The Ashtakoot System of Matchmaking

As my editor is diligently trimming not only Business Yoga but my pride also, I find myself reflecting on some unrelated learnings that arose during the writing process. In researching the application of yogic principles to modern-day businesses, I delved deeply into the ancient Indian knowledge system. The journey left me increasingly intrigued, amazed, and bewildered by the ocean of wisdom embedded in Vedic and Yogic culture.

While I kept considering Adam Smith to be the father of Economics, or Shakespeare as the father of Drama, treatises such as the Arthashastra (economics), Natyashastra (emotions and drama), Kama Sutra (desires), or?Vimanashastra (aviation, can you imagine) have demonstrated the breadth of ancient Indian knowledge. They all have one thing in common— they were all written Before Common Era (BCE). From ancient astronomy and astrology to philosophy, I found myself both digressing and immersing into this profound legacy. While Business Yoga focuses on making esoteric yogic principles more accessible and applicable to modern businesses, the learning process also uncovered many layers, including that of Vedic Astrology—a discipline I had half-knowingly dismissed as mumbo jumbo. Remember.... a little knowledge is a dangerous thing? The Western-educated version of me had unwittingly categorized our ancient knowledge systems as mere mythology. How can you believe in something if you call it 'myth' ab-initio? The first step to embracing these ancient insights is to stop labelling scriptures as myths.

While I am far from being an expert in Vedic Astrology, the concept that particularly intrigued me was the Ashtakoot System of horoscope matching. Below, I have compiled a structured summary of its basic tenets, framed in a business-analysis style that I’m more comfortable with. Don’t worry, this is NOT a part of Business Yoga. I am sharing this only for ???????? ????? (Swantah Sukhaya?“for one’s own happiness”).

The Ashtakoot System evaluates the compatibility between two individuals by analyzing their birth charts. It assigns 36 guna (points) across eight attributes (kootas), with each attribute progressively weighted from 1 to 8 points. Collectively, these attributes determine the harmony between prospective partners. Each Koota contributes to an overall compatibility score. The scoring range typically interprets scores as follows: 0-18 points suggests low compatibility and high risks; 19-24 points indicates average compatibility with manageable challenges; 25-32 points signifies good compatibility with favourable prospects; and 33-36 points denotes excellent compatibility, highly recommended for a successful union.

One of the most surprising findings is that Varna, tom tommed so much by the traditionalists, accounts for only 1 point out of 36 (less than 3% weightage). Yet swords can flash out if a Brahmin were to marry a Shudra. Little knowledge.......

The system is rooted in planetary positions. You can't fall in love based on a horoscope. However, the principles are robust enough to be adapted into modern self-assessment tools. Let me explain. Take for example the 4th Koota - Physical and Emotional Compatibility. Physical compatibility is testable, no matter how immoral I might sound to the traditionalists. Emotional compatibility can be measured using tools like the EQ-i 2.0 or the Mayer-Salovey Emotional Intelligence Test. The 5th Koota - Intellectual compatibility? That’s just an IQ test away. Think about it—what happens when someone with an IQ of 140 marries someone with an IQ of 80? The initial physical attraction might hold, but the intellectual disconnect could become a chasm over time.

Or the 6th Koota Personality and temperament compatibility? Tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) are modern equivalents for the sixth koota. These tests assess temperaments such as harm avoidance, novelty seeking, reward dependence, and persistence, as well as character traits like self-directedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence.

The 8th koota, Nadi, which holds the highest weightage, delves into genetic compatibility—a topic that modern science can directly address. Genetic testing for carrier screening, for instance, identifies risks of recessive genetic disorders. Rh factor testing, too, can prevent complications during pregnancy (Rh negative mother with Rh positive father). This level of precision might sound transactional in matters of love, but isn’t love itself about ensuring long term harmony and well-being? Food for thought for those planning to tie the proverbial knot!

This might all feel too calculated for love, but imagine the possibilities. Dating or matchmaking platforms could combine ancient wisdom with modern science to create systems that foster better unions and, by extension, better societies. Our ancestors might not have had the tools we do today, but their insights continue to offer guidance—if we choose to listen.