Jyotiṣa · Guṇa Milan
Kundli matching (Guṇa Milan) scores compatibility across eight kūṭas. Three of the most weighted (gaṇa, nāḍī and yoni) come directly from each partner’s Moon nakṣatra. Here is how they work, and the full 27-nakṣatra lookup.
Guṇa Milan (Aṣṭakūṭa) checks eight factors between two birth charts, worth 36 points total. Gaṇa (temperament), Nāḍī (constitution) and Yoni (instinctive nature) are set entirely by each partner’s Moon nakṣatra, no other chart detail needed, which makes them the fastest, most classically stable part of a match to check.
01Gaṇa (temperament, 6 points)
Every nakṣatra belongs to one of three gaṇas: Deva (refined, gentle), Manushya (ambitious, balanced) or Rakshasa (intense, driven). Classical rule of thumb:
| Pairing | Classical read |
|---|---|
| Deva + Deva | Best match |
| Manushya + Manushya | Good match |
| Deva + Manushya | Workable |
| Rakshasa + Rakshasa | Workable, high-intensity |
| Deva + Rakshasa | Classically the weakest gaṇa pairing |
02Nāḍī (constitution, 8 points, most heavily weighted)
Each nakṣatra also falls into Ādi, Madhya or Antya nāḍī. This is the single highest-weighted kūṭa in the whole 36-point system: classically, same nāḍī between partners is Nāḍī Doṣa and is the one factor most traditions treat as a near-hard filter, regardless of how well the other seven kūṭas score.
03Yoni (instinctive nature, 4 points)
Each nakṣatra is symbolised by one of 14 animals. Most pairings are neutral or friendly, but seven pairs are classically enemy yonis (natural predator/prey pairs) and are traditionally flagged in a match:
| Yoni | Yoni | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse | vs | Buffalo | Classical enemy pair, avoid pairing these yonis |
| Elephant | vs | Lion | Classical enemy pair, avoid pairing these yonis |
| Sheep | vs | Monkey | Classical enemy pair, avoid pairing these yonis |
| Serpent | vs | Mongoose | Classical enemy pair, avoid pairing these yonis |
| Dog | vs | Deer | Classical enemy pair, avoid pairing these yonis |
| Cat | vs | Rat | Classical enemy pair, avoid pairing these yonis |
| Cow | vs | Tiger | Classical enemy pair, avoid pairing these yonis |
04All 27 nakṣatras: gaṇa, nāḍī, yoni
Look up any two nakṣatras against the tables above, or open either nakṣatra’s own page for its full profile.
| Nakṣatra | Gaṇa | Nāḍī | Yoni |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwini | Deva | Adi | Horse |
| Bharani | Manushya | Madhya | Elephant |
| Krittika | Rakshasa | Antya | Sheep |
| Rohini | Manushya | Antya | Serpent |
| Mrigashira | Deva | Madhya | Serpent |
| Ardra | Manushya | Adi | Dog |
| Punarvasu | Deva | Adi | Cat |
| Pushya | Deva | Madhya | Sheep |
| Ashlesha | Rakshasa | Antya | Cat |
| Magha | Rakshasa | Antya | Rat |
| Purva Phalguni | Manushya | Madhya | Rat |
| Uttara Phalguni | Manushya | Adi | Cow |
| Hasta | Deva | Adi | Buffalo |
| Chitra | Rakshasa | Madhya | Tiger |
| Swati | Deva | Antya | Buffalo |
| Vishakha | Rakshasa | Antya | Tiger |
| Anuradha | Deva | Madhya | Deer |
| Jyeshtha | Rakshasa | Adi | Deer |
| Mula | Rakshasa | Adi | Dog |
| Purva Ashadha | Manushya | Madhya | Monkey |
| Uttara Ashadha | Manushya | Antya | Mongoose |
| Shravana | Deva | Antya | Monkey |
| Dhanishta | Rakshasa | Madhya | Lion |
| Shatabhisha | Rakshasa | Adi | Horse |
| Purva Bhadrapada | Manushya | Adi | Lion |
| Uttara Bhadrapada | Manushya | Madhya | Cow |
| Revati | Deva | Antya | Elephant |
These three kūṭas are 18 of the 36 total Guṇa Milan points. Varṇa, Vashya, Tārā, Graha Maitri and Bhakoot make up the rest, and depend on rāśi and rāśi-lord relationships rather than nakṣatra alone.
None of this is a verdict on its own. Guṇa Milan is one classical input among several; a real reading checks it alongside daśā, transits, and the full chart, not in isolation.
Check your own Guṇa Milan score
Give both birth details (date, time and place) and Karma Jyotiṣa computes the full 36-point Aṣṭakūṭa match, kūṭa by kūṭa, free.
05Common questions
What is a good Guṇa Milan score?
Out of 36 points, 18+ is classically considered an acceptable match, 24+ good, and 32+ excellent. Below 18 is traditionally discouraged, though many traditions weigh Nāḍī and Bhakoot doṣas more heavily than the raw total.
Is same-Nāḍī always disqualifying?
Classically it is the most serious doṣa, but several textbook exceptions exist (e.g. matching rāśi or rāśi-lord can cancel it in some traditions). This is exactly the kind of nuance a computed, whole-chart reading resolves; a lookup table alone cannot.
Does a low score mean the match will fail?
No. Guṇa Milan is a classical screening tool, not a guarantee. It flags friction points to be aware of. The outcome of any relationship depends on far more than eight kūṭas.
