Nakshatra Matching for Marriage: Free Compatibility Calculator
Select the birth stars of both partners to see their nakshatra compatibility instantly: the kuta score, the temperament (gana) and instinct (yoni) alignment, and a link to the full written analysis for that exact pairing.
Select both nakshatras to see the match score. Don't know a birth star? Find it with the Rashi calculator.
Quick Facts
Nakshatra matching (also called star matching or natchathira porutham) compares the Moon nakshatras of two people to assess marriage compatibility. It is the foundation of the Ashtakoot kundli matching system used across India. This calculator scores each pairing out of 7 using three classical dimensions: the planetary friendship of the two nakshatra rulers, the gana (Deva, Manushya, Rakshasa temperament classes), and the yoni (instinctive compatibility). Every one of the 378 possible pairings links to a full written analysis.
What the Nakshatra Match Score Measures
The 7-point score combines three classical kuta tests. Ruler friendship (up to 3 points) checks whether the planets ruling the two nakshatras are friends, neutral, or enemies in the Vedic friendship scheme; friendly rulers indicate naturally compatible life directions. Gana (up to 2 points) compares temperament classes: Deva (gentle, harmonious), Manushya (practical, balanced), and Rakshasa (intense, willful); matching or adjacent ganas indicate compatible emotional wiring. Yoni (up to 2 points) compares the instinctive animal natures assigned to each nakshatra, a classical proxy for physical and instinctual harmony.
| Kuta | Points | What It Assesses |
|---|---|---|
| Ruler friendship (Graha Maitri) | 0 to 3 | Whether the two nakshatra lords are planetary friends, neutrals, or enemies; mental and value alignment |
| Gana | 0 to 2 | Temperament class match: Deva, Manushya, or Rakshasa |
| Yoni | 0 to 2 | Instinctive nature match, classically expressed as animal symbols |
Traditional Ashtakoot matching extends these principles to 8 kutas worth 36 points, adding Varna, Vashya, Tara, Bhakoot, and Nadi. The full written analysis linked from each result discusses the pairing's dynamics, challenges, and classical remedies in that broader context. A complete marriage assessment also examines Mangal dosha, the 7th house of both charts, Venus, and the navamsa; the Marriage Compatibility report covers that full analysis.
How to Use the Matcher
Select each partner’s nakshatra from the two dropdowns above. The score, level, and the ruling planets and ganas of both stars appear instantly, with a link to the detailed analysis for that pairing. If either birth star is unknown, compute it first with the free Rashi calculator, which reports the Moon’s nakshatra from the birth date, time, and place.
Find Both Birth Stars
The nakshatra (birth star) is the lunar mansion the Moon occupied at birth. If you know it from a horoscope or family record, select it directly. Otherwise use the Rashi calculator, which computes it from birth details in seconds.
Read the Score in Context
A 6 or 7 indicates strong natural alignment in rulers, temperament, and instinct. A 4 or 5 is a good workable match. Lower scores flag specific frictions, which the full pair page names precisely, along with the classical remedies tradition prescribes for them.
Go Beyond the Stars
Nakshatra matching reads one factor: the two Moons. For a decision as large as marriage, tradition weighs the full charts: Mangal dosha, the 7th houses, Venus, the navamsa, and the timing of both partners' dashas. The Marriage Compatibility report synthesizes all of it for a specific couple.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about nakshatra matching: how the score works, how to find an unknown birth star, what counts as a good score, and how star matching relates to full kundli matching.
How does nakshatra matching for marriage work?
Nakshatra matching compares the birth stars (Moon nakshatras) of two people. The matcher above scores the pairing across three classical kuta dimensions: the friendship between the two nakshatra rulers, the gana (temperament class) combination, and the yoni (instinctive nature) combination, producing a score out of 7. Traditional full matching extends this to the Ashtakoot system with 36 points across 8 kutas; the linked pair pages explain each pairing in depth.
How do I find my nakshatra if I only know my birth date?
The nakshatra is the lunar mansion occupied by the Moon at birth, so it needs your birth date, time, and place rather than the date alone. Use the free Rashi calculator on this site: it computes the Moon's exact position and reports both the Moon sign and the nakshatra with its pada. If your birth time is approximate, the nakshatra is still usually determinable, since the Moon spends about one day in each nakshatra.
What is a good nakshatra compatibility score?
On this simplified 7-point kuta scale, 6 to 7 indicates an excellent natural alignment, 4 to 5 a good pairing with workable differences, 2 to 3 a moderate pairing that benefits from conscious effort, and 0 to 1 a challenging combination in these specific dimensions. A low score is not a verdict on a relationship: full Vedic matching weighs 36 points across 8 kutas, plus the whole charts of both partners, and remedial measures exist for most doshas.
Is nakshatra matching the same as kundli matching?
Nakshatra matching is the core of kundli (horoscope) matching but not all of it. The Ashtakoot guna milan used in kundli matching derives all 8 of its kutas from the two Moon nakshatras and Moon signs, worth 36 points. A complete kundli match additionally examines Mangal dosha, the 7th house and its lord, Venus, the navamsa chart, and the dasha periods of both partners. Treat the nakshatra score as the foundation, not the whole answer.
Does it matter whose nakshatra is entered first?
For the three kutas scored here (ruler friendship, gana, yoni), the score is symmetric, so the order does not change the result. In full traditional matching a few kutas are directional, conventionally counted from the bride's nakshatra to the groom's (Tara and Vashya, for example), which is why some sources show slightly different totals depending on order. The full pair pages linked from each result note where direction matters.
Which nakshatras make the best matches for marriage?
Pairings where the two rulers are planetary friends, the ganas are identical or Deva-Manushya, and the yonis are the same or friendly animals score highest. Same-nakshatra pairings are often strong as well, though classical texts treat a few same-star matches with caution. The 27x27 compatibility chart on this site shows every combination at a glance, and each cell links to the detailed analysis for that pair.