Kundli milan · Guna milan

Kundali matching, explained simply.

Kundali matching compares two birth charts before marriage. Here is how the 36 guna score works, what it means, and how to check yours for free.

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What is kundali matching?

Kundali matching, also called kundli milan or guna milan, is an old Vedic way to check if two people suit each other for marriage. It mainly compares the Moon in both birth charts. The Moon shows the mind, feelings and daily nature, so it matters a lot in married life.

The most common method in North and West India is called Ashtakoot. "Ashta" means eight and "koot" means part. It looks at eight areas and gives points for each. The total is out of 36, which is why people call it 36 gun milan.

The 8 kootas and their points

Varna (1 point): the basic nature and outlook of each person.
Vashya (2 points): natural attraction, and how much each person influences the other.
Tara (3 points): how the two birth stars (nakshatras) sit with each other. It is linked to luck and well-being.
Yoni (4 points): physical nature and closeness, shown by an animal symbol for each nakshatra.
Graha Maitri (5 points): friendship between the lords of both Moon signs. It shows how well your minds match.
Gana (6 points): temperament. Each nakshatra is Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa.
Bhakoot (7 points): how the two Moon signs are placed from each other. It is linked to family life and money together.
Nadi (8 points): the biggest koota. It is traditionally linked to health and children.

Add them up and you get 36.

What is a good guna score?

Traditionally, 18 or more out of 36 is considered acceptable for marriage. A score in the high 20s or 30s is seen as a strong match. Below 18, many families take a closer look before deciding.

The total is not the whole story. Two kootas get extra attention because they carry the most points:

Nadi dosha: both people have the same nadi, so Nadi gets 0 points.
Bhakoot dosha: the two Moon signs sit 6 and 8, 5 and 9, or 2 and 12 places apart, so Bhakoot gets 0 points.

Traditional texts also list exceptions where these doshas are softened or cancelled. So a dosha in your result is a reason to look deeper, not a reason to panic.

What about Mangal dosha?

Mangal dosha, or being Manglik, comes from where Mars sits in the birth chart. It is very common. Many people have it, and it often cancels out, for example when both partners have it. It is checked separately from the 36 gunas.

How Karmik does kundali matching

Enter both people's date, time and place of birth. Karmik works out both charts with real astronomy. Planet positions come from the Astronomy Engine library, which is tested against NASA JPL data. It uses the Lahiri ayanamsa, the standard followed by most Indian astrologers.

The matching score is free. You see the total out of 36, all 8 kootas with their points, and the Nadi and Bhakoot checks.

If you want more, the detailed compatibility report reads both full charts. It covers Ashtakoot, Mangal dosha, the dasha periods both partners are running, and simple remedies like mantras and daily practices. It does not push expensive gemstones.

You can also ask your own questions, like "Will our families agree?" or "Is this a good year to marry?" Answers come in the language you type in: English, Hindi, Hinglish, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and more.

A note on porutham

In South India, many families use the 10 porutham system instead. It overlaps with Ashtakoot, but it is not the same. Karmik uses Ashtakoot, so keep that in mind if your family follows porutham.

Common questions

Can I do kundali matching by name only?

Name matching only guesses the birth star from the first sound of a name, so it is a rough shortcut. A proper match needs the date, time and place of birth for both people. Karmik uses full birth details.

Is 18 gunas enough for marriage?

Traditionally, 18 or more out of 36 is considered acceptable. Astrologers also look at Nadi, Bhakoot, Mangal dosha and the full charts. Treat the score as guidance, not a final answer.

Is kundali matching free on Karmik?

Yes. The guna milan score, all 8 kootas and the Nadi and Bhakoot checks are free. The detailed compatibility report is paid, or included in Karmik Pro.

What if our guna score is low?

A low score is not a verdict. It is one input among many. Look at the full picture, including how well the two of you understand each other, and talk it through with your families.