Arranging the marriage[edit]

The use of jathakam or Janam Kundali (astrological chart at the time of birth) of the son/daughter
to match with the help of a priest is common, but not universal. Parents also take advice from the
brahman called 'Jothidar' in Tamil or 'panthulu or siddanthi ' in Telugu and Kundali Milaan in North
India who has details of many people looking to get married. Some communities, like the
Brahmans in Mithila, use genealogical records ("Panjikas") maintained by the specialists.
Jatakam or Kundali is drawn based on the placement of the stars and planets at the time of birth.
The maximum points for any match can be 36 and the minimum points for matching is 18.
Anything above 28 will lead to a harmonial marriage. Any match with points under 18 is not
considered as an auspicious match for a harmonial relationship. If the astrological chart of the two
individuals (male and female) achieve the required threshold in points then further talks are
considered for prospective marriage. Also the man and woman are given chance to talk and
understand each other. Once there is an agreement then an auspicious time is chosen for the
wedding to take place.
In recent years, with the onset of dating culture in India, arranged marriages have seen a
marginal decrease, with prospective brides and grooms preferring to choose a spouse on their
own and not Necessarily only the one whom their parents find agreeable; this has been more
pronounced in urban and suburban areas than rural regions.

Myths of Kundali and Ashtakoot or Guna
matching and What it is Actually Useful for
Posted by: astrolife on: March 30, 2010
In: Astrology | Latest Blogs | Love & Marriage | Rikhav Khimasia

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In marriage issues, Indians rely on Kundali matching a lot. Those who
never go to an astrologer in their whole life may once in a life time go to an astrologer for Kundali
matching. It is so deep in the psyche and genes that people just do not go for a marriage alliance
without getting a Kundali matching done. Even in love marriages that are approved by parents,
people get the Kundali matching done.
People, now-a-days, consider that Kundali matching is only Ashtakoot or Guna Matching and
nothing else. The higher the points gained, the more assured happy married life is (This is the
common belief/ myth).
The second myth is that people only ask for the existence of Mangal Dosha in the horoscopes to be
matched with the belief that if it is there, the one with the Mangal Dosha will become a widow or
widower.
The joke here is not on the common man but on the astrologer, who has one of most noble
profession of utmost responsibility. It can be understood that the common man would not know
about these wrong beliefs they have, because they do not know astrology.
Lets then break these myths.
Ashtakoot or Guna matching is actually matching of 8 criteria that are all derived from the Janma
Nakshatra (Moon Star/Asterism) and the division of the same, as well as moon sign.
The 8 criteria for Ashtakoot or Guna matching are as follows:
1. Varna Matching of the castes
2. Vashya Attraction
3. Tara Longevity of either
4. Yoni Nature and characteristics
5. Graha Maitri Natural friendship
6. Gan Mental Compatibility
7. Bhakoot Relative influence of one on the other
8. Nadi Possibility of child birth
As per the chronology above, the numeric points given to each is also the same, i.e. 1 to 8 that
together comes to a total of 36. It is believed that a maximum of 36 points can be achieved that is
a guarantee of a happy, trouble free, blissful and long married life. Minimum points allowed for
marriage are 18; lesser than that, the marriage is not suitable. This is, however, not the only and
last thing to check for marriage compatibility; it is one of the tools.
This system was actually devised in the earlier days, when most Indians were never in a position to
cast their natal Ascendant horoscope, for want of finances to pay to the Brahmin to cast the
horoscope. Thus learned sages and scholars had devised this Ashtakoot system as it was always
easy for the Brahmin, who knows the sign and Nakshatra that the Moon is transiting through and
thus the common man would just consult him and get to know the sign that his child is born in and
thereby name it, based on the letters assigned to each sign of the zodiac. So in future, when these
poor people referred to a Brahmin for Kundali matching based on the first letter of the name, the
Brahmin could easily identify the Nakshatra and sign both of them are born in and instantly
calculate the Ashtakoot and thus suggest about the marriage.
Since most Indians from ages never had the option of the Ascendant horoscope, they started
believing that the Ashtakoot or Guna matching is the only tool to match the horoscopes and hence
such heavy reliance was on it.
Those privileged in those ancient days, to be able to have their ascendant horoscopes cast, had the
benefit of getting the horoscopes matched properly, based on Ashtakoot and the Ascendant
horoscope.
The Ascendant based horoscope matches the nature, tastes and hobbies and its similarity or
differences based on the relations between the Ascendants and their Lords, it matches the true
attraction towards each other based on the Venus signs and the relation between each others
Moons. It matches the emotional and mental compatibility based on the Moon sign and the relation
between each others Moons. It also includes Mangal Dosha and child birth related issues based on
the Lords of the 5th House and their strengths.
The ascendant based horoscope matching is more important as it entails all the twelve signs, the
true Lordships of the planets concerned, where as Ashtakoot matching is only based on the Moon
the sign and the Nakshatra it is in.
This article does not suggest that Ashtakoot/ Guna matching is not important, it is. However, it is
not the only system of Kundali matching.