 | Health, wellbeing and fortune of the couple |
| Yoni | 4 | Physical and sexual compatibility |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Mental wavelength through the Moon-sign lords |
| Gana | 6 | Temperament: Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa |
| Bhakoot | 7 | Family welfare, finances and emotional bond |
| Nadi | 8 | Health and progeny; the heaviest koota |
How to read your guna score
- 33–36: Excellent. Rare and highly harmonious.
- 25–32: Very good. A strong foundation; most successful matches fall here.
- 18–24: Average. Acceptable for marriage. Check the doshas and both full charts.
- Below 18: Not recommended by tradition, unless the full charts show strong support.
The score is a starting point, not a verdict. Astrologers also read both full birth charts, the 7th house, Venus, the running Dasha and the doshas before advising on a match.
Nadi, Bhakoot and Manglik dosha
Nadi dosha occurs when both partners share the same Nadi, so the koota scores 0 of 8. Classical texts list exceptions, such as both Moons in the same rashi but different nakshatras.
Bhakoot dosha occurs when the Moon signs are 2/12, 5/9 or 6/8 from each other. It is commonly cancelled when both signs share a lord or the lords are friends.
Manglik dosha comes from Mars in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house. Astrolal checks it from both the Lagna and the Moon. When both partners are Manglik, tradition considers the dosha balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many gunas should match for marriage?+–
At least 18 of 36 is traditionally considered acceptable, and 25 or more is considered very good. The doshas and both full charts matter as much as the number.
Can I do Kundli matching without a birth time?+–
Yes. Ashtakoot uses the Moon, which moves about 13° a day, so the date alone is usually enough. If the Moon changed nakshatra on that day, Astrolal warns you and shows both possibilities. The Lagna-based Manglik check needs an accurate time.
Is Kundli matching by name accurate?+–
Name-based matching uses the first syllable to guess the nakshatra and is only an approximation. Matching by date, time and place of birth calculates the actual Moon position and is far more reliable.
What if our score is low?+–
A low score is not a final answer. Supportive 7th houses, compatible Navamsa charts and cancelled doshas can outweigh it. Read both full Kundlis before deciding.
Which ayanamsha does Astrolal use?+–
Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsha, the standard used by most Indian astrologers and panchangs.
Is my birth data stored?+–
Birth details are sent only to calculate the match and are not saved on our servers. If you tick “Remember”, the profiles are kept only on your device so other Astrolal tools can fill them in.