Bhakoot Dosha and when it is cancelled

Bhakoot carries seven of the thirty-six points in Ashtakoot matching, and unlike most kootas it is settled entirely by where the two moon signs fall relative to each other. This page sets out every classical exception, with the verse each one rests on.

Check Bhakoot Dosha cancellation for a couple

Enter both birth details and see whether this dosha applies to that pair, and if it is cancelled, which classical rule cancels it.

Enter both sets of birth details to see whether the dosha applies.

Reading Bhakoot in a match

What Bhakoot measures

Bhakoot looks at the relationship between the two moon signs — not at the signs themselves, but at the distance between them counted round the zodiac. Nothing about either chart alone decides it. The same moon sign can sit in a favourable relationship with one partner and a dosha-forming one with another, which is why Bhakoot can never be read off a single kundli.

When the dosha arises

Three rasi distances form Bhakoot Dosha: two-and-twelve (Dwirdwadash), five-and-nine (Navapancham), and six-and-eight (Shadashtaka). Like Nadi it is scored all-or-nothing — seven points or none. And those positions are themselves the dosha: none of the three is ever a cancellation in its own right, which is the most common misreading of this koota. Only the specific exceptions below lift it.

The chakra, sign by sign

Every pairing of moon signs, and what the rules make of it. Find the bride's sign down the side and the groom's along the top. A cell shows seven where the pairing forms no dosha at all and the full seven points are earned; one or more codes where the dosha arises and these two signs alone lift it; and a dash where they do not. A dash is not a verdict. Five of the eleven rules need more than two moon signs — a rasi lord's own navamsa position, tara compatibility, a vashya score, the two nakshatras — so a dashed cell is one where the rest of the chart still has a say, not one where the dosha has been upheld.

Bhakoot dosh for every pairing of moon signs. Rows are the bride's moon sign, columns the groom's.
Bride ↓Groom →	Ari Aries	Tau Taurus	Gem Gemini	Can Cancer	Leo Leo	Vir Virgo	Lib Libra	Sco Scorpio	Sag Sagittarius	Cap Capricorn	Aqu Aquarius	Pis Pisces
Ari Aries	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C1C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: Both signs share a rasi lord; A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	C2C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C3The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly
Tau Taurus	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C3C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly; The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends	C1C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: Both signs share a rasi lord; A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	C2C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points
Gem Gemini	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C3The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points
Can Cancer	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C3C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly; The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's
Leo Leo	C2C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C3The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly
Vir Virgo	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	C2C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C3C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly; The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points
Lib Libra	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C1C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: Both signs share a rasi lord; A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	C2C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C3The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it
Sco Scorpio	C1C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: Both signs share a rasi lord; A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C3C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly; The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends
Sag Sagittarius	C2The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	C2C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2C3The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points
Cap Capricorn	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C2The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends	C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C1C3C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: Both signs share a rasi lord; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly; The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points
Aqu Aquarius	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	C2C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C1C3The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: Both signs share a rasi lord; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's
Pis Pisces	C2C3C5The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly; The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	C2C4The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	C2C6The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it: The two rasi lords are mutual friends; The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points	The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it	7No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points

How to read a cell

7: No Bhakoot Dosha — the full seven points
C1–C6: The dosha arises, and the two signs alone cancel it
—: The dosha arises and no sign-only exception reaches it

C1: Both signs share a rasi lord
C2: The two rasi lords are mutual friends
C3: A 2/12 pair the texts name as friendly
C4: A 6/8 pair the texts name as friendly
C5: The bride's sign is the twelfth from the groom's
C6: The bride's sign is the fifth from the groom's

Reading the chakra from a birth star

The chakra is read by moon sign, and a great many people know their nakshatra instead. The two do not line up: a nakshatra spans 13°20′ against a sign's 30°, so nine of the twenty-seven — Krittika, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Uttara Phalguni, Chitra, Vishakha, Uttara Ashadha, Dhanishta and Purva Bhadrapada — begin in one sign and end in the next. Which one a birth falls in depends on the pada. Find the star below, read across to its pada, and take that sign into the chakra above.

Nakshatra	Pada 1	Pada 2	Pada 3	Pada 4
Ashwini	Ari	Ari	Ari	Ari
Bharani	Ari	Ari	Ari	Ari
Krittika	Ari	Tau	Tau	Tau
Rohini	Tau	Tau	Tau	Tau
Mrigashira	Tau	Tau	Gem	Gem
Ardra	Gem	Gem	Gem	Gem
Punarvasu	Gem	Gem	Gem	Can
Pushya	Can	Can	Can	Can
Ashlesha	Can	Can	Can	Can
Magha	Leo	Leo	Leo	Leo
Purva Phalguni	Leo	Leo	Leo	Leo
Uttara Phalguni	Leo	Vir	Vir	Vir
Hasta	Vir	Vir	Vir	Vir
Chitra	Vir	Vir	Lib	Lib
Swati	Lib	Lib	Lib	Lib
Vishakha	Lib	Lib	Lib	Sco
Anuradha	Sco	Sco	Sco	Sco
Jyeshtha	Sco	Sco	Sco	Sco
Mula	Sag	Sag	Sag	Sag
Purva Ashadha	Sag	Sag	Sag	Sag
Uttara Ashadha	Sag	Cap	Cap	Cap
Shravana	Cap	Cap	Cap	Cap
Dhanishta	Cap	Cap	Aqu	Aqu
Shatabhisha	Aqu	Aqu	Aqu	Aqu
Purva Bhadrapada	Aqu	Aqu	Aqu	Pis
Uttara Bhadrapada	Pis	Pis	Pis	Pis
Revati	Pis	Pis	Pis	Pis

The cancellations

The exceptions fall into two kinds. Some rest on the rasi lords — a shared lord, or two lords that are mutual friends — and some name particular sign pairs the texts single out as benign despite forming one of the three distances. A few rest on strength found elsewhere in the match, such as Tara compatibility or a perfect Vashya score.

Two of these run one way only

Most cancellations are symmetric — it makes no difference which chart is whose. Two are not. A bride's moon sign falling in the twelfth position from the groom's is described as bringing wealth and affection, while the same two signs the other way round are inauspicious; the fifth-from-groom rule is directional in the same way. So a pair of signs that cancels for one couple can stand for another couple holding the same two signs in the opposite arrangement.

Where the sources disagree

The classical literature is not unanimous here, and this page does not pretend otherwise. On the five-and-nine direction two authorities contradict each other outright — Brihaj Jyotishsara treats one direction as favourable where Jyotih Prakasha calls the same arrangement inauspicious — and the engine follows the first. Several further rules were left out rather than implemented from a source already shown unreliable on a contested point, or because they would add a new dosha rather than cancel one. What is shown is what the engine actually applies.

Accuracy first — every position comes from DE440, NASA JPL's most precise planetary ephemeris.