Guna Milan

Vedic astrology has system of matching the birth chart of Boy and Girl before marriage. This matching is called Guna Milan. Guna Milan is based on the position of Moon in the Natal Charts of bride and groom. In North India, there is a process of Guna Milan, called as, “Ashtakoot Milan”, which signifies the eight aspects of Gunas. “Ashta” means “Eight” and “Koota” means “Aspects”. The eight Kootas or Ashta Kootas are:

Varna/Varan/Jaati

It shows spiritual compatibility of boy and girl along with their ego levels. It is divided into 4 categories, such as Brahmins (Highest), Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra (Lowest). This is given 1 point.

Vasya/Vashya

It shows mutual attraction, control in marriage and also calculates the power equation in between married couples. A person is classified into 5 types, namely Manav/Nara (human), Vanchar (wild animals such as lion), Chatushpad (small animals such as deer), Jalchar (sea animals), Keeta/Keet (insects). This is given 2 point.

Tara/Dina : It is related to birth star compatibility and destiny. There are 27 birth stars (Nakshatra).

Yoni

It measures the intimacy level, sexual compatibility and mutual love between the couple. Yoni Koot is classified into 14 animals, which are Horse, Elephant, Sheep, Snake, Dog, Cat, Rat, Cow, Buffalo, Tiger, Hare/Deer, Monkey, Lion, Mongoose.

Nakshatra	Nakshtra	Yoni & Extreme Enimity
1. Ashwini.	24. Satabisa.	Horse	Buffalo
2. Bhairini	27. Revati	Elephant	Lion
3. Krittika.	8. Pushya	Goat	Monkey
4. Rohini.	5. Mrigasira.	Serpent	Camel
6. Ardra	19. Moola.	Dog	Hare
7. P.Vasu.	9. Aslesha.	Cat	Rat
10. Magha.	11. P.Phalguni.	Rat	Cat
12. U. halguni.	26. U.Bhadra.	Cow	Tiger
13. Hasta.	15. Swati.	Buffalo	Horse
14. Chitra.	16. Visakha.	Tiger	Cow
17. Anuradha.	18. Jyestha.	Deer	Dog
20. P.asadha.	22. Shravana.	Monkey	Goat
21. U.asadha.	28. Abhijit	Mongoose	Snake
23. Dhanista.	25. P.Bhadra.	Lion	Elephant

Graha Maitri/Rasyadipati

It shows mental compatibility, affection and natural friendship. It also represents the moon sign compatibility between couples.

Gana

It is related to behaviour and temperament. Birth stars (Nakshatras) are divided into three categories- Deva (God, indicating Satwa Guna), Manava (Human, indicating Rajo Guna) and Rakshasa (Demon, indicating Tamo Guna).

Rashi or Bhakoot

It relates to the emotional compatibility and love between partners. The position of planets in boy’s birth chart is compared with the girl’s birth chart. If the boy’s moon is placed in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th house from girl’s moon, then it is considered bad or inauspicious, whereas 7th and 12th houses are considered good. In case of female, If natal chart moon is placed in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th houses from man’s chart, then it will be auspicious and inauspicious if placed 12th from man’s chart.

Nadi

It is related to health, well being, mutual understanding and progeny health. It relates to Adi, Madhya and Anta Nadi which relates to Vata, Pitta and Kalpha. Nadi should not match and it should be different.

Nadi of Nakshtra
Vata	Pitta	Kapha
1. Ashwini.	2. Bhairini	3. Krittika.
6. Ardra	5. Mrigasira.	4. Rohini.
7. P.Vasu.	8. Pushya	9. Aslesha.
12. U. halguni.	11. P.Phalguni.	10. Magha.
13. Hasta.	14. Chitra.	15. Swati.
18. Jyestha.	17. Anuradha.	16. Visakha.
19. Moola.	20. P.asadha.	21. U.asadha.
24. Satabisa.	23. Dhanista.	22. Shravana.
25. P.Bhadra.		26. U.Bhadra.
		27. Revati

Point System for Gunas

Koota	Maximum Points
Varna	1
Vasya/Vashya	2
Tara/Dina	3
Yoni	4
Grah Maitri	5
Gana	6
Rashi or Bhakoota	7
Nadi	8
Total	36

There are total 36 Guna Milans in Ashtakoota. Let’s check below how the scores obtained for above Gunas are effective for marriage purposes.

Importance of Guna Milan

Obtained Guna Points	Prediction or Result
Less than 18	Not recommended for marriage
18 to 24	Average, Acceptable match and recommended for marriage
24 to 32	Very Good, successful marriage
32 to 36	Excellent Match

Hence the scores obtained in Ashtakoota is seen through the above table. The match obtaining less than 18 will not be considered as an ideal couple and least recommended for marriage.

Apart from this, Manglik Dosha is also given importance while matching chart

Nakshtras details for All Points

Nakshatra	Lord	Nadi	Yoni	Guna	Presiding Diety	Element
1. Ashwini.	Ketu	Vata	Horse	Deva	Ashwini Kumar	Fire
2. Bhairini	Venus	Pitta	Elephant	Manushya	Yama	Earth
3. Krittika.	Sun	Kapha	Goat	Rakshasa	Agni	Air
4. Rohini.	Moon	Kapha	Serpent	Manushya	Brahma	Water
5. Mrigasira.	Mars	Pitta	Serpent	Deva	Soma	Fire
6. Ardra	Rahu	Vata	Dog	Manushya	Rudra	Earth
7. P.Vasu.	Jupiter	Vata	Cat	Deva	Aditi	Air
8. Pushya	Saturn	Pitta	Goat	Deva	Brihaspati	Water
9. Aslesha.	Mercury	Kapha	Cat	Rakshasa	Ahi	Fire
10. Magha.	Ketu	Kapha	Rat	Rakshasa	Pitragana	Earth
11. P.Phalguni.	Venus	Pitta	Rat	Manushya	Bhagya	Air
12. U. halguni.	Sun	Vata	Cow	Manushya	Surya	Water
13. Hasta.	Moon	Vata	Buffalo	Deva	Savita	Fire
14. Chitra.	Mars	Pitta	Tiger	Rakshasa	Vishwakarma	Earth
15. Swati.	Rahu	Kapha	Buffalo	Deva	Pawan	Air
16. Visakha.	Jupiter	Kapha	Tiger	Rakshasa	Satragni	Water
17. Anuradha.	Saturn	Pitta	Deer	Deva	Mitra	Fire
18. Jyestha.	Mercury	Vata	Deer	Rakshasa	Indra	Earth
19. Moola.	Ketu	Vata	Dog	Rakshasa	Nirriti	Air
20. P.asadha.	Venus	Pitta	Monkey	Manushya	Toya	Water
21. U.asadha.	Sun	Kapha	Mongoose	Manushya	Vishwadeva	Fire
22. Shravana.	Moon	Kapha	Monkey	Deva	Hari	Earth
23. Dhanista.	Mars	Pitta	Lion	Rakshasa	Vasu	Air
24. Satabisa.	Rahu	Vata	Horse	Rakshasa	Varuna	Water
25. P.Bhadra.	Jupiter	Vata	Lion	Manushya	Ajapada	Fire
26. U.Bhadra.	Saturn	Kapha	Cow	Manushya	Abhibadhnu	Earth
27. Revati	Mercury	Kapha	Elephant	Deva	Pushan	Air