My son started dating his wife Yamini six years ago. From the beginning, she did not seem a stranger to me but as someone who had come to fill the niche that had been waiting for her. Now, that they are happily married, I am told that ,since I had them married by ancient and strict Vedic rites I should have gone to a Vedic astrologer to see if their kundalis matched for compatability. Since marriage is as an important step in one’s life , in vedic astrology there are special techniques to evaluate whether the relationship will be happy and endure. So the horoscopes are matched through the Koota System, in which physical, emotional and spiritual compatibility of both people is assessed. In this system the matching is done on the basis of the position of the moon when both children were born.

There are 8 criteria ( ashtakoot milan ) and 36 points of matching called guna. If more than 20 points match it is considered to be a good marriage. One of the 8 criteria interests me because it is based on animals. It is called the Yoni Koota

In this koota worth 4 points, the constellations or nakshatras have animal parts called yonis and the object is to discover whether the couple will be physically compatible. The best is to have the 4 points .The worst is zero which indicates enmity. 

 If you have a horoscope you have to see which lunar constellation ( Nakshatra) your moon was in at birth. Moon signs are related to animals and have genders. Every Nakshatra is represented by an animal that has either masculine energy or feminine energy. Masculine energy is active and dynamic while feminine energy is passive or receptive. Ideal physical compatibility is between the male and female of the same species. For example, Ashwa Male and Ashwa Female are compatible. That is, if one of partner’s birth star is Ashwini and the other’s is Shatbhisha, both would be compatible. Some animals are incompatible with each other. However there is no full agreement among Vedic astrologers as to the gender related to a Nakshatra. 

These animals are considered inimical to each other:

 1. Cat (Ashlesha and Punarvasu) and Rat (Magha and Purva Phalguni)

2. Cow (Uttara Phalguni and Uttra Bhadrapada) and Tiger( Vishakha and Chitra) 

3. Serpent (Rohini and Mrigshira) and Mongoose( Uttara Ashadha)

4. Horse ( Ashwini and Shatabhisha) and Buffalo (Swati and Hasta)

5. Dog (Mula and Ardra) and Hare (Jyeshtha and Anuradha)

6. Monkey (Purva Ashadha and Shravani) and Sheep (Pushya and Kritika)

 

Here is the chart :

 Nakshatra Gender Animal Incompatible Animal(s)

Ashvini Male Horse Buffalo

Bharani Female Elephant Lion

Krittika Female Sheep Monkey

Rohini Male? Serpent Mongoose

Mrigashira Female? Serpent Tiger, Dog

Ardra Female Dog Dog, Rat

Punarvasu Male Cat Monkey

Pushya Male Goat Dog, Rat

Ashlesha Female Cat Dog, Rat

Magha Female Rat Cat

Purva Phalguni Female Rat Cat

Uttara Phalguni Female Bull Tiger

Hasta Male Buffalo Horse

Chitra Female Tiger Cow

 Swati Female Buffalo Horse

Vishakha Female Tiger Cow

Anuradha Male Deer Tiger, Dog

Jyeshtha Female? Deer Tiger, Dog

Mula Female? Dog Tiger, Deer

Purvashadha Female Monkey Dog, Goat

Uttarasadha Female Mongoose Serpent

Shravana Male Monkey Dog, Goat

Dhanishtha Female Lion Elephant

Shatabhisaj Female? Horse Buffalo

Purvabhadrapada Male Lion Elephant

Uttarabhadrapada Female Cow Tiger

Revati Female Elephant Lion

Here are some tips:

• If the woman's Moon occupies a female Nakshatra and the male's Moon occupies a male Nakshatra and the respective animals are compatible, both are extremely compatible.

 • If both partners have their respective Moons in Nakshatras that are both female and the respective animals are compatible, you are compatible.

• If the woman's Moon occupies a male Nakshatra and the male's Moon occupies a female Nakshatras and the respective animals are compatible, there is average compatibility. However, in case both Moons occupy a male Nakshatra, there may be some problems.

Many years ago, my best friend was to be married in an arranged marriage. She came from a royal family. He was from the same caste . Both of them liked each other at once. Her parents brought in the family astrologer and he found that out of 36 points , they matched in 34. It was a match made in heaven, he declared. The only person who repeatedly asked her not to go through with the wedding was me and we did not speak for years – until her second marriage. Her first husband, the groom sent from heaven, started cheating on her almost within a month, demanded money, forged her name and took away her lands and everything she owned, made her desperately unhappy in every way and finally she ended the marriage after he became physically abusive. Either the astrologer was not efficient or perhaps he was just too eager to please.

 So, perhaps it was just as well that I did not go to an astrologer. Why did I write this article ? To show you how our lives entwine with animals in every way, even astrologically.

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