36 gunas explained: what a Guna Milan score really means
A calm, plain-language guide to Ashtakoota Guna Milan: the 8 kootas, their points out of 36, and how families traditionally read the score.
25 October 2026 · 2 min read
When families say "how many gunas match?", they mean Ashtakoota Guna Milan, the North Indian way of comparing two horoscopes. It compares the Moon's position (rashi and nakshatra) at the time of birth of the two people and gives a score out of 36.
The 8 kootas
| Koota | Maximum points | What it traditionally looks at |
|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | Temperament and outlook |
| Vashya | 2 | Mutual attraction and influence |
| Tara | 3 | Compatibility of birth stars |
| Yoni | 4 | Nature and intimacy |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Friendship of the moon-sign lords: mental wavelength |
| Gana | 6 | Temperament type (Deva, Manushya, Rakshasa) |
| Bhakoot | 7 | Relative position of the two moon signs: family harmony |
| Nadi | 8 | One of three nadis based on the nakshatra |
Together: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 = 36.
How families read the score
A common traditional rule of thumb:
- Below 18: many families look more closely before going ahead
- 18 to 24: considered acceptable
- 25 to 32: considered good
- 33 and above: considered very good
These bands are tradition, not science, and different families and priests use them differently.
What the score doesn't tell you
Guna Milan uses only the Moon's position. It does not know about education, values, where each person wants to live, or how they talk to each other. That is why we show kundli matching alongside a practical life-fit check in the Gun Mile Report.
What to do with a score
Use it as a conversation starter. Read which kootas were strong and which were low, check any doshas and their cancellations, and then meet and talk.
See how two families match
Kundli matching and practical life fit, explained in plain words.
Get your Gun Mile ReportQuestions families ask
How many gunas should match?
Traditionally, 18 or more out of 36 is considered acceptable, and higher scores are considered better. It is one input among many, not a verdict.
Is a low score a reason to say no?
Not by itself. Many families look at which kootas scored low, at doshas and their cancellations, and above all at how the two people get along.
Read next
Bhakoot dosha explained in simple words
Bhakoot koota is worth 7 of the 36 gunas. Which moon-sign positions give 0 points, and the traditional cancellations.
Nadi dosha explained: what it is and when it doesn't apply
Nadi koota carries 8 of the 36 gunas. What the three nadis are, why the same nadi gives 0 points, and the traditional exceptions.
Manglik dosha explained calmly
What being manglik means in traditional astrology, how it is calculated, why two manglik partners are matched, and the common cancellation rules.