Eight factors, one traditional score
Ashtakoota assigns maximum points to eight factors: Varna (1), Vashya (2), Tara (3), Yoni (4), Graha Maitri (5), Gana (6), Bhakoot (7), and Nadi (8). Together these total 36. The matching rules draw on the birth charts, including the Moon’s placement.
The weighting belongs to the astrological method. It is not a scientific scale of relationship quality. Different traditions may use other matching methods or apply additional rules.
Read the breakdown before the total
Ask which factors contributed to the result and which supplied fewer points. Two couples with the same total can have different component scores. A single number hides that distinction.
For example, an illustrative score of 24/36 must not be described as a 67% chance of a happy marriage. Dividing the total by 36 only expresses a fraction of available points, not an outcome probability.
A worked example: two totals of 24 can hide different questions
Consider an invented teaching example: Varna 1, Vashya 2, Tara 3, Yoni 3, Graha Maitri 2, Gana 6, Bhakoot 7, and Nadi 0. These add up to 24 out of 36. The total alone hides that all eight possible Nadi points are absent.
A second invented breakdown could be Varna 1, Vashya 2, Tara 3, Yoni 3, Graha Maitri 0, Gana 0, Bhakoot 7, and Nadi 8. That also adds up to 24, but the missing points are in different factors. These are arithmetic illustrations, not calculated charts for real couples. Ask how your own factors were computed and interpreted.
Is 18, 24, or 32 out of 36 enough for marriage?
There is no score that can make a marriage decision for you. Traditional thresholds vary with the method and with how particular factors or exceptions are treated. Even a high total can leave a factor that the chosen tradition considers important unresolved.
Start with the breakdown and the stated method rather than a universal pass mark. Then discuss actual expectations: where to live, work plans, family responsibilities, money, and how to handle disagreements. A lower score is not an instruction to end a relationship, and a higher score cannot override what either person experiences.
Why can two websites disagree?
First compare the inputs: birth time, place, time zone, and dates. Then compare the calculation settings and matching rules. A difference should be explained before either result is treated as authoritative.
Keep a copy of the inputs and the factor breakdown when asking about a discrepancy. You do not need to publish personal birth details in a public discussion to ask how a method works.
Questions to ask after a reading
Use the report as an opening for reflection. The questions you ask each other can be more actionable than the total.
- Which part of this description matches our actual experience?
- What practical agreement would help with the concern raised?
- Which facts are missing, and would they change the interpretation?
Reference: Point allocation: Drik Panchang Kundali Match tutorial.
These guides explain traditional interpretations and reflection tools. They do not predict guaranteed outcomes. Read about our methods and privacy.