What does a Gun Milan score out of 36 mean?
A Gun Milan score adds up the points of eight kootas that compare two people's Moon signs and nakshatras, 36 points in all. Many families treat 18 as the minimum, but that is a convention, and different sites grade the score in different bands. The score is one input to think with, not a verdict on a marriage.
Check your Gun Milan scoreEnter both birth dates, times and places. The 36-point score, both Moon signs and nakshatras and three kootas are free.Ask the astrologer about your own chart.
The eight kootas and their points
Each koota has a fixed maximum, and the eight maximums add up to 36. This part is calculation: the same two Moon positions always give the same points.
| Koota | Maximum points | What is compared |
|---|---|---|
| Varna | 1 | The varna group of each Moon sign |
| Vashya | 2 | The vashya group of each Moon sign |
| Tara | 3 | The count from one birth nakshatra to the other |
| Yoni | 4 | The animal symbol of each nakshatra |
| Graha Maitri | 5 | Friendship between the lords of the two Moon signs |
| Gana | 6 | The gana of each nakshatra (Deva, Manushya or Rakshasa) |
| Bhakoot | 7 | How far apart the two Moon signs are |
| Nadi | 8 | The Nadi of each nakshatra (Adi, Madhya or Antya) |
| Total | 36 |
What tradition reads into each koota
This part is interpretation, handed down by tradition rather than shown by research:
- Varna: spiritual outlook and ego.
- Vashya: mutual attraction and influence.
- Tara: well-being and fortune together.
- Yoni: physical and intimate compatibility.
- Graha Maitri: friendship and how the two minds meet.
- Gana: temperament.
- Bhakoot: the emotional bond and family harmony.
- Nadi: health and children, in the traditional reading.
The 18-point convention and the bands
Many families look for at least 18 of 36, half the total. It is a convention, not a rule found in every source, and sites label the ranges differently, so the same score can be called average on one site and good on another.
The Vedic Astro Lab tool uses these bands: 33 or more, excellent; 25 to 32, good; 18 to 24, acceptable; under 18, below the traditional minimum.
What a score below 18 means
It means the total is under the traditional minimum, nothing more. Families who follow the tradition usually look next at which kootas scored low, whether a Bhakoot or Nadi dosha is present, and whether a cancellation rule applies to it. A low total is not a prediction that a marriage will fail.
What a score above 32 means
It falls in the excellent band. Because Nadi is worth 8 points and Bhakoot 7, a total of 33 or more is only possible when both scored in full, so neither dosha is present. It still says nothing about values, habits or how two people treat each other, and it is not a promise of a happy marriage.
Why the score is one input, not a verdict
Every koota is worked out from two Moon positions through a traditional table. The score cannot see whether two people share values, communicate well, want the same life or are kind to each other, and those matter more than any number. Please do not make a marriage decision on a score alone.
What to check next
- The individual kootas: a low score in one area is something to talk about.
- Bhakoot and Nadi dosha, and whether a cancellation rule applies (see the guide to Nadi dosha).
- Manglik placement in both charts, which families often check alongside Gun Milan.
- If your family wants more than the score, a full review of both charts by a qualified astrologer, who looks at much more than the Moon.
- Most of all, honest conversations with each other and with people you trust.
Frequently asked questions
Is 18 gun enough for marriage?
In the traditional reading, 18 of 36 is the minimum many families look for. It is a convention, not a guarantee either way. Look at the individual kootas, any dosha and its cancellation, and at how the two of you get along.
What happens if gun milan is less than 18?
The total is below the traditional minimum. Families who follow the tradition usually look at which kootas scored low and whether a dosha is cancelled. It is not a prediction that a marriage will fail.
Which koota is the most important?
Nadi carries the most points (8), then Bhakoot (7), so tradition gives them the most attention. That weighting is part of the tradition, not something research has tested.
Is 36 out of 36 possible?
Yes, when every koota scores in full. It does not mean a marriage is sure to go well.
Do all websites give the same Gun Milan score?
Most use the same eight kootas, but small differences in rules, ayanamsa or birth time can change a koota, and the bands and labels for the total differ from site to site.
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