In short
Kundli milan (guna milan) is the traditional check of two birth charts that scores a couple out of 36 points across eight kootas. A score of 18 or more is conventionally treated as acceptable and 24 or more as strong, but these thresholds are convention, not scripture.
What is kundli milan?
Kundli milan is a comparison of two people's birth charts using a fixed set of traditional rules. The most common North Indian method is called Ashtakoota, which means "eight kootas" (eight points of comparison). Each koota has a maximum score, and together they add up to 36.
The rules come from the jyotish tradition. The Muhurta Chintamani, in its chapter on marriage (Vivaha Prakarana), is the main classical text that describes the kootas. South India often uses a different system of ten poruthams, which this guide does not cover.
How are the 36 points split across the eight kootas?
The 36 points are split so that each koota carries a different weight, from 1 point for Varna up to 8 points for Nadi. Almost all of them are read from the Moon: the Moon sign (rashi) and the Moon's nakshatra at birth.
| Koota | Points | Read from |
|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Moon sign |
| Vashya | 2 | Moon sign |
| Tara | 3 | Moon nakshatra |
| Yoni | 4 | Moon nakshatra |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Lords of the two Moon signs |
| Gana | 6 | Moon nakshatra |
| Bhakoot | 7 | Moon signs |
| Nadi | 8 | Moon nakshatra |
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 = 36. For what each koota looks at, read the 8 kootas explained.
What do 18 and 24 gun mean?
The numbers 18 and 24 are widely used thresholds, not rules from a classical verse. In common practice:
- 24 or more is called a strong match.
- 18 to 23.5 is called acceptable.
- Below 18 is a signal for a careful look, not a "no".
We searched for a classical verse that fixes 18 or 24 and did not find one. That is why SachAstro always labels these bands as convention. Two kootas, Nadi and Bhakoot, can each score zero, and tradition also lists exceptions that can restore those points. Read more in Nadi and Bhakoot explained.
Why does birth time matter so much?
Birth time matters because the Moon moves fast, roughly one nakshatra a day. Since most kootas are read from the Moon's nakshatra, a difference of a few hours can move the Moon into the next nakshatra and change several kootas at once.
So the quality of the birth time decides how much the score can be trusted:
- Exact recorded time (for example, from a hospital record): the score can be shown as a result.
- Approximate time ("around morning"): the score is provisional.
- Date only, no time: matching is not really meaningful, because the Moon's nakshatra is not known for sure.
What happens if one of us does not know the exact birth time?
If either person's birth time is not exact, the result is marked provisional and should not be read as final. SachAstro still shows the kootas it can compute, says clearly which result is provisional, and explains why.
If you can, use the time from a birth certificate or hospital record.
Is a kundli milan score a prediction of the marriage?
No, a kundli milan score is not a prediction of how a marriage will go. The score describes how two charts compare under a traditional rule set. It does not measure love, respect, values, money habits or how two people handle a disagreement.
Many families treat the score as one input among many. A high score does not promise a happy marriage, and a low score does not rule one out. The people, their families and their choices matter far more.
Tradition, not proven science. Guna milan is a cultural practice. SachAstro explains it honestly and never presents a score as a forecast of anyone's future.
How SachAstro calculates this
SachAstro computes kundli facts with its own chart engine, using NASA JPL DE440 planetary data (via Skyfield), the sidereal zodiac and the Lahiri ayanamsa. The AI never calculates positions itself.
Matching follows the published SachAstro Matching Standard v1 (MS-1.0):
- Raw score first. All eight kootas are computed from printed tables, and the raw total out of 36 is shown.
- Every exception is its own line. If a traditional exception applies, it is shown with its source, and the adjusted score sits beside the raw score. Nothing is changed silently.
- Manglik is checked three ways, from the lagna, the Moon and Venus, with the traditional cancellations listed. See Manglik explained.
- Provisional if a birth time is not exact.
- Bands are labelled as convention.
The free view of the Match Card shows the score out of 36, all eight koota bars and the reason behind the weakest koota. The full Match Card is ₹299, paid once by UPI after the price is shown, with no AutoPay ever (see pricing). Payments are not open yet. Tara, SachAstro's AI guide, only explains the computed facts and is always labelled as AI (how Tara works).
Frequently asked questions
Is 18 gun enough for marriage?
18 gun is the conventional line for an "acceptable" match, but it is a custom, not a rule from scripture. Look at which kootas scored low and whether any exception applies, rather than at the total alone.
Is a 36 out of 36 match possible?
Yes, a full 36 is possible, though it needs all eight kootas to score their maximum. A perfect score still says nothing certain about the marriage itself.
Can kundli milan be done without birth time?
Kundli milan can be done with an approximate time, but the result is provisional. With a date only, the Moon's nakshatra is uncertain, so the score is not meaningful.
Which kootas carry the most points?
Nadi (8 points), Bhakoot (7) and Gana (6) carry the most. Together they make up 21 of the 36 points, so a zero in one of them moves the total a lot.
What is the difference between guna milan and kundli milan?
They usually mean the same thing in everyday speech. Guna milan is the 36-point scoring, and kundli milan is the wider comparison of two charts, which often also includes a Manglik check.
Does a low score mean we should not marry?
No. A low score is a signal some families use to take a closer look, not a verdict. Your values, your families and your own judgement matter more than any score.