The Vedic system of choosing a wife or husband has been used in India for many centuries. Itsnot that this is an exact science and does not guarantee that there won’t be problems, as this material world means problems, but with the underlying assets of the Vedic culture and positive assistance of a stable society, this system has yielded very good results in determining marriage compatibility. There are many things to be both known and looked into regarding this matter, not that simply two people are brought together based on marriage compatibility determined using horoscopes. Additionally there are subtle variations that are observed based on the region of India under consideration. For example in South India - Rajju and Dosha Samya are considered very important and matching horoscopes are rejected if Rajju and Dosha Samya don’t exist. On a similar note in the northern parts of India the “kutas” or “bathisgunn” are viewed more importantly than other criteria. The MatchMaker does not impose any of these parochial restrictions and hence the user is advised to use their own discretion.

The MatchMaker Report consists of three pages each with a top and bottom section.

The top section in the first page of the report shows a summary of the matching criteria used. The marriage compatibility determination based on the study of horoscopes done by the Matchmaker program, as represented in this report, includes :

1. Comparison of the Dwadasa (12) items of matching which is also called kutas.
2. Comparison of the Kalatra Dosh due to Mars, Sun, Saturn and Rahu with reference to the Lagna, Moon and Venus.
3. Comparison of the positions of all the planets (Navagrahas) in the 12 houses (Bhavas) of the two horoscopes.

In the above analysis items 1 and 2 are assigned a total of 50 points and item 3 is assigned a total of 20 points. The criteria for the compatibility used by the Matchmaker program is to obtain a minimum of 50% of the points for item 1, obtain a minimum of 50% of the points for item 3 and agreement of item 2. The bottom section gives the data summary of the boy and the girl whose horoscopes are being matched.
 
The top section of the second page of the report shows the location of planets in the Rashi chart from which the Dosha Samya determination is made. If the girl’s dosha exceeds the boys dosha by more than 75% then there is considered to be no Dosha Samya. The bottom section of the second page of the report shows the location of the planets in the Navamsa chart. This table shows the comparison of the positions of all the planets (Navagrahas) in the 12 houses (Bhavas) of the two horoscopes. The table shows the points achieved by the boy and girl out of a maximum of 20 points.

The top section of the third page of the report shows the details of matching. This is also identified as the “kutas” or “baatisgunn”. Besides the kutas, the Kalatra Dosha computations are also shown in this table. The maximum points of agreement that can be obtained are 50 and the points derived for the agreement of the horoscopes of the boy and girl are shown. The bottom section of the third page summarizes the matching conclusion based on the three criteria outlined above. The overall marriage compatibility index is then presented as a percentage where a maximum value of 100% would imply an ‘ideal’ match and any value below 50% is not considered as a match. Note that even the ‘ideal’ celestial couple of Shiva and Parvati scored a 92% using this scheme of matching.

Hence a matching index above 50% ( the closer it is to 100% the better the match ), along with individual acceptance factors like age, qualification, appearance, profession, pedigree, etc., should determine the true acceptance of the boy or girl for the marriage decision.

Outlined below are brief descriptions of the various criteria used in determining the marriage compatibility like Dosha, Dwadasa items also known as ‘kutas’ or ‘batisgunn’, and exception criteria for overlooking specific matching items.

Example : The constellation of the boy (Mrigasira in Taurus) counted from that of the girl (Dhanistha in Makara) gives 10. This is divided by 9 leaving a remainder of 1 and hence there is no agreement, and no units of strength are scored.

Three Ganas (temperaments of nature) are to be taken into consideration - Deva (divine), Manusha (human), and Raksasa (devil). Deva represents piety, goodness of character and charitable nature. Manusha is a mixture of good and bad, while the Raksasa suggests dominance, selfishness and sometimes violence. These different natures are indicated by their birth constellation (janma nakshatra). A distaste for piety and religion etc., cannot be easily compatible with that of a religious and pious person. A difference in beliefs and values cannot be overbalanced or set right by sexual compatibility. Thus accordingly, one whose karma is that he is born in this world with the nature of Raksasa Ganam probably will not get on well with the person of Deva Ganam.

A Deva can marry a Deva, a Manusha can marry a Manusha, and a Raksasa can marry a Raksasa. Another point is that a Manusha or Deva man should not try to marry a Raksasa girl unless there are neutralizing factors. But marriage between a Raksasa man and a Deva or Manusha girl is all right. If marriage is performed between prohibited Ganas there will be constant quarrels and disharmony.

Deva Ganams are usually people with the following nakshatras : Punarvasu, Pushyami, Swati, Hastha, Sravana, Revathi, Anuradha, Mrigasira, and Aswini.

Manusha Ganams are usually the following nakshatras : Rohini, Purva, Purvashadha, Purvabhadrapad, Bharani, Arudra, Uttara Phalguni, Uttarashadha, Uttarabhadrapad.

Raksasa Ganams are usually the following nakshatras : Krittika, Aslesha, Magha, Chitra, Visakha Jyestha, Mula, Dhanistha, Satabhisakam

Exception :     As a neutralising factor for Ganas often it is said that if the nakshatra of the bride is beyond the 14th from that of the grooms the evil influences may be nullified and thus it may be all right to ignore the Gana in the matching.

Example         A Mrigasira nakshatra boy is the 10th  from a Dhanistha. This is considered a good combination.

Exception:      This is may be overlooked if the Rashi Kuta and Graha Maitri are a match.

Someone being born under the influence of the Simha (Leo) will have their characteristics and tendencies like that of a lion, while another say born in Aries will be of a more timid and mild nature. If both partners have male nakshatras there will be many fights for supremacy. If the male is allowed to take the male role and the female the female role, natural harmony is found which does not interfere with their seeking the higher goals of life. One can imagine though the problems if the male is dominated by the female, checked on, always corrected, not trusted, embarrassed in public, treated like a child, etc. Therefore Yoni Kuta takes into account these aspect of marriage and indicates by astrology what externals one will bear, sexual urge, sexual compatibility, size of copulatory organs and their compatibility and so on. The nakshatras are :

* In many panjikas it will say that these nakshatras are FEMALE, but they still have the copulatory natures of their Yoni.
0 Denotes that in some panjikas these nakshatras are listed as HERMAPHRODITE, but still the Yoni has effect. Some maybe more male, some more female.
#    In some panjikas indicates a MALE nakshatra.

Again to determine these nakshatras their natures are to be looked at. Some males are very masculine, some are masculine with a little effeminate streak. Some females are very feminine whereas others have masculine streaks. Even among Hermaphrodites some are Male orientated while others are more Female. In the shastra, as well as kama sutra, it is stated that marriage between the same class of yoni of male and female brings great happiness, for it is natural harmony. Compatibility of male and female among friendly yonis, with both having female nakshatras, will at least bring a fair amount of harmony and agreement. However in marriage between both male nakshatras there will always be fighting even if of the same yoni. The pairs of COW & TIGER, ELEPHANT & LION, HORSE & BUFFALO, DOG & HARE, SERPENT & MONGOOSE, MONKEY & GOAT, CAT & RAT, as they are their natural prey, thus marriage would be torment. All other naturally hostile pairs should be avoided, irrespective of how much the sexual impulse is pushing to unite.

Exception       When both the Rashis are owned by one planet or if the lords of the two Rashis happen to be friends, then any malefic effects attributed to the inauspicious placement of any planets is cancelled out.

According to the shastra it is not the temporary dispositions based on karma that the individual is going through that is to be taken into consideration, it is the birth constellation and not the birth chart as a whole. For marriage we want to see the nature and the phases that the persons are due to go through. This generally will be very difficult to analyze without the use of Vedic astrology. In the Vedic samskaras, when arranged marriages were organized properly the couple were brought together each willing with an open mind and heart, knowing that marriage was a life long endeavor 

When the lords of the janma rashis of the bride and bridegroom are friends, the Rashi-adipati is said to obtain full strength. When one is a friend and the other is neutral, it is passable or a right, and when both are neutral, Rashi-adipati is considered very ordinary. When both are enemies, Rashi-adipati does not exist.

Exception       Even when there is no friendship between the janma rashi lords of the bride and groom, Rashi_adipati can be obtained by friendships of the planets on the Navamsas occupied by the Moon.

Example         If the janma rashi lords are Venus and Saturn. Both are friends. Therefore the Rashi-adipati is complete. Supposing the bride and bride-groom are born in Makha 2 (Leo) and Satabhisha 2 (Saturn). The lords will be the Sun and Saturn respectively and they are not friends. In such a case if the Navamsa relationship is considered, then the Moon will be in Taurus (Venus) and Capricorn (Saturn) respectively. Venus and Saturn are friends and therefore the match is permissible.

The Janma Nakshatras of the couple should not fall in the same Rajju. If they fall in Sira (head) husband's death is likely; if in Kantha (neck) the wife may die; if in Udara (stomach) the children may die; if in Kati (waist) poverty may ensue; and if in Pada (foot) the couple may be always wandering. Hence, it is desirable that the boy and the girl have constellations belonging to different rajjus or groups for safety in household life.

If the constellation of the boy and the girl fall in different rows, then agreement between the couple will be good. They both should not fall in the middle least there will be many fights, too fiery. Stars of the couple may fall in the first and last line under certain circumstances. If Nadi Kuta is not present on the basis of the Nakshatras, then the same may be reckoned taking into account the Nakshatra Padas.
In summary Dhinam gives good luck; Ganam brings wealth; Mahendran develops attachment; Stri Dhirgham promotes welfare; Yoni gives birth to many sons; Rashi shows a growth of family; Rashiadipati indicates prosperity; Vasyam favors development of posterity; Rajju inclines to great happiness in married life and immunity from widowhood; and Vedai gives many sons. Of these 'Considerations', to determine marriage suitability the horoscopes of the man and the woman (boy and girl) must agree in at least five places – Dhinam, Ganam, Yoni, Rasi and Rajju.

1. The absence of Stri Dhirga may be ignored if Rashi Kuta and Graha Maitri are present.
2. If the Rashi of the girl is odd, the 6th and 8th  Rashis from hers are friendly. If the Rashi of the girl is even the 2nd and 12th from hers become friendly. The problems or evil due to the birth or the bride in a Rakshasa Gana star may be ignored with Janma Rashi being 2nd and 12th, 9th and 5th, or 6th and 8th, the lords of the Rashis are then the same or are mutual friends.
3. Though Graha Maitri is important, it need not be considered if the couple have their Janma Rashis disposed in 1 and 7 from each other.
4. Rajju Kuta need not be considered in case Graha Maitri, Rashi, Dina and Mahendra Kutas are present.
5. The evil due to Nadi Kuta can be ignored subject to the following conditions:
6. the Rashi and the Rajju Kuta prevail
7. the same planet is lord of the Janma Rashis of both the male and the female
8. the lords of the Janma Rashis of the couple are friends.

In many cases the Janma Rashis or the Janma Nakshatras of the bride and groom would be the same. There are many views with regards to results accruing from Janma Rashis being common. Common Janma Rashis are generally conducive to the couple provided they are born under different (constellations) nakshatras, with the nakshatra of the boy preceding that of the girl for  the marriage to prove happy. Common Janma Nakshatra is an extension of the principle of common Janma Rashi. The Janma Nakshatras of the bride and groom being one and the same are approved in the case of Rohini, Arudra, Magha, Hasta, Visakha, Sravana, Uttarabhadrapada and Revati. The effect would be ordinary if the common Nakshatras were Aswini, Krittika, Mrigasira, Punarvasu Pushyami, Purvaphalguni, Uttara, Chitra, Anuradha, Purvashadha and Uttarashadha, Bharani, Aslesha, Swati, Jyestha, Mula, Dhanistha, Satabhishakam and Purvabhadrapada. So in general common nakshatras are not recommended but then again the overall picture has to be seen.