Ashtakoota Explained: The Eight Kootas and Their 36 Gunas

Ashtakoota is the eight-factor Guna Milan system used to compare two Moon nakshatras for marriage. Its kootas carry 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 points, adding to 36. The score is a traditional compatibility screen—not a prediction of whether a marriage will succeed—and the koota-by-koota result matters more than the total.

What are the eight kootas?

1. Varna — 1 point: a broad traditional temperament or values classification.
2. Vashya — 2 points: mutual influence, cooperation, and how the two rashis relate.
3. Tara — 3 points: the birth-star distance, traditionally read for well-being and support.
4. Yoni — 4 points: instinctive, physical, and intimate compatibility through nakshatra symbols.
5. Graha Maitri — 5 points: mental rapport through the relationship between the Moon-sign lords.
6. Gana — 6 points: temperament through Deva, Manushya, and Rakshasa nakshatra groupings.
7. Bhakoot — 7 points: the numerical relationship between the two Moon signs.
8. Nadi — 8 points: a threefold nakshatra grouping traditionally associated with constitution and progeny.

The arithmetic is deliberate: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 = 36. Nadi and Bhakoot alone contribute 15 points, so they can make an otherwise reasonable match look numerically weak.

The exact eight-factor table is documented in modern Jyotish references such as K. S. Charak’s Elements of Vedic Astrology. Older texts supply the wider marriage-matching context, but popular web claims that attach the complete 36-point table to a particular ancient chapter are often given without edition or verse evidence. Modern software should disclose its mapping rather than presenting 36 as a scientific probability.

Why do Nadi and Bhakoot matter so much?

Nadi compares the partners’ three nakshatra groups: Aadi, Madhya, and Antya. The same Nadi normally scores 0 of 8. Bhakoot compares the distance between the Moon signs; the traditional 2–12, 5–9, and 6–8 relationships normally score 0 of 7.

Both kootas also have recognised exceptions. A zero therefore needs a second question: does a cancellation apply? Read Nadi and Bhakoot cancellation before treating a low score as a verdict.

What does a score under 18 mean?

Eighteen is the commonly used minimum, but it is not a pass/fail law. A 17 that loses several low-weight factors can be less concerning than a 20 whose missing points come from an intact Nadi dosha. The useful sequence is:

1. check the total;
2. identify exactly which kootas lost points;
3. test Nadi and Bhakoot cancellations;
4. compare Manglik status; and
5. read the full charts, especially the 7th houses and current dashas.

Our detailed guide to scores below 18 explains why the same total can describe very different matches.

What Ashtakoota does not measure

The system does not directly score communication skills, shared goals, safety, financial habits, health facts, or the work two people put into a relationship. Even inside Jyotish, it is a screening layer rather than the whole chart comparison.

Use real dates, times, and places for both partners so the Moon signs and nakshatras are computed rather than guessed from names. The calculator below shows all eight kootas, their points, and the dosha flags instead of hiding everything behind one number.

FAQ

Which koota is most important?

Nadi carries the most points at 8, followed by Bhakoot at 7. But “most points” does not mean either should be read without its traditional cancellations and the rest of both charts.

Is 36 out of 36 a guaranteed good marriage?

No. It is the maximum Ashtakoota score, not a guarantee. Full-chart factors and real-world compatibility remain outside the number.

Can a marriage work with fewer than 18 gunas?

Yes. The reason for the shortfall and the presence or absence of intact doshas matter more than the headline total.

Can names alone produce an Ashtakoota score?

A name-based method can only estimate a rashi or nakshatra. A defensible score uses both partners’ computed Moon positions from their birth details; see name versus birth-data matching.