Kundli matching, the Ashta Koota or 36-point Guna Milan system, is the traditional Vedic first filter for marriage compatibility. Two charts are scored across eight kutas; the total runs from 0 to 36. Astrolium's free Kundli matching calculator runs the calculation on the Swiss Ephemeris with Lahiri ayanamsa and adds Manglik dosha analysis for both partners — no signup, results in under two seconds.
The eight-kuta system has been in continuous use in Indian arranged-marriage astrology for centuries. It is widely treated as a screening step before family meetings rather than a final verdict, but a low score raises questions that families and astrologers typically want to examine before proceeding. The output includes a recommendation level, but the reasoning is shown alongside so you can read the chart yourself.
What the 36-point system measures
Each kuta carries a different weight. Nadi tops the list at 8 points because classical texts treat it as the single most important predictor for progeny and health continuity. Bhakoot at 7 covers prosperity and family harmony. Gana at 6 reads temperament — Deva (gentle), Manushya (human), Rakshasa (intense). Graha Maitri at 5 measures the friendship between the two Moon-sign rulers. Yoni at 4 covers physical and sexual rapport. Tara at 3 tracks how the partners' nakshatras support each other's longevity. Vashya at 2 covers mutual attraction and respect for boundaries. Varna at 1 measures spiritual compatibility through the Moon-sign element.
| Kuta | Max points | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Nadi | 8 | Health, progeny |
| Bhakoot | 7 | Prosperity, family |
| Gana | 6 | Temperament fit |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Mental compatibility |
| Yoni | 4 | Physical / sexual rapport |
| Tara | 3 | Longevity, well-being |
| Vashya | 2 | Mutual attraction |
| Varna | 1 | Spiritual / ego layer |
The standard reading threshold is 18 of 36 — below that, the match is usually not recommended without specific remedies or a strong cancelling factor. Eighteen to 24 is acceptable, 24 to 28 is good, and 28 to 36 is excellent. Astrolium colour-codes the total accordingly.
How to read each kuta
Score alone does not tell the whole story. Some kutas matter more for specific concerns, and a low score in one can be balanced by strength in another. The calculator shows each kuta separately with a verdict line so you can see the structure underneath the headline number.
Nadi. When both partners have the same Nadi (Adi, Madhya, or Antya), the score is zero and the result is flagged as Nadi Dosha. Some lineages treat same-rashi or same-nakshatra placements as full cancellation; others limit cancellation to specific nakshatra pairs. Astrolium surfaces the applicable cancellation rules in the result.
Bhakoot. Calculated from the Moon-sign distance between the two charts. The 6/8, 9/5, and 2/12 axes score zero. Other axes score the full 7. Bhakoot can be read in tandem with Graha Maitri — when the planetary rulers are friendly, a difficult Bhakoot loses some of its sting.
Gana. Three categories (Deva, Manushya, Rakshasa) mapped from the Moon's nakshatra. Same-Gana scores full points; Deva-Manushya scores partial; Manushya-Rakshasa or Deva-Rakshasa scores low. Gana matters most for daily compatibility — how the two energies settle into a shared life.
Yoni. Each nakshatra corresponds to one of 14 animal yonis (horse, elephant, snake, dog, etc.). Same-yoni scores full; friendly pairings score partial; enemy pairings (like cat-and-dog) score zero. Yoni is the layer to look at for physical and sexual rapport.
Manglik Dosha analysis, included
The standalone Manglik dosha calculator gives a deep single-chart read; Kundli matching adds the partner comparison. Both partners are checked against the Lagna, Moon, and Venus, then the calculator reports the combined verdict. When both partners share the status — both Manglik, or neither — the dosha is traditionally treated as cancelled.
Manglik severity in the output is one of three values: none, partial, or full. Partial means Mars afflicts from one reference point. Full means Mars afflicts from two or three. The matching result uses the more severe partner as the headline when the two charts differ.
For a full Vedic chart with Vimshottari dasha, see the Vedic birth chart calculator. For background on Jyotish methodology, see the Vedic astrology guide.
What the calculator does not replace
Kundli matching is a first filter, not a complete reading. A serious astrologer will also examine the 7th house in both charts (the marriage house), the strength of Venus and Jupiter, the Navamsa or D9 chart for marriage indications specifically, and the current and upcoming dasha periods to time the marriage. The 36-point score is descriptive; the rest of the chart explains the texture.
The calculator also does not consider compatibility factors outside the classical system — communication styles, family backgrounds, financial alignment, shared values — which matter in their own right. Read the result as one input among many, not as a verdict.
Cross-link
For the full Vedic chart, see the Vedic birth chart calculator. For the standalone Mars-affliction check, run the Manglik dosha calculator. For Western relationship analysis, see the synastry calculator and the composite chart calculator. For Jyotish background, see the Vedic astrology guide.