In short
Ashtakoota (ashtakoot) is the eight-part comparison used in North Indian guna milan, in which Varna, Vashya, Tara, Yoni, Graha Maitri, Gana, Bhakoot and Nadi together carry 36 points. Each koota compares one feature of the two Moon positions at birth, and the points rise from 1 for Varna to 8 for Nadi.
For the bigger picture of the 36 gun score, read kundli milan explained.
The 8 kootas at a glance
All eight kootas are read from the Moon's sign (rashi) and nakshatra at birth, which is why an exact birth time matters.
| Koota | Points | Based on | What tradition says it looks at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Moon sign | A classical temperament label (not caste) |
| Vashya | 2 | Moon sign | Mutual pull and give-and-take |
| Tara | 3 | Moon nakshatra | How the two birth stars sit from each other |
| Yoni | 4 | Moon nakshatra animal | Instinctive nature and closeness |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Lords of the two Moon signs | Friendship of minds |
| Gana | 6 | Moon nakshatra group | Basic temperament |
| Bhakoot | 7 | The two Moon signs | Harmony of the two signs in family life |
| Nadi | 8 | Moon nakshatra group | A traditional compatibility of temperament |
The descriptions in the last column are what tradition says. They are not measurements of a person and not predictions.
Varna (1 point)
Varna is a classical temperament and scoring label given to each Moon sign, and it is explicitly not about caste. The twelve signs are grouped into four classes with a rank, and the koota gives 1 point when the ranks sit in the order the classical table expects.
The old names of the four classes can sound like social groups, which is why we say this plainly: in SachAstro, Varna is only a label used for scoring. It says nothing about anyone's family, community or birth.
Vashya (2 points)
Vashya looks at the mutual pull between two people, as tradition describes it. Each Moon sign is placed in one of five groups (four-footed, human, water, wild and insect), and pairs score from 0 to 2 depending on how the groups relate. Signs in the same group score the full 2 points. Dhanu and Makara are split in half, so a Moon early or late in those signs can fall into different groups.
Tara (3 points)
Tara koota (not to be confused with Tara, our AI guide) compares the two birth stars (nakshatras) by counting from one to the other in both directions. Tradition marks three of the nine possible counts as less favourable, and each direction that avoids them gives 1.5 points. So Tara scores 0, 1.5 or 3.
Yoni (4 points)
Yoni gives each nakshatra an animal symbol and compares the two animals. The same animal scores the full 4 points. Seven pairs are treated as natural opposites (for example cat and rat, or dog and deer) and score 0. Others score in between. Tradition reads Yoni as a sign of instinctive nature and closeness between two people.
Graha Maitri (5 points)
Graha Maitri compares the planets that rule the two Moon signs and asks whether they are friends, neutral or enemies by the classical friendship table. When both Moon signs share one lord, or the two lords are mutual friends, the score is the full 5. Tradition reads this koota as friendship of minds: how easily two people understand each other.
Gana (6 points)
Gana sorts every nakshatra into one of three temperament groups: Deva (gentle), Manushya (human) and Rakshasa (intense). These are classical labels, not judgements about anyone's character. The same group scores 6, and some pairings score lower. Sources differ on a few cells of the Gana table, so we print the table we use.
Bhakoot (7 points)
Bhakoot looks at how far apart the two Moon signs are. Most distances score the full 7 points, but three relationships (2/12, 5/9 and 6/8) score 0. Tradition reads Bhakoot as harmony between the two signs in family life. Tradition also lists exceptions; see Nadi and Bhakoot explained.
Nadi (8 points)
Nadi places every nakshatra in one of three groups: Adi, Madhya and Antya. When the two people share the same nadi, the koota scores 0; otherwise it scores the full 8. Some families read nadi as a sign of compatibility of temperament. SachAstro never makes health or children predictions from Nadi or from any other koota.
Tradition, not proven science. The eight kootas are a traditional way of comparing two charts. A score describes the comparison; it does not describe your future.
How SachAstro calculates this
SachAstro computes the Moon sign and nakshatra with its own chart engine, using NASA JPL DE440 planetary data (via Skyfield), the sidereal zodiac and the Lahiri ayanamsa.
Matching follows the published SachAstro Matching Standard v1 (MS-1.0). Every koota table is printed in the standard, and where traditions differ (as in Vashya, Yoni and Gana) it names the convention it picked. The raw score comes first; every traditional exception is shown as its own line with its source, beside an adjusted score. Manglik is checked from the lagna, the Moon and Venus. The result is provisional if a birth time is not exact, and the 18 and 24 bands are labelled as convention.
The free Match Card view shows the score out of 36, all eight koota bars and the reason behind the weakest koota. Tara, SachAstro's AI guide, only explains these computed facts and is always labelled as AI.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 8 kootas in kundli milan?
The eight kootas are Varna (1), Vashya (2), Tara (3), Yoni (4), Graha Maitri (5), Gana (6), Bhakoot (7) and Nadi (8). Together they make up 36 points.
Is Varna koota about caste?
No. Varna in guna milan is a classical temperament label attached to the Moon sign and used only for scoring. SachAstro never reads it as a statement about anyone's caste or community.
Which koota is the most important?
By points, Nadi (8) is the heaviest, followed by Bhakoot (7) and Gana (6). Tradition gives these three the most weight, but no single koota decides a match.
Why does my score differ between two apps?
Traditions use slightly different tables, especially for Vashya, Yoni and Gana. A different birth time, which moves the Moon, is the most common cause.
Is Rakshasa gana bad?
No. Rakshasa is a classical name for an intense temperament group, not a judgement of a person. It only changes how the Gana koota is scored between two charts.
What does Graha Maitri mean?
Graha Maitri means "friendship of planets". It compares the lords of the two Moon signs, and tradition reads it as how easily two minds connect.