Marriage is a very solemn binding for the bride and the groom. In India it is a very sacred occasion for the Hindus. The parents and the aged relatives of the boy and the girl to be married take great care before getting them engaged in wedlock as there is no turning back from the marriage vow. To ensure a long and happy married life, the ancient Indian sages and saints devised a method to check the matrimonial adaptability or marriageable compatibility which is called
'Marriage Matching' or 'Match- making'.
They devised the method of matching by Koota Agreement based on the Birth Stars of the boy and the girl. Originally they recommended 20 kootas. But out of these only 10 kootas are considered for the actual horoscope matching and in some parts of India only 8 kootas are considered. Hence it also popularly known as "Das Poritham" in Hindi or 10 Porutham in Tamil. The 10 Kootas or the 10 Poruthams According to Indian Astrological principles there are 28 Nakshathras (Stars) in an oval round called the zodiac and the Navagrahas (the nine planets ) which transit thisZodiac. This heavenly constitution exert their combined astral influences on human beings. The Kootas agreement is ascertained by examining the birth stars and the Janma rasis, of the boy and girl. Each koota has a specific role or a part to play.
The presence of Dina Koota agreement ensures that the husband and wife remain healthy and free from all sorts of diseases and will enjoy all comforts and a long lease of life.
Count the stars beginning from the star of the girl. If such counted number comes as 2,4,6,8,9,11,13,15,18,20,24,26, it is good and agrees. If Rohini, Ardhra, Maka, Visaka, Sravana, Hasta, Uttarashada, Revathi happens to be the same star for girl and boy they agree.
In cases of Mrigasira, Aswani, Krithika, Punarvasu, Pushya, Uttara, Chitra, Uttarashada, Purvashada stars, if they are same they also agree but are given secondary choice. Others do not agree.
In cases where the two stars are same it is good that the signs of the boy leads that of girl. 27th star even in different signs has to be rejected.
2. Ganam (Sobanam Ganam Evacha)
This koota ensures compatible sex life. It is the matching of the human minds and their temperaments.
Deva Gana
Manushya Gana
Rakshasa Gana
Aswani
Bharani
Krithika
Mrigasira
Rohini
Ashlesha
Punarvasu
Ardhra
Makha
Pushya
Poorvaphalguni
Chitra
Hasta
Uttaraphalguni
Visaka
Swathi
Purvashada
Jyeshta
Anuradha
Uttarashada
Moola
Sravana
Poorvabhadrapada
Dhanishta
Revathi
Uttarabhadrapada
Satabisha
If both are Deva or Manushya Gana they agree. In case the gana of the girl is Deva and that of the boy is Manushya it agrees as secondary. If both are of Rakshasa they do not agree. This agreement confers general happiness of marital life.
3. Yoni ( Yonitho Dhampathy Sneham )
This is another koota which is interpreted in two ways. The word Yoni indicates the private reproductive organ of a women. So it is said that presence of Yoni Koota is a must to ensure sexual compatibility.
Each star is having certain animal force associated with it.They are:
Nakshatra
Animal
Nakshatra
Animal
Aswini
Horse
Bharani
Elephant
Kritika
Goat
Rohini
Snake
Mrigasira
Snake
Ardra
Dog
Punarvasu
Cat
Pushya
Goat
Aslesha
Cat
Magha
Rat
Poorvaphalguni
Rat
Uttaraphalguni
Bull
Hasta
Buffalo
Chitra
Tiger
Swati
Buffalo
Visakha
Tiger
Anuradha
Deer
Jyehsta
Deer
Moola
Dog
Poorvashadha
Monkey
Uttarashadha
Mongoose
Sravana
Monkey
Dhanshita
Lion
Satabisha
Horse
Poorvabhadrapada
Lion
Uttarabhadrapada
Cow
Revati
Elephant
Cow and tiger, elephant and lion, horse and buffalo, dog and deer, rat and cat, goat and monkey, snake and mongoose are declared enemies to each other. The stars of mutual enemies do not agree. If they are of some yoni but only enemy to each other as dog and cow they agrees as secondary. This agreement confers mutual love between husband and wife.
4. Rasi ( Rasinam Vamsavirthi Kiruth )
This ensures the continuation of one's family through the birth of a son. If there is no progeny or issue, his family and tradition will end with him. Another school of thought interprets it as cordial relationship between the daughter-in-law and her in-laws.
Counting from that of the girl if the Rasi of the boy is 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 there is no proper agreement
If both the signs are same there is agreement and in such a case the Rasi of Aquarius, Leo, Cancer, Capricorn do not agree, if both are mutually in 7th to each other. Of these if they are 6 to 8 they do not agree. This confers children.
5. Rasiyathipaty ( Santhanam Rasiythipathy )
This refers to the friendship between the lords of the birth stars of the girl and boy. This koota ensures santhanam. The word santhanam also means progeny which is denoted Rasi Koota.
See the Rasi of the boy and girl, their lords should be friendly or neutral. This aspect confers children.
Planet
Friend
Enemy
Neutral
Sun
Moon , Mars , Jupiter
Saturn, Venus , Rahu, Kethu
Mercury
Moon
Sun , Mercury
Rahu , Kethu
Mars ,Jupiter , Venus Saturn
Mars
Sun, Moon , Jupiter
Mercury, Rahu , Kethu
Venus , Saturn
Mercury
Sun , Venus
Moon
Mars , Jupiter ,Saturn Rahu , Kethu
Jupiter
Sun, Moon, Mars
Mercury , Venus
Saturn, Rahu Kethu
Venus
Mercury, Saturn , Rahu, Kethu
Sun , Moon
Mars ,Jupiter
Saturn
Venus, Mercury , Rahu, Kethu
Sun , Moon , Mars
Jupiter
6. Rajju ( Rajju Mngalya Vrithysyath )
This bestows on the girl living happily with the husband for the long time. It is considered as the most important of the ten kootas as it ensures a long life for the husband.
The group stars make up a figure. The groups form foot , thigh, middle, neck, head. They are as follows :
If both the stars of the boy and girl come in the same portion as foot or head or neck etc there is no agreement. If they happen to be in the same line as head, the husband will die, if in the neck, the wife will meet death, if in the middle loss of children, if under thigh extreme poverty and if under foot pitiable wanderings. This is a very important agreement.
7. Vedha ( Vedhaya Sohanasanam )
Vedha means affliction. This koota agreement wards of all evils and pitfalls in married life. A happy and prosperous married life is assured as a result.
Certain stars are mutually anti or opposite to each other. The star of boy and girl should not be mutually anti to each other. They are as follows :
Natchatra
Anti to
Natchatra
Aswini
Anti to
Jyehsta
Bharani
Anti to
Anuradha
Kritika
Anti to
Visakha
Rohini
Anti to
Swati
Ardra
Anti to
Sravana
Punarvasu
Anti to
Uttarashadha
Pushya
Anti to
Poorvashadha
Aslesha
Anti to
Moola
Magha
Anti to
Revati
Poorvaphalguni
Anti to
Uttarabhadrapada
Hasta
Anti to
Satabisha
Uttaraphalguni
Anti to
Poorvabhadrapada
Mrigasira, Chitrai, Dhanishta are mutually anti to each other. This vedha agreement is very important like Rajju agreement. Happiness cannot be obtained if they are anti.
8. Vasya ( Vasyath Anniyonnia Vasyaham )
It is believed that the presence of this koota agreement assures mutual love and attachement.
The Rasi for both the boy and girl should be agreeing to each other. This confers mutual affection between couples.
Rasi
Agreeable Rasis
Aries
Scorpio, Leo
Taurus
Cancer
Gemini
Virgo
Cancer
Sagittarius, Scoprio
Leo
Libra
Virgo
Gemini, Pisces
Libra
Capricorn, Virgo
Scorpio
Cancer
Sagittarius
Pisces
Capricorn
Pisces
Aquarius
Virgo
Pisces
Aries
9. Mahendhram ( Mahendram Puthira Vrithisyath )
It assures progeny or children in a larger measure.
Counting from that of the girl if the star of the boy comes as 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 22, 25 they agree. This confers wealth and children for the couple.
It ensures accumulation of wealth and all round prosperity.
Counting from that of the girl, if the star of the boy is more than 13 it agrees. Some declare that if it is 7 it agrees. The benefit of this is that the span of married life will extend for long period.
The above mentioned 10 Kootas are the main ones considered before deciding on a marriage.