Kundli Milan Explained: What the 36 Gunas Actually Measure

For many Indian families, matching horoscopes is one of the first steps after two profiles look promising. The most widely used method in North India is Ashtakoota Guna Milan — "matching of eight aspects" — which gives a couple a score out of 36 points. This article explains what those eight parts look at, so that the number on a match card means something to you.

Where the score comes from

Guna Milan is based mainly on the position of the Moon at the time of birth: the Moon sign (rashi) and the lunar mansion (nakshatra) of each person. That is why an accurate date, time and place of birth matter — the Moon moves from one nakshatra to the next roughly every day, so a wrong birth time can change the result.

When both people have added full birth details, the calculation uses them. If only the rashi and nakshatra are known, the match can still be calculated from those.

The eight kootas

Each koota has a maximum number of points. Together they add up to 36.

1. Varna (1 point) — compares the spiritual temperament associated with each Moon sign.
2. Vashya (2 points) — looks at mutual attraction and the balance of influence between the two.
3. Tara (3 points) — compares the birth nakshatras to judge general well-being and fortune together.
4. Yoni (4 points) — each nakshatra is linked to an animal symbol; this koota reflects physical and temperamental compatibility.
5. Graha Maitri (5 points) — checks the friendship between the lords of the two Moon signs, read as mental compatibility.
6. Gana (6 points) — classifies each nakshatra as Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa in nature, and compares them.
7. Bhakoot (7 points) — compares the relative positions of the two Moon signs; traditionally linked to family welfare and prosperity.
8. Nadi (8 points) — the highest-weighted koota, traditionally associated with health and children. Two people with the same nadi score zero here, which is called Nadi dosha.

How the total is usually read

Traditional practice reads the total roughly like this:

• Below 18: generally considered not recommended.
• 18 to 24: an acceptable match.
• 25 to 32: a good match.
• Above 32: an excellent match.

These bands are a convention, not a rule. Many astrologers also look at specific doshas — a low Bhakoot or Nadi score — and at whether they are cancelled by other factors, before drawing any conclusion.

What about Manglik dosha?

Separate from the 36 points, many families check whether either person is Manglik — whether Mars sits in certain houses of the birth chart. The traditional view is that a Manglik person is best matched with another Manglik, or that the effect is reduced by other placements. OpenShadi shows each person's Manglik status (as they entered it or as calculated) and notes whether the pair is traditionally considered compatible.

What the score cannot tell you

A Guna Milan score is a traditional compatibility indicator. It does not know whether two people share values, communicate well, want the same kind of life, or will treat each other with respect — and those are the things couples themselves say matter most over the years.

• Use the score as one input, alongside the conversations you have and what your families learn about each other.
• If a score is low but everything else feels right, many families consult an astrologer they trust for a full chart reading rather than relying on the total alone.
• If a score is high, it is still worth taking the time to know the person properly.

How it works on OpenShadi

When both you and a match have added birth details, the profile page shows your Guna Milan score with a koota-by-koota breakdown and the Manglik check. If either of you has not added them, the card simply asks you to add birth details — no score is guessed. Your own birth time is never shown to anyone else; only the result is shared with the person you are matched against.