Are we compatible? Talk to an astrologer who reads both charts, not just the score
Compatibility in Vedic astrology starts with each partner's own chart, and the guna score is read only after that, as one part of the picture.
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We have been together three years and want to marry. The app says our guna score is 16. Does that mean we are not compatible?
A score of 16 is a starting point, not a verdict. Please share both birth dates, times and places. I will read each chart's 7th and 8th houses first, then see which kootas lost points and why.
Short answer
Astrologers judge compatibility with a partner, also called kundli milan, guna milan or porutham, by reading both birth charts first and then matching the two Moons. The 36-point guna score is one part, and classical writers rank the 7th and 8th houses above it 1, so a score alone settles nothing. On Kismo, verified Vedic astrologers read both charts by chat or call, online from anywhere.
What are the key facts about compatibility with partner?
| Answer | |
|---|---|
| What it is | A reading of how two birth charts fit, used before marriage or inside a relationship |
| Other names | Kundli milan, kundali matching, guna milan, ashtakoota, porutham, jathaka porutham |
| The score | Eight kootas worth 36 points, from varna (1) to nadi (8) 36 |
| What an astrologer checks | Each chart's 7th and 8th houses, then Moon sign and birth star agreement, then the score |
| What to bring | Both birth dates, exact birth times and birth places |
| Session on Kismo | From ₹15 a minute, first session with 5 free minutes, online from anywhere in India and abroad |
What does an astrologer check to see if two partners are compatible?
- Each person's own chart. B. V. Raman's Muhurtha names longevity and the strength of the 7th and 8th houses as the first two factors, before any matching 1.
- Agreement between the two Moon signs. Raman gives this rasi kuta 7 units and lists the sign positions he reads as good or troubled 1.
- Agreement between the two birth stars. Prasna Marga says compatibility is judged from the birth stars, and 16 of its 23 items use them 2.
- The eight-koota score out of 36 6. Drik Panchang gives nadi supreme priority within the score 3.
- Exceptions before rejection. Raman lists cases where a missing koota can be ignored, such as nadi when the rasi and rajju kutas hold 1.
Which situation is yours?
- Moon Sign Compatibility: Ask a Vedic Astrologer
Moon sign compatibility is the rasi part of the match, where the schools disagree most about which sign distances are troubled.
- Nakshatra Matching for Marriage: Ask an Astrologer
Nakshatra compatibility is the birth star part, where nadi, gana, yoni and rajju come from and South Indian porutham does most of its work.
- Kundli Matching Without Birth Time: Ask Astrologers
Without birth times only the Moon-based parts can be read, and even those can be uncertain for a birth near a Moon change.
What guna score do most couples get?
Most random couples score between 18 and 31 out of 36. The figures below come from counting all 129,600 pairs of Moon positions, in one-degree steps, through the eight-koota point tables.
| Guna score (calculated) | Share of random couples |
|---|---|
| Below 18 | 29.3% |
| 18 to 24.5 | 39.0% |
| 25 to 31.5 | 29.7% |
| 32 or more | 2.0% |
| Average score | 20.9 of 36 |
A pass mark can hide the heaviest kootas. In the same count, 12.6% of all couples scored 18 or more while getting zero for nadi, and 29.1% scored 18 or more with zero for bhakoot. Each Moon position was treated as equally likely, which is how the Moon's time divides over the years.
What is kundli matching called in North and South India?
Kundli matching is called guna milan or ashtakoota in North India and porutham in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The two traditions also count different items.
| Region or text | Common name | What is counted | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| North India | Kundli milan, guna milan, ashtakoota | Eight kootas, 36 points | 3 |
| Tamil Nadu and the South | Porutham, puruththam | Raman lists 12 factors for marriage adaptability | 1 |
| Kerala, Prasna Marga | Anukulya (agreement) | 23 items: 4 from the Moon sign, 16 from birth stars, plus sign lord, love and age | 2 |
| Jammu, Dogra families | Gun milan | The 36-point match, with an 18-point minimum | 4 |
Where does kundli matching come from, and do all schools agree?
Kundli matching rules come from muhurta texts, the books on choosing auspicious times, not from the core birth-chart classics. Prasna Marga quotes Sarvasiddhi, Madhavacharya, Brihaspati, Muhurta Sangraha and Muhurtabharana on how to count agreement 2.
The schools rank the items differently. Prasna Marga reports that Sarvarthasiddhi weighs 20 items, Madhava 15, and that experience favours five: the Moon sign, its lord, vasya, mahendra and yoni 2. Nadi is not on that list.
The North Indian 36-point system puts nadi on top 6. Drik Panchang says a match with an unfavourable nadi is read as inauspicious even with 28 points 3. Raman's Muhurtha also calls nadi the most important koota, worth 8 units 1.
Raman criticised score-only matching in 1948. He wrote that horoscopes were rejected for missing certain items while longevity and the 7th and 8th houses were ignored 1. He wanted the items considered only once the two charts showed general sympathy 1.
| School or text | What it weighs most | Source |
|---|---|---|
| North Indian ashtakoota | Nadi, then bhakoot, within 36 points | 3 |
| B. V. Raman, Muhurtha | Longevity and the 7th and 8th houses first; nadi the most important koota | 1 |
| Sarvarthasiddhi, via Prasna Marga | Moon sign, its lord, vasya, mahendra, yoni | 2 |
| Prasna Marga's own list | Moon sign, its lord, vasya, mahendra, gana, yoni, dina, stree deergha | 2 |
How many families still rely on kundli matching?
Belief in kundli matching is still very high in parts of India. In a 2023 field study of 100 married people in Akhnoor, Jammu, 89% believed in gun milan and 11% did not 4.
Many families never go beyond the score. The study cites earlier work saying that a decade before, only about 20% of Hindu parents visited an astrologer for matching 4. The other 80% used the simple 36-point match with 18 as the minimum 4.
Local astrologers in the study were critical of that habit. One said many astrologers reject any match below 18 points without looking further 4. Another said some families give wrong birth details to make a match pass 4.
Not everyone sees matching as needed. In Kerala, a feminist advocate told The News Minute that many happy couples never matched horoscopes 5. An astrologer quoted in the same report said no science or spirituality is greater than love 5.
What gets read in each partner's chart, and what across both?
Compatibility is read in three layers: your chart, your partner's chart, and the two together.
| Your chart | Your partner's chart | Both together |
|---|---|---|
| Strength of the 7th and 8th houses | Strength of the 7th and 8th houses | Moon sign agreement |
| Mars and its manglik reading | Mars and its manglik reading | Birth star agreement: nadi, gana, yoni |
| Venus and the 7th lord | Venus and the 7th lord | The 36-point score and its exceptions |
| The dasha now | The dasha now | Whether hard periods overlap |
What happens in a compatibility consultation?
A compatibility consultation usually goes from the two charts to the score, and ends with what the couple can do with the reading. This is an example, not a real client's chat.
- The astrologer asks for both birth dates, times and places, and whether the couple are already together.
- The astrologer reads each chart's 7th and 8th houses, Venus and Mars.
- The astrologer works out the Moon signs and birth stars and goes koota by koota.
- Where a koota scores zero, the astrologer checks whether an exception applies.
- The astrologer explains strong and weak points in plain words, and what the couple might talk about together.
What do people get wrong about this?
Belief: A score below 18 means the couple cannot marry.
The 18-point line is a popular rule, and local astrologers in the Jammu study criticised colleagues who reject matches on it alone 4. Raman puts the 7th and 8th houses before any score 1.
Belief: Every school of matching uses the same eight items.
Prasna Marga counts 23 items and reports schools weighing 20, 15 or 5 of them 2. Nadi, the heaviest North Indian koota, is not in its five most important 23.
Belief: A 30-plus score is common for a good couple.
In a count over all pairs of Moon positions, only 2.0% of random couples scored 32 or more. A very high score is rare, not a normal mark of a good match.
Before you pay anyone
How do you know an astrologer is genuine?
- Every Kismo astrologer passes four steps: qualification review, panel interview, live audits of real sessions, 30-day probation.
- Nobody can guarantee an outcome. Treat any promise of a fixed result as a red flag.
- Never pay for an expensive puja or ritual under pressure. Get a second opinion first.
- On Kismo you only pay for the minutes you use; misconduct, pressure or a request for money outside the app is handled by a person.
Which astrologers can I talk to about compatibility with partner?
How does a consultation on Kismo work?
- Log in on kismo.app or get the app from Google Play.
- Pick an astrologer who speaks your language and works with your question.
- Share your date, time and place of birth.
- Ask by chat or call. The first session carries 5 free minutes, then each minute is billed from your wallet.
Questions worth asking in the session
- How do my 7th and 8th houses compare with my partner's?
- Which kootas lost points, and does any exception apply?
- Is either of us manglik, and does the other chart balance it?
- Do our hard dasha periods overlap in the next few years?
- What would you suggest we talk about as a couple after this reading?
What should I know before booking a session about compatibility with partner?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does a session cost? | Each astrologer sets one rate for chat and call, from ₹15 a minute. A 10-minute session at ₹15 a minute costs ₹150 (October 2026). |
| Is the first session free? | 5 free minutes on the first session, no card. |
| Chat or call? | Both. You choose when you start the session. |
| Do I need an exact birth time? | It helps. Without one an astrologer can still read your Moon sign and planets by sign, or work out the time with you. |
| Is my chat private? | Your chat is not shown to other clients. How Kismo handles your data is set out in its privacy policy at kismo.app/privacy. |
| What if I am not happy? | There is no refund for a reading you did not like. Misconduct, pressure or a request for money outside Kismo is handled by a person. |
| Where does it work? | Online, from anywhere in India and abroad. People use Kismo from 80+ countries. |
What else do people ask an astrologer about?
How does Kismo compare with other apps?
Questions people ask
How many gunas should match for marriage?
Most astrologers treat 18 of 36 gunas as the usual minimum, and Drik Panchang calls 21 to 30 very good. The score is only one part of the reading. Many astrologers first read both charts' 7th and 8th houses and check which kootas lost points, because a zero in nadi or bhakoot matters more than the total 36.
Is kundli matching important before marriage, or can we skip it?
Kundli matching is a choice, not a requirement, and many couples marry without it. Families who use it often want to check manglik dosha and the score. If you do match, ask the astrologer to read both full charts, because a score alone leaves out the houses that classical writers put first.
Our kundli is not matching but we love each other. What should we do?
Ask an astrologer which items failed and whether an exception applies, because many low scores have one. Raman's Muhurtha, for example, says a missing nadi can be ignored when the rasi and rajju kutas hold. A second opinion can also help families talk calmly. The decision to marry stays with the two of you.
What is the difference between guna milan and porutham?
Guna milan is the North Indian eight-koota match scored out of 36 6, and porutham is the South Indian method that checks a list of agreements one by one. Porutham leans more on birth stars and items like rajju. Both start from the Moon, and an astrologer can read your match in either system.
Can an AI app or free calculator match our kundlis properly?
A free calculator or AI app can give the 36-point score quickly, but it rarely reads both full charts or applies exceptions. Classical writers put the 7th and 8th houses and longevity before the score. Use the tool to see the numbers, then ask an astrologer to read what sits behind them.
What do we pay to have our two kundlis matched and explained by an astrologer?
A compatibility reading on Kismo costs the astrologer's per-minute rate, from ₹15 a minute, billed per started minute from your wallet. The first session carries 5 free minutes with no card needed. The minimum top-up is ₹100, and minutes you do not use stay in the wallet.
An astrologer says our match is cursed unless we pay for a dosha puja. Is that a red flag?
Yes, being told a match is cursed unless you pay for a puja is a red flag. Many low scores have exceptions that cost nothing to check, and no ritual can guarantee a marriage. Get a second opinion before paying for any ritual. On Kismo, pressure or asking for money outside the app is handled by a person.
Where can I get our compatibility read by an astrologer online?
You can get your compatibility read on Kismo, where verified Vedic astrologers read both charts and the guna score by chat or call. Kismo is an app where you talk to verified Vedic astrologers by chat or call, in 16 languages. It works online from anywhere in India and abroad.
Talk to an astrologer about compatibility with partner
Kismo is an app where you talk to verified Vedic astrologers by chat or call, in 16 languages.
On an iPhone, log in on kismo.app in your browser.
Where do these facts come from?
- Muhurtha or Electional Astrology, chapter on marriage and adaptability, pp. 70-93 (B. V. Raman, 1948), Internet Archive (Digital Library of India). Accessed .
- Prasna Marga, Part 2, chapter 21: marriage compatibility, stanzas 1 to 3 and 63 to 69 (tr. B. V. Raman), Internet Archive. Accessed .
- Kundali Matching (Ashta-Kuta) tutorial, Drik Panchang. Accessed .
- Significance of Horoscope Matching in Marriages among the Hindu Dogras of Jammu District: A Sociological Analysis of Manglik Dosha (Abhinandan), The Eastern Anthropologist 76:3 (2023), Serials Publications. Accessed .
- Horoscope matches still popular in Kerala, despite failed marriages and little science (10 July 2021), The News Minute. Accessed .
- Muhurta Chintamani of Rama Daivajna with Hindi commentary by Pt. Mahidhara Sharma, ch. 6 (Vivaha Prakarana), vv. 21 and 31-34, pp. 81-85, Khemraj Shri Krishna Das Prakashan, Mumbai, via Internet Archive. Accessed .
