OPENJYOTISH PRIMER, CHAPTER 9: MATCHMAKING — KOOTA AND PORUTHAM
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Original synthesis by the OpenJyotish contributors (AGPL-3.0, like the
program). Factor definitions describe this program's Kuta engine
exactly; the worked comparison is live output (`jhora kuta`,
Matchmaking tab) for Moon in Purva Phalguni against Moon in Ardra —
reproduce before trusting.


1. WHAT MATCHING MEASURES (AND WHAT IT DOESN'T)
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Kuta matching compares two Moon positions: emotional natures,
conyugal compatibility, progeny promise. It never judges character,
longevity or love — those belong to the individual charts (Primer
Chapters 1–6) and their dashas (Chapter 2). A high score with
afflicted individual 7th houses still struggles; a moderate score
between two clean charts often thrives. Read matching last, never
first.


2. ASHTA KOOTA (NORTH INDIAN, 36 POINTS)
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Eight factors, weights 1 through 8:

Varna (1): Moon-sign caste compatibility — Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya,
Shudra in order; groom's equal or higher scores.
Vashya (2): mutual attraction and control between signs — movable,
fixed and dual signs attract in set patterns; same nature scores full.
Tara/Dina (3): count the bride's nakshatra from the groom's; remainders
3, 5, 7 (Vipata, Pratyari, Vadha) score zero.
Yoni (4): animal symbols of the two nakshatras — same animal and
compatible sex score high, predator-prey pairs score zero.
Graha Maitri (5): friendship between the two Moon-sign lords — mutual
friends score full, mutual enemies zero.
Gana (6): temperaments Deva (divine), Manushya (human), Rakshasa
(demonic) — same gana full, Deva–Rakshasa zero.
Bhakoota (7): Moon signs in 2/12, 6/8 or 5/9 mutual positions score
zero (with narrow classical exceptions); all other pairs score full.
Nadi (8): the three humors Adya, Madhya, Antya — different Nadis score
full; same Nadi scores zero and traditionally vetoes the match
regardless of total.

Totals: 18 of 36 is the commonly cited minimum, higher is easier. But
totals never override doshas: Nadi 0/8 or Bhakoota 0/7 sinks readings
that the arithmetic calls acceptable.


3. PORUTHAM (10 FACTORS, 19 POINTS)
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The Kerala/Tamil system: Dina, Gana, Yoni, Rasi, Rasyadhipati, Nadi,
Rajju, Vedha, Vashya and Mahendra. Rajju (the rope — five body-part
groups shared between nakshatras must differ) and Vedha (mutual
affliction between specific nakshatra pairs) carry veto weight like
Nadi. Rasi and Rasyadhipati judge the Moon signs and their lords;
Mahendra rewards certain benefic nakshatra distances. Higher of 19 is
better; any zero on Nadi, Rajju or Vedha demands the remedies and
counsel of Primer Chapter 8, or walking away.


4. WORKED COMPARISON
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Moon in Purva Phalguni against Moon in Ardra, Ashta Koota computed:

Varna 1/1, Vashya 2/2, Tara 0/3, Yoni 3/4, Graha Maitri 5/5, Gana 6/6,
Bhakoota 0/7, Nadi 0/8. Total 17/36.

Porutham on the same pair: 5.5/19, with Nadi 0/8 and Rajju 0/1.

Read it as the engine intends: temperaments align beautifully (Gana
6/6, Maitri 5/5, Vashya full) and the physical match is good (Yoni
3/4) — but Tara fails, Bhakoota fails, and Nadi fails in BOTH systems.
Seventeen of thirty-six with all three veto factors red is a declined
match wearing a passing total. This is the chapter's central lesson:
read the doshas first, the total last.


5. WHERE THIS LIVES IN THE PROGRAM
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Matchmaking tab (enter two birth data sets, both systems side by side),
`jhora kuta` (factor table with scores and reasons), conversation
anchor (the AI reads computed compatibility, never improvises Kuta),
and the verification note (every Kuta number in an AI answer is checked
before display).
