Why do the kootas add up to exactly 36?

The eight kootas are weighted one through eight: Varna 1, Vashya 2, Tara 3, Yoni 4, Graha Maitri 5, Gana 6, Bhakoot 7, Nadi 8. Those numbers sum to 36, which is why the maximum match score is always 36.

Which koota carries the most points?

Nadi carries 8 points, the most of any koota. It reads constitution and the health of future children. Losing it also raises Nadi dosha, which is why it weighs so heavily on the total.

Is a high Ashtakoot score enough on its own?

No. Ashtakoot reads only the Moon nakshatra in each chart. A strong total still needs a check on Mangal dosha, dasha overlap, and the 7th house in both birth charts before drawing any conclusion.

Ashtakoot Matching: The Eight Kootas Behind the 36 Points

Ashtakoot means eight factors. In Vedic matchmaking it is the set of eight tests that turn two Moon nakshatras into a single compatibility score out of 36. The word Guna Milan describes the practice; Ashtakoot describes the eight pieces that make up the math.

How the eight points add to 36

Each koota carries its own maximum. List them in order of weight and the total is fixed:

Varna: 1 point
Vashya: 2 points
Tara: 3 points
Yoni: 4 points
Graha Maitri: 5 points
Gana: 6 points
Bhakoot: 7 points
Nadi: 8 points

One plus two plus three and so on through eight comes to 36. A couple earns part or all of each koota's maximum depending on how their two nakshatras and Moon signs relate. The eight results are summed into the final figure.

What each koota is checking

Varna looks at the balance of ego and the ability to work as a pair. Vashya measures the natural pull and influence between the two. Tara reads health, fortune, and longevity from how far apart the nakshatras sit when counted. Yoni assigns each nakshatra an animal symbol and checks physical and intimate compatibility. Graha Maitri compares the lords of the two Moon signs to gauge mental friendship. Gana sorts each person into Deva, Manushya, or Rakshasa temperament and checks the fit. Bhakoot uses the distance between the two Moon signs to judge finances and family welfare. Nadi reads constitution and the health of future children, and it carries the most weight.

Why the weights matter

Because the points are uneven, where you lose them changes the meaning. Losing the single Varna point barely moves the total. Losing all eight Nadi points removes nearly a quarter of the score and also triggers a separate flag called Nadi dosha. Two couples can both score 24/36 and yet be in very different shape: one strong everywhere except Varna, the other carrying a Nadi or Bhakoot dosha. The headline number hides that difference.

Reading the total without overreading it

Add the eight and you have a useful summary, not a final ruling. Ashtakoot reads only the Moon in each chart. It says nothing about Mangal dosha, about how the two dasha periods line up over the coming years, or about the 7th house that actually governs marriage. A high total is a good sign, not a promise. A low total asks for a closer look, not a refusal. Avoid anyone who turns a low koota count into a sales pitch for a paid remedy.

AstroMedha computes all eight kootas from both full birth charts, shows you exactly where the points are won or lost, and then reads Mangal dosha, dasha overlap, and the 7th house so the 36-point total is one input among several rather than the whole decision.

Common questions

Why do the kootas add up to exactly 36?: The eight kootas are weighted one through eight: Varna 1, Vashya 2, Tara 3, Yoni 4, Graha Maitri 5, Gana 6, Bhakoot 7, Nadi 8. Those numbers sum to 36, which is why the maximum match score is always 36.
Which koota carries the most points?: Nadi carries 8 points, the most of any koota. It reads constitution and the health of future children. Losing it also raises Nadi dosha, which is why it weighs so heavily on the total.
Is a high Ashtakoot score enough on its own?: No. Ashtakoot reads only the Moon nakshatra in each chart. A strong total still needs a check on Mangal dosha, dasha overlap, and the 7th house in both birth charts before drawing any conclusion.