Guna Milan — literally "matching of qualities" — is the North Indian system for comparing two birth charts before marriage. It scores a pairing out of 36 points across eight factors (kootas), each derived from the two partners' birth stars (nakshatras) and moon signs (rashis).
The eight kootas, from lightest to heaviest
- Varna (1 point) — temperament and work compatibility.
- Vashya (2) — mutual influence and give-and-take.
- Tara (3) — destiny compatibility and wellbeing.
- Yoni (4) — instinctive and physical compatibility.
- Graha Maitri (5) — friendship between the moon-sign lords; the mental bond.
- Gana (6) — nature: deva, manushya, or rakshasa temperament.
- Bhakoot (7) — the relative positions of the two moon signs; life rhythm.
- Nadi (8) — the heaviest factor, traditionally linked to health and lineage.
What is a good score?
Convention: below 18 is considered weak, 18–24 acceptable, 24–28 good, and 28+ excellent. But the total alone misleads — a 30/36 with an uncancelled Nadi dosha is traditionally treated more cautiously than a 22/36 without one.
Doshas — and the cancellations everyone forgets
Nadi dosha (both partners share the same nadi) and Bhakoot dosha (moon signs in a 6-8, 2-12, or 5-9 relationship) are the two headline flags. The classical texts also list cancellation conditions — for example, Nadi dosha is traditionally cancelled when partners share a rashi but have different nakshatras. Quick calculators that skip cancellations scare couples unnecessarily. Milaps computes both the dosha and its cancellation rules, and shows the work.
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