Kundli matching, called Guna Milan or Ashtakoot, is the traditional way Indian families compare two horoscopes before a marriage. It compares the Moon sign and birth star of the two people across eight areas and adds up points out of 36.
The eight kootas
Varna (1 point) is about ego, outlook and work-values. Vashya (2) is about mutual attraction and who influences whom. Tara (3) compares the birth stars for health and well-being luck. Yoni (4) looks at intimacy and physical compatibility, using an animal assigned to each nakshatra. Graha Maitri (5) checks whether the two Moon-sign lords are friends, which reflects mental wavelength. Gana (6) compares temperament: Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa. Bhakoot (7) is about emotional bond, family welfare and shared prosperity. Nadi (8) concerns health and the genes of the couple.
How to read the total
The traditional minimum is 18. A score of 18 to 24 is acceptable, 25 to 32 good, and 33 and above excellent. Scores of 36 are very rare.
Two kootas deserve special attention because they carry the most points. Nadi dosha (both partners share the same Nadi) removes all 8 points, and Bhakoot dosha (the Moon signs are 2/12, 5/9 or 6/8 apart) removes all 7. Classical texts list exceptions to both, for example when the sign lords are friends or the same star falls in different padas.
Beyond the 36 points
A careful astrologer also looks at Mangal Dosha in both charts, the 7th house and its lord, the strength of Venus and Jupiter, and the dashas running for each person. A high Guna Milan score with serious problems in the full charts is not a good match, and a modest score with strong charts can be a very good one.
Why scores differ between websites
The eight rules are standard, but traditions and almanacs differ on a few half-point values, mainly in Vashya and Yoni, and on how Gana is scored between Deva and Rakshasa. A difference of a point or two between two calculators is normal.
A fair word
No score can predict whether two people will be happy. Time together, honest conversation and shared values count for far more. Use Guna Milan as one traditional input, and make the decision as people.