A guna milan score is the total, out of 36, produced by the Ashtakoota system of Vedic marriage matching. It compares the two partners' Moon positions across eight categories called kootas. Traditionally 18 or more is considered acceptable, but the number is a summary, not a verdict, and what sits behind it matters far more.

Where the 36 points come from

Ashtakoota means "eight categories". Each is scored from the couple's Moon signs and Moon nakshatras, and each has a different maximum. Higher-weighted categories influence the total much more than lower ones.

Varna (1 point): temperament and approach to duty.
Vashya (2 points): mutual influence and attraction.
Tara (3 points): compatibility of birth stars, traditionally linked with wellbeing and fortune.
Yoni (4 points): instinctive and physical compatibility, symbolised by animals.
Graha Maitri (5 points): friendship between the rulers of the two Moon signs, often read as mental rapport.
Gana (6 points): basic nature, classified as deva, manushya or rakshasa.
Bhakoot (7 points): the relationship between the two Moon signs, linked with family life and harmony.
Nadi (8 points): the highest-weighted category, traditionally linked with physical constitution and temperament.

If you already have a score and want to know what it means for you both, send your question through the enquiry form and I will explain what a reading would add.

How the guna milan score is usually interpreted

Traditional guidance groups scores into broad bands. Below 18 is generally treated as weak; 18 to 24 as acceptable; 25 to 32 as good; above 32 as very strong. Families differ in how strictly they apply these bands, and some regional traditions use other systems altogether, such as the ten-factor matching common in South India.

Why websites give different totals

It is common to see a couple scored 22 on one site and 24 on another. The usual causes are:

an incorrect time zone or birth time placing the Moon in a different nakshatra
slightly different rules for certain kootas between traditions
whether exceptions and cancellations are applied automatically

Why the number alone is never the verdict

A total score hides which categories scored well and which scored nothing. That distribution matters more than the sum.

Nadi and Bhakoot doshas

If Nadi scores zero, eight points disappear at once, and this is traditionally flagged as Nadi dosha. A zero in Bhakoot is flagged as Bhakoot dosha. A couple could therefore score 26 with a dosha present, or 20 without one.

Cancellations and exceptions

Classical texts describe conditions under which these doshas are considered cancelled or reduced, for example when certain Moon sign rulers are friendly or when the nakshatras relate in particular ways. Automated tools apply these rules inconsistently, which is one reason a human reading adds clarity.

What Ashtakoota does not measure

The system is built entirely on the Moon. It does not consider the seventh house, Venus, Jupiter, the navamsa chart or either person's current planetary periods. Mangal dosha, concerning Mars, is also checked separately and does not appear in the 36-point total.

In other words, Ashtakoota describes how two emotional natures meet. It is a meaningful layer, but it cannot tell you how two people handle responsibility, ambition, family life or disagreement over the years. Those questions need the rest of both charts, and an honest conversation.

Reading your own matching report, step by step

Before drawing conclusions from any report, work through it in this order. It takes a few minutes and often removes a lot of worry.

Check the inputs. Confirm that both dates, times and places are correct, and that a UK birth during British Summer Time has been entered with the right offset.
Look at each koota, not just the total. Note which categories scored full marks and which scored zero.
Look for Nadi and Bhakoot. If either scored zero, see whether the report mentions any cancellation, and treat automated conclusions cautiously.
Find the Mangal dosha section. It is usually listed separately, and many reports show it for both partners.
Compare with one other source. If totals differ, the Moon nakshatra is usually the cause; check it appears the same on both.

This will not replace a full reading, but it helps you arrive at one with clear, specific questions.

When a fuller compatibility reading helps

A score is a good first filter. A reading becomes worthwhile when:

the score is low or borderline, and you want to understand why
a dosha has been flagged and you want to know whether exceptions apply
different websites disagree and the family is unsure which to trust
you have a good score but want insight into communication and everyday life together

The Compatibility Reading is a 30-minute online session over Google Meet or WhatsApp. I look at both charts as a whole, including the Ashtakoota factors in context, to describe the strengths and challenges in the relationship and how to improve communication. It works for love and for business partnerships. It offers guidance to support a considered decision; it does not promise any outcome.

If one of you is unsure of your birth time, the article on a compatibility reading with uncertain birth details explains what can still be read reliably.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good guna milan score?

Traditionally 18 or above out of 36 is considered acceptable, with higher totals seen as more harmonious. Which categories scored, and whether any dosha is present, matters as much as the total.

Is 36 out of 36 a perfect match?

A full score is rare and is seen as very harmonious in Ashtakoota terms, but it says nothing about the rest of each chart. No score can promise a happy marriage.

Does the score need a birth time?

It relies on the Moon's nakshatra, which usually needs at least an approximate time, since the Moon changes nakshatra roughly once a day.

Have a score that worries you, or two websites that disagree? Send both sets of birth details and the report you received through the enquiry form. I will explain what the numbers reflect, including any dosha and its exceptions, and arrange a Compatibility Reading if it would help.