The 10 porutham for marriage are the ten agreements South Indian astrology checks between two horoscopes before a wedding is discussed seriously. Many Tamil, Malayali and Sri Lankan Tamil families in the UK still use them, and understanding what each porutham measures makes the result far easier to read and talk about.

Already holding two jathakams and unsure what the porutham table is telling you? Send your question through our enquiry form with both sets of birth details and I will explain what stands out.

How porutham matching differs from North Indian kundli milan

Families from Gujarat, Punjab or Uttar Pradesh usually talk about Guna Milan, the 36-point Ashtakoota system. South Indian practice, known as thirumana porutham in Tamil, works differently. Instead of adding up a score out of 36, it checks ten separate agreements, mostly based on the birth stars (nakshatras) and Moon signs (rasis) of the bride and groom, and marks each one as matching or not.

The emphasis also differs. A North Indian astrologer may focus heavily on Nadi, while a South Indian astrologer will usually look first at Rajju and Dina. If you are a mixed couple, perhaps one partner with Chennai roots and one with Delhi roots, you may receive two quite different-looking results from the same pair of charts. That is normal, and it is a good reason to have both results interpreted side by side rather than choosing whichever looks better. The North Indian approach is covered in our guide to Guna Milan scores.

The 10 porutham for marriage, one by one

Names and spellings vary slightly between Tamil and Malayalam traditions, but the ten agreements are broadly these:

Dina porutham – counted from the bride's star to the groom's, read for day-to-day harmony.
Gana porutham – compares temperament, with each star classed as Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa.
Mahendra porutham – traditionally read for the steady growth of the household over time.
Stree Deergha porutham – looks at the distance between the two stars, traditionally read for the bride's happiness and prosperity in the marriage.
Yoni porutham – each star has an animal symbol; this compares physical and instinctive compatibility.
Rasi porutham – the relationship between the two Moon signs.
Rasi Adhipathi porutham – whether the planets ruling those Moon signs are friendly, neutral or hostile.
Vasya porutham – mutual attraction and the ability to influence one another.
Rajju porutham – the five rajju groups of stars; most families treat this as one of the most important checks.
Vedha porutham – certain pairs of stars are considered to obstruct each other; this checks for that pairing.

Which poruthams carry the most weight?

No two family astrologers weigh the ten in exactly the same way. Rajju and Dina are almost always treated as important, and many also give real weight to Gana, Rasi, Rasi Adhipathi and Yoni. A common rule of thumb is that a match should have a majority of the ten, including the key ones, but that is a convention rather than a fixed law.

When a key porutham is missing

Traditional practice includes exceptions. For instance, some astrologers soften a Rajju mismatch in particular combinations, such as when both Moons fall in the same sign or their signs share a ruling planet, while others apply Rajju strictly. These exceptions are rarely shown on a printed table, which is why reading the full charts matters.

Why the full jathakam still matters

Poruthams are based almost entirely on the Moon's position. They say a great deal about emotional rhythm, but very little on their own about the 7th house of partnership, the condition of Venus, Chevvai dosham (the South Indian name for Manglik dosha) or the planetary periods each person is entering. A sound match brings those in too.

That is the purpose of a Compatibility Reading. In 30 minutes, online by Google Meet or WhatsApp, we look at both horoscopes together and talk through where the relationship is naturally strong, where it may meet challenges and how the two of you tend to communicate. If Chevvai dosham has been mentioned, our article on Manglik dosha matching explains it without the drama.

What to prepare before a porutham reading

A little preparation makes the conversation much more useful:

Date, time and place of birth for both partners, as exact as you can find. A star can change within the same day.
Any existing jathakam or porutham table the family has already been given, so differences can be explained rather than repeated.
The questions behind the question. Is the worry Rajju? A parent's concern? Timing of the wedding? Saying so up front helps.
Who will be present. Some couples prefer to talk alone first; others want a parent on the call. Both are fine.

Many British Tamil families keep handwritten horoscopes cast in India or Sri Lanka decades ago. These are valuable, but the birth time recorded on them is sometimes rounded, so it helps to check it against a birth certificate or hospital record where possible.

Once the match is agreed

When both families are comfortable with the poruthams, attention usually turns to the wedding date. Choosing a muhurtham that suits both horoscopes, and fits around UK venues and family travel, is the focus of Magic of Lucky Dates and Times.

Frequently asked questions

How many of the 10 poruthams should match?

Many astrologers look for at least five or six of the ten, with Rajju and Dina among them, but practice varies between families and regions. The pattern and the exceptions matter more than a simple count.

Can you do porutham matching from a date of birth only?

A date gives a likely star, but the Moon can move into the next nakshatra during the day, and the full chart needs a time. With only a date, the reading will explain clearly what can and cannot be said.

Is porutham matching different for Malayali and Tamil families?

The core idea is shared, though names, the number of agreements emphasised and some exceptions differ slightly. Tell me which tradition your family follows and the reading will respect it.

Do both families need to attend the reading?

No. Some couples attend alone and share a summary afterwards; others invite parents. Choose whatever helps the conversation at home.

To take the next step, send your question through the enquiry form with both partners' birth details and any porutham table you already have, or book a Compatibility Reading directly. You can expect a clear, unhurried explanation of the match that you can share at home.