AstroNivaKundli matching · CALCULATION GUIDE
Kundli Matching: The 36 Gunas and Your Report Explained
Understand the eight Ashtakoota scores, why Guna Milan totals 36, how to read a matching report and what to ask about Mangal Dosha and exceptions.
What does a score out of 36 mean?
Ashtakoota Guna Milan adds points across eight matching factors. Their maximum points are 1 through 8, which add up to 36. A result such as 24/36 is the total within that system.
It is useful to separate three things shown in a matching report: the numerical total, the individual Koota results and the interpretation or exception notes. A summary number cannot show every detail in the other two parts.
The eight Kootas and their maximum points
| Koota | Maximum points | What to check in your report |
|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | The awarded score and the stated classification |
| Vashya | 2 | The pairing used by the calculation |
| Tara / Dina | 3 | The birth-star pairing and notes |
| Yoni | 4 | The category pairing and explanation |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | The sign-lord relationship used |
| Gana | 6 | The compared traditional categories |
| Bhakoot / Rashi | 7 | The Moon-sign relationship and exceptions |
| Nadi | 8 | The category pairing and any exception notes |
| Total | 36 | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 |
How to read a total without losing the detail
Start with the eight awarded scores and check that they add to the displayed total. Then read the notes for the components that received fewer points. Two reports can share the same total while distributing those points differently.
You may see 18/36 described as a conventional threshold in introductory guides. Interpretations differ between providers, and exception rules can affect the written assessment. Read the actual interpretation returned with the report instead of replacing it with a generic score chart.
If a page converts 24/36 to a percentage, the arithmetic is 24 ÷ 36 × 100, or about 66.7%. That is a percentage of the available Guna points, not a measured chance of marriage success. It is also a different calculation from a name-number compatibility percentage.
Where Mangal Dosha and exceptions fit
Mangal Dosha is displayed separately from the eight-Koota total in AstroNiva’s matching report. It should not be added as a ninth Koota or subtracted from the total without the provider’s stated method.
Read the provider’s Mangal findings for both people, the available explanations and the interpretation notes together. When you see an exception, ask what condition triggered it and which birth details or placements the explanation used.
Why matching reports can differ
Check the original inputs before comparing totals: date, exact local birth time, selected birthplace, time zone and whether the two people were entered in the same roles. Also check the matching system and chart settings. A different system is not the same test with a different design.
AstroNiva’s Kundli Matching tool calculates the eight scores locally using the selected Saravali Ashtakoota tables, with the rule explanations and calculation settings shown in the report. A name compatibility report instead starts with letters in names. It does not calculate a birth-chart Guna score.
Questions to take to a matching consultation
- Which Kootas account for the points not awarded?
- Are any exception rules included, and why do they apply?
- What are the separate Mangal findings for each chart?
- Are both birth times and time zones reliable?
- What chart information is being discussed beyond the total?
Save or print both the detailed table and its notes. For a marriage matching consultation, share the questions you want explained, rather than only sending the final score. Agree the reading scope, fee and suitable time before booking.
Calculation checks and references
Worked examples were checked against AstroNiva’s calculator rules. Use the related tools to inspect the inputs, calculation details and result.
Saravali: Ashtakoota tables — Published scoring tables used by the local matching engine.
Astroyogi: eight Koota score limits — A reference for the component maxima; provider interpretations and exception rules may differ.