कुंडली मिलान · 6 min read · Updated 31 October 2026
Kundli Milan: how the 36 gunas work
Kundli Milan, or Guna Milan, is the traditional compatibility check used before marriage in much of India. It compares the Moon nakshatras and Moon signs of two people across eight factors (kootas), which add up to 36 points.
The 8 kootas and their points
| Koota | Points | What it looks at |
|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Temperament and outlook |
| Vashya | 2 | Mutual attraction and influence |
| Tara | 3 | Wellbeing, from the nakshatra count |
| Yoni | 4 | Physical and instinctive compatibility |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Friendship between the Moon-sign lords |
| Gana | 6 | Nature: Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa |
| Bhakoot | 7 | Emotional and family harmony, from the sign positions |
| Nadi | 8 | Constitution; traditionally linked to health and progeny |
What score is good?
The score is a starting point, not a verdict. Two people with 30 points can struggle, and couples with 20 can do very well. Families usually also look at Manglik status, the 7th house and the Navamsa of both charts.
- Below 18: traditionally not recommended without looking deeper.
- 18 to 24: acceptable.
- 25 to 32: good.
- Above 32: very good.
Nadi and Bhakoot dosha
Nadi dosha happens when both people share the same Nadi (Adi, Madhya or Antya), giving 0 of 8 points. Bhakoot dosha happens for certain Moon-sign pairs (6-8, 9-5 and 2-12 positions), giving 0 of 7. Both have classical exceptions, for example when the sign lords are the same or are friends, so they should be read together with the rest of the chart.
Do you need an exact birth time?
Guna Milan depends mainly on the Moon’s nakshatra, which stays the same for about a day, so approximate times usually give the same score. The Manglik check uses the lagna, which needs a more exact time.
Get the full 36-point breakdown and a Manglik check for both, explained for the whole family.
Match two kundlis free