Rajju and Nadi dosha: the two checks that can reject a match
Which stars fall in each rajju and nadi, what a clash means, and the exceptions astrologers accept.
Of all the matching checks, Rajju (in Porutham) and Nadi (in both Porutham and Ashtakoota) are the ones families take most seriously. Both group the 27 nakshatras, and both fail when the bride and groom fall in the same group. Both depend only on the Moon's birth star (janma nakshatra), so you can check them as soon as you know the two stars — see the nakshatra porutham table.
Rajju: the five body parts
Rajju means “rope”. The nakshatras are laid out along the body, from the feet to the head and back, in a repeating pattern, giving five rajjus:
| Siro | Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta |
|---|---|
| Kantha | Rohini, Ardra, Hasta, Swati, Shravana, Shatabhisha |
| Nabhi | Krittika, Punarvasu, Uttara Phalguni, Vishakha, Uttara Ashadha, Purva Bhadrapada |
| Kati | Bharani, Pushya, Purva Phalguni, Anuradha, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada |
| Pada | Ashwini, Ashlesha, Magha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Revati |
If both partners' stars are in the same rajju, Rajju porutham fails. Traditional texts attach a meaning to each clash: Siro (head) is said to affect the husband, Kantha (neck) the wife, Nabhi (navel) the children, Kati (waist) the family's finances and Pada (feet) to bring separation and wandering. These are traditional beliefs, not predictions.
Many astrologers treat a Rajju clash as serious enough that the other poruthams cannot make up for it. On AstroRealm a match is graded Madhyamam (average) or better only when Rajju matches. Some regional texts allow exceptions — for example when the two stars are in the same rajju but in different directions (aroha and avaroha) — but practice varies, so AstroRealm does not apply them. Ask your astrologer if your case is borderline.
Nadi: the three constitutions
Nadi groups the stars into three, which Ayurveda links to the three doshas: Adi (vata), Madhya (pitta) and Antya (kapha). The pattern runs Adi, Madhya, Antya, Antya, Madhya, Adi across the zodiac:
| Adi | Ashwini, Ardra, Punarvasu, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Jyeshtha, Mula, Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada |
|---|---|
| Madhya | Bharani, Mrigashira, Pushya, Purva Phalguni, Chitra, Anuradha, Purva Ashadha, Dhanishta, Uttara Bhadrapada |
| Antya | Krittika, Rohini, Ashlesha, Magha, Swati, Vishakha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Revati |
When both partners have the same nadi, it is called Nadi dosha. In Ashtakoota (Guna Milan) the Nadi koota then scores 0 of its 8 points — the largest single loss possible. Traditionally it is linked to the health of the couple and their children.
When Nadi dosha is excused
Classical texts excuse a same-nadi pair in some cases. AstroRealm, following the astrologer whose results it was checked against, accepts three:
- the same nakshatra but a different rasi (possible for stars that span two signs, such as Krittika or Chitra);
- the same nakshatra but a different pada (quarter);
- the same rasi but a different nakshatra.
Without one of these, a Nadi clash makes the Porutham result Rejected on AstroRealm. The other check that rejects a match outright is Vedha: fixed pairs of stars that “obstruct” each other, such as Ashwini and Jyeshtha or Rohini and Swati. Each nakshatra page lists its Vedha star.
Checking your own match
Star-level tables are a quick first look. A full match also needs the rasi and pada, which depend on the exact birth time — check the full matching with both sets of birth details.
Make a horoscope Check matching
For guidance only. Please consult an astrologer before taking decisions.
More guides
- What is Ayanamsa, and which one should I choose?
- How to read a South Indian Rasi and Navamsa chart
- Ashtakoota matching: the 8 kootas and 36 gunas explained
- Porutham: the South Indian 10 (and 12) matches
- KP astrology in brief: star lords, sub lords and significators
- Why the exact birth time and place matter