Gun Milan: each of the 8 koots, what they actually measure
Ashtakoot Gun Milan is the 8-factor 36-point compatibility test. Most articles list the koots without depth. Here is what each of the 8 koots is actually testing, and why.
The 8 koots
| Koot | Points | What it measures | |------|--------|------------------| | Varna | 1 | Spiritual evolution / caste-equivalent | | Vashya | 2 | Mutual influence / dominance balance | | Tara | 3 | Health and well-being | | Yoni | 4 | Sexual compatibility | | Graha Maitri | 5 | Mental compatibility / friendship | | Gana | 6 | Temperamental compatibility | | Bhakoot | 7 | Family welfare and finances | | Nadi | 8 | Genetic / progeny compatibility |
Total: 36 points. Threshold for marriage: 18+. Excellent: 28+.
Each koot in depth
1. Varna (1 point) — spiritual evolution
The four classical varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra) are derived from the Moon sign in Vedic astrology — not from the social caste system.
| Moon sign | Varna | |-----------|-------| | Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces | Brahmin (spiritual) | | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius | Kshatriya (warrior) | | Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn | Vaishya (merchant) | | Gemini, Libra, Aquarius | Shudra (service) |
Rule: bride's varna should be equal to or lower than groom's. Score 1 if equal or bride lower, 0 if bride higher.
What this actually measures: the spiritual evolution that the chart suggests. A Brahmin-varna woman marrying a Vaishya-varna man may experience some friction in the spiritual-priorities domain. The single point is more philosophical than predictive.
In modern matchmaking, varna is the least-emphasized koot. But its underlying message — that partners should share spiritual orientation — remains valid.
2. Vashya (2 points) — influence balance
Each Moon sign belongs to one of 5 Vashya groups based on classical animal/being assignments:
- Manava (human): Gemini, Virgo, Libra, first half of Sagittarius, first half of Pisces
- Chatushpada (quadruped): Aries, Taurus, Leo, second half of Sagittarius, first half of Capricorn
- Jalachara (aquatic): Cancer, second half of Capricorn, second half of Pisces
- Vanachara (wild): Scorpio, second half of Leo
- Keeta (insect): Scorpio (some traditions), parts of others
Compatible matches receive 2; partial 1; mismatched 0.
What this actually measures: the partners' instinctive dominance dynamic. Manava-Manava = balanced human exchange. Chatushpada-Manava = partial mismatch. The koot is testing whether one partner will instinctively try to dominate vs whether the dynamic will be reciprocal.
3. Tara (3 points) — health and well-being
From the bride's nakshatra, count to the groom's nakshatra. Mod 9. The result gives the Tara number:
- 1 = Janma — birth/identity
- 2 = Sampat — wealth (auspicious)
- 3 = Vipat — danger (inauspicious)
- 4 = Kshema — well-being (auspicious)
- 5 = Pratyari — obstacles (inauspicious)
- 6 = Sadhaka — accomplishment (auspicious)
- 7 = Vadha — death (inauspicious)
- 8 = Mitra — friend (auspicious)
- 9 = Atimitra — best friend (auspicious)
Both directions are checked: bride to groom, and groom to bride. Total Tara compatibility computed.
What this actually measures: how the partners' nakshatra-energy interacts. Mitra-Atimitra-Sadhaka = strong supportive interaction. Vipat-Pratyari-Vadha = friction at nakshatra-level which manifests as health and well-being challenges over the marriage.
4. Yoni (4 points) — sexual compatibility
Each nakshatra is assigned an animal symbol. There are 14 yoni-animals (some shared across nakshatras). Each animal pair has classical compatibility ratings:
- Same yoni = full 4 points (deep compatibility)
- Friendly yoni = 3 points
- Neutral yoni = 2 points
- Mild enemy = 1 point
- Bitter enemy (cow-tiger, deer-tiger, mouse-cat) = 0 points
Some classical "bitter enemy" pairs:
- Cow + Tiger (Krittika + Jyestha)
- Deer + Tiger (Hasta + Jyestha)
- Mouse + Cat (Magha + Bharani)
- Snake + Mongoose (Rohini + Mrigashira)
What this actually measures: the physical-instinctual compatibility of the partners. The animal pairings encode classical observations about which combinations work physically and which don't. Sexual chemistry is real and measurable; the yoni koot is the Vedic system's attempt to capture it.
5. Graha Maitri (5 points) — mental compatibility
Compares the Moon-sign rulers of bride and groom. Friendship between rulers is the most-relevant test.
Friendly pairs (full 5 points):
- Sun-Moon, Sun-Mars, Sun-Jupiter
- Moon-Sun, Moon-Mercury
- Mars-Sun, Mars-Moon, Mars-Jupiter
- Mercury-Sun, Mercury-Venus
- Jupiter-Sun, Jupiter-Moon, Jupiter-Mars
- Venus-Mercury, Venus-Saturn
- Saturn-Mercury, Saturn-Venus
Some specific enmities (0-1 points):
- Sun-Saturn (structural enmity)
- Moon-Mercury (in some readings)
- Mars-Mercury (Mars-restless meets Mercury-quick)
- Venus-Sun (Venus-pleasure meets Sun-discipline)
- Jupiter-Venus (the famous teacher-aesthete tension)
What this actually measures: how the partners' mental natures will get along. Strong Graha Maitri = sustained friendship deepening into companionship. Weak Graha Maitri = chronic mental friction.
6. Gana (6 points) — temperamental compatibility
Each nakshatra is classified into one of three Ganas:
- Deva Gana (godly) — 12 nakshatras: Ashwini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Shravana, Revati...
- Manushya Gana (human) — 9 nakshatras: Bharani, Rohini, Ardra, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada
- Rakshasa Gana (demonic) — 6 nakshatras: Krittika, Ashlesha, Magha, Chitra, Vishakha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha
Same-Gana matches: 6 points Deva + Manushya: 5 points Manushya + Rakshasa: 1-3 points Deva + Rakshasa: 0 points (the most-cautioned mismatch)
What this actually measures: temperamental nature. Deva-Gana people are typically peaceful, ritual-oriented. Rakshasa-Gana people are typically intense, transformative. Marrying these together creates structural temperament-mismatch.
7. Bhakoot (7 points) — family/financial welfare
Counts the distance between Moon signs (1-12). Specific distances are auspicious; others are problematic:
- 1-1, 2-12, 3-11, 4-10 = full 7 points
- 5-9, 7-7 = 7 points (some traditions)
- 6-8, 9-5 = 0 points (Shadashtak — 6/8 affliction)
- 2-12, 12-2 = 0 points in some calculations
Bhakoot is the second-highest weighted koot for a reason: it tests whether the partners' wealth-and-family lives will harmonize.
What this actually measures: practical-life-together compatibility. Where do you live, how do you build wealth, how do you handle family obligations. Strong Bhakoot = aligned practical visions. Weak Bhakoot = fights about money, in-laws, children's choices.
8. Nadi (8 points) — progeny compatibility
The most-weighted koot. Each nakshatra is assigned to one of three Nadis:
- Adi Nadi (beginning) — 9 nakshatras
- Madhya Nadi (middle) — 9 nakshatras
- Antya Nadi (end) — 9 nakshatras
Same-Nadi match = 0 points = Nadi Dosha
This is the gravest single-koot risk. Same-Nadi marriages are classically held to lead to:
- Difficulty conceiving
- Children's health issues
- Marriage instability beyond what other koots predict
Cancellations exist (different Rashi, different padas of same nakshatra), but they are specific. Without explicit cancellation, Nadi Dosha is a serious red flag.
What this actually measures: the genetic / Ayurvedic compatibility of the partners. Same-Nadi suggests the partners share too-similar constitutional types, leading to amplified weaknesses in offspring. Different-Nadi suggests complementary constitutions producing healthy children.
This is the koot most-aligned with what modern medicine would recognize as genetic compatibility. The classical Vedic system encoded this 1500+ years before modern genetics.
How to read the total
A skilled astrologer doesn't just sum the points. They look at which koots scored low and what those mean:
- Low Tara — health watch
- Low Yoni — sexual mismatch concerns
- Low Graha Maitri — mental friction
- Low Gana — temperamental challenges
- Low Bhakoot — practical-life friction
- Low Nadi — STOP, get cancellation confirmed
A 22-point match with all individual koots scoring partially is different from a 22-point match with one koot at 0 and others at full.
When the score is borderline
If you're between 18-24 (acceptable but not strong), the questions to ask:
- Are the failing koots resolvable through awareness?
- Are there strong supporting factors elsewhere (Manglik cancellation, strong dasha alignment)?
- Is there genuine love and commitment between the partners?
- Are both partners aware of where their differences are structural?
These conversations are what good matchmaking actually is. The 36 points are the screening; the conversations are the substance.
Get a full chart-based consultation, not just a 36-point summary. The summary is a starting line.