Guide
How Ashtakoot matching works
The eight parts of the 36-point match, and what each part looks at.
Ashtakoot (eight-fold) matching compares the Moon sign and Moon nakshatra of two people and gives points out of 36. It is the most widely used form of kundali matching in North India.
| Koota | Points | Based on | What it looks at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Moon sign | A traditional ordering of temperament and work orientation. It gives one point, if the groom's varna is equal or higher. |
| Vashya | 2 | Moon sign | Mutual influence and ease of influence between the two signs, grouped by type of sign. |
| Tara | 3 | Moon nakshatra | Compatibility of the two birth stars, counted in groups of nine from each person's nakshatra, with auspicious and inauspicious remainders. |
| Yoni | 4 | Moon nakshatra | Physical and instinctive compatibility. Each nakshatra is assigned an animal symbol, and some pairs are friendly while others are enemies. |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Moon sign lord | Whether the lords of the two Moon signs are friends, neutral or enemies. It is read as mental compatibility and shared outlook. |
| Gana | 6 | Moon nakshatra | Temperament, divided into Deva (gentle), Manushya (human) and Rakshasa (intense). Same or friendly types score well. |
| Bhakoot | 7 | Moon sign | The relative position of the two Moon signs. Some distances, such as 2/12, 5/9 and 6/8, are traditionally considered difficult; this part is tied to family and emotional wellbeing. |
| Nadi | 8 | Moon nakshatra | Health and constitution, in three types. Partners from the same nadi score nothing here, and the texts list exceptions. |
| Total | 36 |
Adding it up
Add the eight scores for a total out of 36. As a rough guide used by many astrologers, 18 is the minimum for a match to be considered acceptable, and over 24 is considered good. Our reports use bands: 32 and above excellent, 28 very good, 24 good, 18 average, 12 below average and under 12 low.
The score is only one lens. It compares two Moons and ignores the rest of both charts, and several exceptions (koota doshas that are cancelled, for example) are described in the traditional texts. A full compatibility report explains each part, the exceptions that apply and the Mangal dosha of each chart, so that the number is not used on its own.
The method is not symmetric: some parts depend on which person is treated as the groom and which as the bride, so the order of the two people matters.
Related
See it in your own chart
The terms on this page appear in every birth chart report, explained for your own planets and dates.