Gun Milan: each of the 8 koots, what they actually measure

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:

1. Are the failing koots resolvable through awareness?
2. Are there strong supporting factors elsewhere (Manglik cancellation, strong dasha alignment)?
3. Is there genuine love and commitment between the partners?
4. 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.