Key Factors in Matching of Horoscopes

DR. E.S. NEELAKANTAN

Marriage is a very important sacrament in the Hindu tradition. All other traditions consider marriage, a significant step in an individual's life. There are certain key astrological factors, which need to be kept in mind, before we approve the compatibility of two horoscopes for the purpose of marriage. In this dissertation we will have a look at those key factors.
Initially I thought I will discuss two non-astrological factors which an Astrologer should know before taking up the charts for review and towards the end ,I will discuss one factor which overrules both stars and planets, which is relevant,while approving a marriage proposal.

(A) NON ASTROLOGICAL FACTORS
Age Compatibility

According to Rishis, the bride should be younger in age than the bridegroom. This is the view of Vasishta, Gautama and Yajnavalkya. According to Vatsyayana, the bride should be three years younger than the groom (Vide Kamasutra, III - 1.2).
According to Manu,
tri?sadvar?o vahet kanya? h?dya? dvadasavar?ikim |
trya??avar?o'??avar?a? va dharme sidati satvara? ||

Manusmriti 9-94
A man, aged thirty years, shall marry a maiden of twelve who pleases him, or a man of twenty-four a girl eight years of age; if (the performance of) his duties would (otherwise) be impeded, (he must marry) sooner.
Thus,Manu has prescribed a higher age gap by suggesting that a maiden of 12 years, should marry a man who is aged 30. Likewise a girl aged 8, should marry a boy aged 24.

We can explain Manu's rule through a mathematical formula which is as follows : If the girl's age is x and the boy's age is y, then the suggested age of the boy (y) is y= x+1.5x which means y=2.5x ; the boy's age is 2.5 times that of the girl. This is when the girl is aged 12. In case the girl is 8, the boy's age should be thrice that of the girl. As the girl grows older, the ratio tends to decline.
Given the advances in thought and civilisation, a more practical and prudent view would be to follow the advice of Vatsyayana, who prescribes a three year age gap.

Gotra Compatibility

There are eight Chief Rishis who are the originators of the Gotras. They are Bhrigu ,Angirasa , Atri , Kashyapa , Vishwamitra , Vasishta and Agatsya .

There are four important rules to be followed in respect of Gotra. The Gotra indicates the main clan to which a person belongs. The Sub-lineage is known as Pravara. Within a Gotra, there may be several Pravaras or Sub-lineages.

Let us take Athreya Gotra. The 3 -Rishi Pravaras or Sub-lineages in this group include Athreya -Archananasa -Shyavaswa , Athreya - Sumangala -Shyavaswa.Likewise there are 2 -Rishi, 3 -Rishi, 5 -Rishi and 7 -Rishi Sub-lineages or Pravaras. In many groups of society, the principle of exogamy, is followed, by which a person must marry outside his clan. In Hindu society, marriage is restricted in three ways. Firstly, a person is supposed to marry only within his own caste. The Second principle is that a person should not marry a person with whom he/she, has a prohibited degree of relationship (Sapinda relationship). The Third restriction is that one should marry a person, who does not belong to the same Gotra. In other words, the bride and the bridegroom, should not belong to the same Gotra.

According to Hindu law, two persons have a Sapinda relationship, if they offer Pinda (Funeral Oblations) to the same ancestor. Hence, a Sapinda relationship is one that is connected by offerings of food, in a funeral rite. For instance, Son offers food to Father ; hence both are related ; Father and Mother receive oblations from the Son ; hence they are related ; Two Brothers offer oblations to Father ; hence they are related. So, a Sapinda relationship arises between two persons, who offer oblations to the same person. (say two brothers) .Similarly, if two persons receive oblations from one and the same person, then, in that case also, they are related.( like father and mother) Two persons, who have a Sapinda relationship, should not marry one another.

Sagotra marriage is to be strictly avoided. For this purpose, the following are the rules for determining the compatibility:-
(1) Both bridegroom and Bride should not belong to the same Gotra
(2) Both bridegroom and Bride should not belong to same Gotra Pravara
(3) Both bridegroom and Bride should not have even one Rishi as common in the Gotra Pravara
(4) Bride's Gotra should not be the same as that of Bridegroom's mother's Gotra.

(B) ASTROLOGICAL FACTORS

(B1) KEY FACTORS RELATED TO STARS

Ekanakshatras:

For certain stars, both the groom and the bride belonging to the same star are prohibited. These stars are Jyeshta,Moola,Pushya, Pooravashada, Ashlesha, Makha, Hasta,Rohini, Dhanishta, Sadabhishek, Ardra and Bharani. The rest of the stars are acceptable. There is one more point which needs consideration. In case both groom and bride are born in let us say,Ashwini star, the groom's star should not be the 108thpada from that of the bride. Here if the girl is born in Ashwini Pada 3, the boy should not be Ashwini Pada 2.Similarly if the bride is born in Bharani Pada 1,the groom should not be born in Ashwini Pada 4.

According to Jatakadesamargam,
If the Janma nakshatra of the bride and the bridegroom be identical and be any one of the following six, viz, Rohini, Ardra, Dhanishta, Pushya, Moola or Makha, there will result untold misery (Sloka 40,Chapter XIV) If the Janma nakshatra of the bride and the bridegroom be identical and be any one of the following six, viz., Poorvashada, Bharani, Hasta, Aslesha, Jyeshta or Satabhishak , curtailment in the life span of the couple, loss of wealth and separation will be the result (Sloka 41,Chapter XIV)

Shashtashtama factor:

It is said that the Rasi of the boy should not be sixth from that of the girl. For instance a boy born in Jyeshta star should not marry a girl born in Ardra star since Scorpio is sixth Rasi from Gemini. This rule has got two execeptions.

(1) In case of Ojo Rasis (odd Rasis), Shashtashtama is middling and is acceptable. In Yugma rasis (even Rasis), Shashtashtamam is prohibited.(2) Where the Rasis lords of the boy and the girl are identical or if they are mutual friends, then Shashtashtama is acceptable.
Let us say the girl is born in Rohini star and the boy is Chitra star( Thula rasi) . Now, according to the first rule , the girl's Rasi is a Yugma rasi and therefore it is not acceptable. The Rasi lord, Venus is the same for both boy and the girl. The second rule is introduced here to confirm that even where the girl is born in a even sign, if the boy's Rass lord is same as, that of the girl, then Shashtashtama is acceptable, perhaps due to the fact that we have one additional compatibility which works in the favour of the alliance viz compatibility between Raasi lords, which we term as “Rasi Adipathi Porutham”.

Samasaptaka charts and Shashtashtama:

Ekadipathye Maithre va Samasaptaka eva vaa
Rajju Veda Ganai Doshaha Rasi Dosho Na Vidhyatha
While comparing the Rasis of the boy and girl if Ekadipathya, Maitra or Samasaptaka are present, then Rajju, Vedha, Gana and Rasi Poruthams need not be looked into.

Explanation

If the Moon in the charts of the boy and girl aspect each other or if the Moon-sign lords are one and the same or if they happen to be mutual friends then Rajju,Vedha,Gana and Rasi Poruthams can be overlooked
When Vasya Porutham exists and Vedha does not exist, Shastashtama can be accepted. Else it has to be rejected. This is one view.The contrast between samasaptama and shashtashtama is explained through a verse which says:
Even if Rasi lords are friends, reject shashtashtama. Even if Rasi lords are enemies, accept Sama Saptama.
Compiling these views, we may say that:-
1) Samasaptama can be accepted in all cases.
2) Shastashtama can be accepted in the case of:-
a) Vasya Rasis.
b) When girl's Rasi falls in an odd sign.
c) When Rasi lords of the boy and girl are either identical or they happen to be friends.
Note : In the above 3 cases ,Vedha should not exist.When there is Vedha,the match should be rejected.

Madhyama Rajju Factor:

This is very strictly observed in Kerala. Bharani, Poorvashada, Poorvaphalguni, Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada, Mrgashira, Dhanishta and Chitra are the nine Stars which constitute the Madhyama Rajju Group of stars. Inter se matrimony is prohibited for these nine stars. In Andhra Pradesh, traditionally a boy born in Bharani can mary a girl born in Chitra because Sama Saptama exists. However in Kerala this is overruled and Madhyama Rajju is given precedence.

Compatibility based on Rajju:

Here the 27 stars are split onto 5 categories:

A few important Points I wish to discuss here. Rejection of charts on account of Siro rajju is fully justified as the same is also based on mutual incompatibility based on Vedha,which forms one of the Dasa Poruthas. The least harmful is Pada rajju which is why astrologers do not consider this as a serious dosha. Some astrologers hold the view that a girl born in Ashwini star cannot marry a boy born in Makha because of the prohibition introduced by Rajju and also due to Makha, being the Anujanma star.There is no demerit associated with marrying a boy in Moola star, as Trijanma star is acceptable and also the benefit arising out of Sthree dheerga overrides the incompatibility arising out of Rajju.
Even within the same Rajju we have two sub-groups viz., Arohana stars and Avarohana stars.One can match two charts in the same Rajju if they don't belong to the same sub group- Avarohanam or Arohanam.While we are on Pada rajju let us look at the classification
Paadha Rajju
Arohanam - Ashwini, Makha, Moola
Avaraohanam - Ashlesha,Jyeshta, Revathi

A girl born in Ashwini star can marry a boy born in Revathy star since the stars belong to Arohanam and Avarohanam category respectively and therefore do not come under the same Rajju sub-group. Eventhough Trijanma stars are compatible ,despite being the same Rajju,one point that needs to be considered is that they may have Dasa Sandhi which is detrimental to matching.So whenever Trijanma stars are matched,one has be careful in avoiding Dasa Sandhi.

Maha Nakshatras:

Swati, Anuradha, Makha and Mrgashira are the four stars termed as “Mahanakshatras ”.Two views are prevalent when both boy and girl are born in Mahanakshatras. Some say even matching of charts itself is not required whereas the more conservative view is that there is no need to examine the “Dasa Porutham” compatibility when the boy and girl are born in one of these stars.

A more prudent approach, when the chartholder is born in a Maha Nakshatra would be to give added weightage to its beneficial impact in a chart and adopt a liberal view in expressing a final opinion on marriage matching.

Yoni Porutham:

While some astrologers lay great emphasis on Yoni Porutham, there are some who do not give it much importance. In this context, one practical illustration comes to my mind. Once I was discussing the charts of a couple who were happily married for more than fifty years, where the husband is born in Ashwini star and the wife is born in Sadabhishek. Though this was not an 'arranged marriage', I was doing some loud thinking that if these two charts were taken to an astrologer for matching, it would have got rejected as the 3rd,5th and 7th stars get rejected due to incompatibility in Dina Porutham. It was then that my fellow astrologer reminded me that both Ashwini and Shadabhishek have same animal as Yoni (Horse) and therefore even if Dina Porutham did not exist , Yoni Porutham would come to the rescue.Here is an important guideline to be followed by an intelligent astrologer. In case Dina Porutham fails, one can shift the emphasis to Yoni Porutham. Another example I would like to cite is that a Dhanishta born girl can be matched with a boy born in Poorvabhadrabada as they have both, the lion as the “Yoni” animal, eventhough the 3rd star is normally rejected.

Mahendra Porutham:

When counted from the girl's star the boy's star should be 4, 7,10, 13, 16, 19, 22 or 25. When I was studying astrology, a case came up for matching before my Guru, where the girl was Mrgashira and the boy was Pushya. The objection raised by another astrologer was that these stars do not match due to Madhyama Rajju. My Guru took the view that Mahendra Porutham would gain precedence over Madhyama Rajju and he approved the match. In a case where the girl is born in Vishaka Nakshatra star, Thula Rasi and the boy is born in Hasta star, or vice-versa, objection can be raised as the two Rasis are Dwirdwadasha or the natal moons share the 2/12 axis. Even this case can be matched by applying the principle of “Mahendra Porutham”.

Vasya Porutham:

Take the case of a girl born in Rohini star and a boy born in Vishaka star, Thula Rasi. Here the natal moons share a 6/8 axis and are fit to be rejected due to “Shashtashtakam”. However the saving grace comes in the form of Vasya porutham as Rishaba Rasi and Thula Rasi have Vasya Porutham. Further as Venus own both Rishaba Rasi and Thula rasi, Rasi Adipathi Porutham also exists. Makara and Kumba are Vasya Rasis; so are Kumbha and Meena. Though Kataka and Dhanus are 6/8 from each other, they are Vasya Rasis. A shrewd astrologer can take these points into consideration to facilitate matrimony wherever objections are raised by fellow astrologers.

Dina Porutham:

Stars 3, 5, 7 are often rejected on the ground of Dina Porutham. Even in Muhurthas, they are avoided. In the second cycle stars like 12, 14 and 16 are also rejected.In the third cycle stars 21, 23 and 25 are rejected.
However the author of the treatise Vidhya Madhaveeyam, has carved out an exception for the second and third cycles.

For the third cycle, the rule is “Papamsakam Thyajyam” meaning if the boy's moon is in the navamse of a malefic reject the match. So if the boy's star is benefic Amsa, it is fit to be accepted even though the star is 21, 23 or 25.
In second cycle, take for instance the boy's star is the 14th. Only if the boy is born in the 4thpada of the star, the chart is to be rejected. This means 75% of the charts, within this category, gain acceptance.
As regards the 25th star, even if the boy's moon is in a malefic Amsa, Mahendra Porutham will be there and therefore it is to be considered as a saving factor but in the case of the 7th star, it invariably gets rejected by Dina Porutham and further loses out on Sthree Dheergam.

(B2) KEY FACTORS RELATED TO PLANETS
Mars Dosha:

Chapter 13 of Jataka Chandrika gives us an insight into what we call as Kuja Dosha or Chevvai Dosha or Angaraka Dosha or theDosha that is attributable to Mars. Mars Is considered a cruel planet and hence its influence on the 7th is generally an undesirable feature of any horoscope.

i) If at the time of Birth, Mars occupies 2, 4, 7, 8 or 12, it will result in loss of spouse (Ibid, chapter 13, verse 10).
ii) Astrologers say that this would happen in the dasa or Bhukti of Mars, when Mars occupies 2, 4, 7, 8 or 12 reckoned from lagna, Moon or Venus (Ibid, Chapter 13, verse 11)
iii) If Mars occupies lagna, 2, 4, 7, 8 or 12 in both the charts (meaning the charts of boy and girl), then the couple will have children, friends, wealth and will live happily; if Mars dosha occurs only in one of the two charts, then the person without Mars Dosha will die.(Ibid, Chapter 13, verse 12) iv) When Mars occupies Aries, Cancer, Scorpio or Capricorn and they happen to be the 4th or 7th Place, Mars is said to become a benefic and there is no dosha; there is no need to consider Mars dosha in such cases.(Ibid, Chapter 13, verse 13).
If 4, 8 12, 2 and happen to be moveable Rasis and Mars is positioned in any of these, there is no Mars dosha. But if the above places are fixed or dual Rasis, Mars becomes a malefic and there is dosha (Ibid, Chapter 13, Verse 14).
Note: By the combined reading of the above two verses it becomes clear that Mars in 7 causes dosha only when it occupies Libra. If there is Dosha because of Mars being in the above 5 places namely 4, 8, 12, 2 and 1 but if Mars is associated with or aspected by Jupiter of Mercury, the dosha gets cancelled

Some scholars hold the view that only the 7th house needs to be reckoned for male charts, while both 7th and 8th are to be considered for female charts. Hence Mars in 5 or 8 causes Mars dosha only in female charts and not so in male charts.

Sun, Saturn, Ketu and Rahu also give rise to dosha while in the 7th. If Mars occupies 7, then any two out of the four above mentioned planets occupying the 7th will neutralise the dosha. So the underlying argument is that the dosha of Sun, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu is only about 50 percent of that of Mars. The dosha of Mars aspecting the 7th is half of the dosha given rise to while Mars occupies the 7th.
All these are taken into account when Papa - Samya is computed and finally the match is approved when the dosha in boy's chart is equal to or slightly higher than the dosha in the girl's chart.
An objection to these principles is raised by certain astrologers using the following adage , as an argument.

" Ayush Karma cha vitham cha vidya Nidanameva cha
Pancha ethani cha sidhyante garbasthasyeiva dehinaha"

Longevity, Karma, wealth, education and death - these five matters are pre-determined even when a person is in the womb.
By looking at the chart of the person these matters can be predicted. So, to say, that Kuja dosha in the spouse's chart will be determine the longevity of a person would defeat the above maxim.Taking a considerate view, it is better to analyse the charts individually and then examine the charts of the boy and the girl together to see if they are matching.

Doshas in relation to 7th house in Male charts:

There are few more combinations which have an adverse impact on the 7th house.

1. Jupiter in the 7th in Gemini or Virgo; this dosha is usually referred to as Kendradipatya dosha.
2. 7th lord in the 5th.
3. Moon - Venus conjunction in a house aspected by Saturn and Mars, who are also in conjunction.
4. Sun - Venus Conjunction in 5, 7 or 9.
5. Lagna is Scorpio and Mercury is in the 7th (In other words, 8th lord in the 7th, with special reference to Mercury).
6. Virgo is Lagna with Saturn in 7.
7. 7th Lord combust, hemmed between malefics or in enemy's house.
8. When both 2 and 7 are occupied by malefics out of which one of them is aspected by a malefic.
9. 7th and 8th are occupied by malefics ,out of which one of them is aspected by a malefic.
10. Moon conjunct Saturn in the 7th house.
11. When Lagna lord joins a malefic and is in conjunction with the Moon-sign lord in 7 while lord of 7 is in 12, there will be loss of spouse and children.
12. Malefics, debilitated, combust or in enemy's house occupying 2, 7 and 8.
13. 7th lord in deblilitation, Venus in 6 or 8th.
14. 7th Lord in 8th and 12th Lord in the 7th
15. Venus in the 8th, while lord of 8 is in Aquarius or Capricorn.
Note: The above dosha is inapplicable to a person born in Pisces Lagna or Libra Lagna,
16. When 2nd Lord is in 8 while the Lagna lord is debilitated.
17. Venus in the 7th house, conjunct or aspected by Malefics or combust.
18. Waning Moon in the 5th
19. Lagna, 7 and 12 have Malefics
20. 7th lord in 8th
21. Mars occupies the 7th
22. 2nd and 7th are occupied by Malefics and are also aspected by Malefics.
23. 7th and 8th Bhavas have malefic, aspected by malefics
24. Venus is combust or is with a malefic or is hemmed between malefics in the 7th.
25. Eclipsed Sun or Moon in the 7thaspected by Mars.

Kalathra Dosha or Indications for loss of wife:

The following are crucial points to be seen in a boy's chart.

1. Presence of Malefic in the 7th.
2. Aspect of Malefic on the 7th (both direct aspect and special aspect)
3. Weak Planets in the 7th.
4. Planet in the 7th occupying the navamsa of a malefic.
5. Presence of 5th Lord in the 7th
6. Presence of 8th lord in the 7th
7. Presence of Rasi lord of Gulika (Gulika Rasiswara) in the 7th
8. Jupiter in Capricorn, while Lagna is Cancer.
9. Taurus is lagna; Venus is in the 7th in Scorpio.
10. When Venus is with a malefic or hemmed between malefics or when 4th and 8th from Venus are simultaneously occupied by Malefics.

Usually the conjunction of Mars and Saturn is harmful to spouse. However in the case of a girl born with her Ascendant in Capricorn, the presence of Mars and Saturn in Cancer will enable her to lead a long, happy and fortunate married life. She will be extremely happy in her conjugal life.

Doshas in 7th with reference to Female Charts

1. Mars in 7th or 8th
2. Mars in 1, 2, 4, 5 or 12.
3. Malefic in 7 aspected by another malefic.
4. 7th lord in 8 aspected by a malefic
5. Malefic in the 7th which is combust, debilitated or in the enemy's house.
6. 7th lord in 8th or 12th in conjunction with a malefic.
7. 7th Lord is debilitated or combust.
8. 7th house is hemmed between malefics and aspected by a malefic.
9. 8th house is hemmed between malefics and aspected by a malefic.
10. Mars occupies the second, aspected by a malefic.
11. Saturn in the 2nd house with Sun and Mars in the 8th house.
12. Lagna, 2, 7 and 8 occupied by malefics
13. 7th lord in 5th or 5th lord in 7th
14. 8th lord in 7th
15. 7th lord in conjuction with Jupiter and Venus, combust or debilitated.
16. Sun, Mars and Ketu in the 7th makes one a widow but if there are three planets in 7th which are a combination of benefics with malefics, she will get remarried.
17. When a Malefic occupies 8th but Jupiter occupies the 2nd , then the girl will predecease her husband.
18. When a Strong benefic occupies the 9th, a girl will be happy with husband and children even if malefics occupy the 7th and the 8th
19. Lagna or Moon in Cancer in Shani Trimsamsa.

(B3) KEY FACTOR OVERRULING PLANETS AND STARS
Mana Porutham:

The importance of Mana Porutham (or mental compatibility) is highlighted by Jataka Chandrika. If true love is there between the boy and the girl, one must approve the match and proceed with the alliance (Ibid Chapter 12, verse 18). Mental compatibility in the form of true love is more important than the other agreements. In this context, I would like to mention two points.

i) While giving nod to a marriage which is based on romance, one should not override scriptural directions.
ii) The “true love” mentioned above is just the (true) love the boy has for the girl and vice versa. It should be mind- driven and not based on any other factor. For instance, say a girl is desirous of marrying a boy just because he lives abroad or because he hails from a rich family, then one cannot say “ Mana Porutham “ exists.
As I understand this rule, two persons will tend to love each other truly, only if Moon in their natal charts bears some affinity such as Samasaptama. It is also the considered view of some astrologers, that in marriage which is an outcome of romance, some kind of an astrological compatibility already exists .While this is not an argument in favour of romance and consequent weddings, one should not blindly reject an alliance, merely because the desire to get married arose on account of romance.

Conclusion:

There are four key parameters to horoscope matching. Firstly the stars should be compatible. Secondly the doshas should get neutralized through Papa Samya. We have three categories of doshas namely Kuja dosha, Kalatra dosha and kendradipathya dosha. Mars gets Maximum weightage in quantification of dosha. Thirdly, the horoscopes have to be compatible in terms of quality .There should be good features in terms of wealth, education, progeny, longevity and overall marital happiness. Lastly Dasa Sandhi should also be verified. This means any dasa change in the boy or girl should not precede or occur within 6 months of each other. Usually charts with Dasa sandhi are mostly rejected so that the risk of an untoward event happening in such periods is mitigated.

The horoscope of a girl should be complementary to that boy and vice versa. A short tempered boy should marry a calm girl. If both are short tempered, how will the marriage last? In many ways, the girl's chart should offset the defects in boy's chart. Similarly whatever be the short comings in the girl should be overcome by the qualities in the boy's chart. This is the rationale behind matching of horoscopes. The object of Horoscope matching is to secure a long and happy married life for the couple .