Kundli Milan Explained: How 36-Gun (Ashtakoota) Matching Works
Kundli milan — also called gun milan or ashtakoota matching — is the classical Vedic method of assessing marriage compatibility from two birth charts. It compares the positions of the Moon in both charts across eight dimensions (kootas), awarding up to 36 points in total.
The eight kootas are: Varna (1 point, temperament hierarchy), Vashya (2, mutual influence), Tara (3, star auspiciousness), Yoni (4, instinctive compatibility), Graha Maitri (5, mental wavelength via moon-sign lords), Gana (6, basic nature), Bhakoot (7, life-rhythm harmony) and Nadi (8, constitutional harmony).
By convention, 18+ points is considered acceptable, 24+ very good, and 28+ excellent. But the number alone is never the full reading: classical texts list specific cancellations (dosha-bhanga) for low-scoring kootas — especially Nadi and Bhakoot — and prescribe remedies where doshas stand. A 16-point match can be workable; a 30-point match still benefits from a manglik check.
Run a free 36-gun match below — you'll get the full koota-by-koota breakdown, not just a number.
FAQ
18 or more out of 36 is conventionally acceptable; 24+ is very good and 28+ excellent. Low Nadi or Bhakoot scores deserve a closer look at classical cancellations before any conclusion.
Tradition treats sub-18 scores as a signal for deeper chart-specific reading, not an automatic no. Cancellations frequently apply, and many such marriages are classically sanctioned after a qualified review.