Marriage is one of the most important occasions in a person’s life. Most people want to settle down in life with a compatible person and live happily forever after. But, in today’s world, it is difficult to find many happily married couples. Divorces, separations, and illicit affairs are on the rise, like never before. However, there is a way to avoid this.
Marriage is one of the 16 Samskaras in Hinduism. Samskaras refer to crucial turning points in human life. Hindu scriptures consider marriage to be a holy union.
Vedic astrology offers a reliable tool for ensuring compatibility in marriage. It is called Kundli Matching or Horoscope Matching. Kundli Matching assesses the physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and behavioral compatibility of the bride and groom-to-be.
Kundli Matching is also called Kundli Milan, Guna Milan, and Lagna Melapak. The primary factors that influence the process are the longevity of the marriage, Guna Milan, Manglik Dosh, and the strength of the Navamsa chart.
Guna Milan is a part of the Kundli Milan. In North India, people follow Guna Matching or ‘Ashtakoota Milan’. It means the ‘Matching of 8 Qualities or Aspects’. ‘Ashta’ denotes 8, and ‘Koota’ means ‘aspect’. These eight kootas, or aspects, have a specific numeric value depending on their significance in determining various aspects of compatibility. The eight Gunas are Varna, Vashya, Tara, Yoni, Graha Maitri, Gana, Bhakoota, and Nadi.
However, in South India, people follow a more comprehensive and complicated method called ‘DashaKoota (10 Aspects) Milan’. In this method, Mahendra Koota, Deergha Koota, Vedha Koota, and Rajju Koota are also considered along with the other 8 kootas.
The ‘Ashtakoota’ Method
In the Ashtakoota method, astrologers match 8 parameters or criteria. Each of these is based on the Moon signs and the constellations or natal Moon Nakshatras.
The Eight Kootas
1. Varna – This aspect relates to the spiritual compatibility of the prospective bride and groom. It indicates their ego and personalities. It has 4 categories - Brahmins (Highest), Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra (Lowest). If Varna Koota matches, there will be mutual love and comfort in the couple’s marital life.
2. Vashya – This Koota is about mutual attraction, control in marriage, and the degree to which the partners will influence each other. To put it simply, it calculates the power equation between them. It classifies a person into 5 types - Manav/Nara (human), Vanchar (wild animals like lion), Chatushpad (small animals like deer), Jalchar (sea animals), and Keeta/Keet (insects).
3. Tara/Dina – Tara Koota relates to the longevity and well-being of the couple. If it is a good match, the couple will enjoy good health and have a long life. Their conjugal life will be blissful. It also indicates destiny and birth star compatibility.
4. Yoni – Yoni Koota indicates intimacy levels, sexual compatibility, and mutual love. It matches the partners’ sensuous nature and traits. Here, people are classified into 14 animals - Horse, Elephant, Sheep, Snake, Dog, Cat, Rat, Cow, Buffalo, Tiger, Hare/Deer, Monkey, Lion, Mongoose.
5. Graha Maitri/Rasyadipati – This reveals the natural friendship and mental compatibility, and affection between the partners. It also indicates moon sign compatibility.
6. Gana – Gana measures the mutual behaviors, mental compatibility, and temperaments of the couple. This is a key factor that influences their level of compatibility. Here, the birth stars (Nakshatras) fall into three categories: Deva (God, indicating Satva Guna), Manava (Human, indicating Rajo Guna), and Rakshasa (Demon, indicating Tamo Guna).
7. Bhakoota – This indicates the couple’s love and emotional compatibility. It shows the influence each partner has on the other, and their ability to find mutual understanding and mental acceptance. The positions of various planets in the groom’s birth chart are compared with those in the girl's birth chart. If the boy's moon is in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th house from the girl's moon, it is inauspicious, whereas the 7th and 12th houses are good. In the girl’s case, if the natal chart moon is in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th houses from the man's, then it is auspicious. It is inauspicious if it is placed 12th.
8. Nadi – This relates to health and genes. Here, the stars (Nakshatras) are divided into 3 - Aadi (Vata) Nadi, Madhya (Pitta) Nadi, and Antya (Kapha) Nadi. Nadi also indicates the comparative levels of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha between the couple and throws light on progeny and child-birth issues. Metabolism and health issues also come under its purview. If both have the same Nadi, marriage is not recommended.
The maximum points allotted to each Koota are given below:
Varna Koota - 1
Vasya Koota – 2
Tara/Dina Koota – 3
Yoni Koota – 4
Graha Maitri – 5
Gana – 6
Bhakoota – 7
Nadi - 8
The scores obtained by the Ashtakoota Milan have the following ratings:
33 to 36: Excellent match
25 to 32: Very good match
18 to 24: Acceptable, but other factors need to be examined in detail
Less than 18 Points: Incompatible
Compatibility between partners is key to a happy and successful married life. Hence, doing Ashtakoota Matching is very important.
Conclusion
The traditional Ashtakoota method did not consider the cancellation of the 3 Mahadoshas - Nadi Dosha, Bhakoota Dosha, and Gana Dosha. However, according to contemporary Ashtakoota Milan principles, if the Rashi Lords of the bride and groom are mutual friends or are the same planets, all the Ashtakoota Doshas, including the 3 Mahadoshas mentioned above, get nullified.
The Guna Milan score is only one of the many factors that astrologers consider while assessing the compatibility between the potential bride and groom. Other key factors include Manglik Dosha, the longevity of the partners, finances, etc.
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