Yoni Astrology, 14 Types, Nakshatra Chart and Yoni Kuta Matching

Yoni in astrology refers to the animal symbol assigned to a person's birth nakshatra (the Moon's position at birth). It is used in Vedic matchmaking to estimate sexual and temperamental compatibility between two people. This guide explains what yoni actually measures, lists all 14 types with their nakshatras, and shows how the Yoni Kuta scoring system works.

What Is Yoni in Astrology?

In Vedic astrology, every nakshatra is linked to one of 14 animals. This animal is called the person's yoni. It is one of eight factors (Ashtakoot) used in Guna Milan, the traditional marriage-matching method practiced across India.

Yoni is not a personality test on its own. It is a single 4-point factor out of a 36-point compatibility scale, focused specifically on instinctive and physical compatibility between partners.

Astronomy vs Interpretation: What Yoni Actually Measures

It helps to separate two different things that get mixed together in most articles on this topic.

• The astronomy is real and verifiable. At the moment of birth, the Moon occupies one of 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions), each spanning a fixed 13°20' band of the zodiac. This is a measurable position, calculated the same way by any panchang or ephemeris.

• The animal symbolism is a classical interpretive layer. Texts like the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra and Muhurtha Chintamani assign each nakshatra an animal and use animal behavior (friendly, hostile, neutral) as a metaphor for compatibility.

The Moon's nakshatra is fact. What that nakshatra means for your relationship is tradition and interpretation, refined over centuries but not a scientific claim. We separate the two so you can use this information with the right expectations.

The 14 Yoni Types and Their Nakshatras

Each yoni has two ruling nakshatras, except Nakula (Mongoose), which has only one.

Note: some regional traditions assign nakshatras to a "male" or "female" version of the same animal, and a few schools place Mrigashira under Deer instead of Serpent. These variations exist because different classical commentaries developed in different regions. Neither version is wrong; they are different lineages of the same system.

How Yoni Kuta (Yoni Porutham) Scoring Works

Yoni Kuta compares the yonis of two birth charts and assigns a score from 0 to 4. This score is added to seven other Kuta factors to reach the total Guna Milan score out of 36.

Friendly, Neutral and Enemy Yoni Pairs

The seven classical sworn-enemy pairs are:

• Horse and Buffalo

• Elephant and Lion

• Sheep/Goat and Monkey

• Serpent and Mongoose

• Dog and Deer

• Cat and Rat

• Cow and Tiger

All other animal combinations fall into friendly or neutral categories depending on the specific text consulted. Friendly and same-yoni pairings are generally read as easier instinctive compatibility; this does not mean other pairings cannot work.

What a Low Yoni Score Really Means

A 0 out of 4 on Yoni Kuta is often called Yoni Dosha. This is frequently misread as a reason to call off a marriage. That reading does not match how classical Guna Milan is meant to be used.

Yoni Kuta is 4 points out of 36. Practicing astrologers, including B.V. Raman and K.N. Rao in their published works, caution against rejecting a match on the basis of one Kuta. A chart can lose all 4 yoni points and still score 30+ overall, which is generally read as a workable match.

What actually carries more weight in most traditional readings:

• The 7th house and its lord in both charts

• Venus and Mars placements

• The Navamsa (D9) chart

• The total Guna Milan score, not any single factor

If you have a 0 yoni score, it is worth a full chart reading rather than a standalone conclusion.

How to Find Your Yoni

Your yoni is determined by your janma nakshatra, the nakshatra the Moon occupied at your exact birth time and place. You need an accurate birth time to get this right, since the Moon changes nakshatra roughly every 24 to 30 hours.

To find yours:

1. Get your exact birth date, time, and place.

2. Calculate your janma nakshatra using a panchang or birth chart tool.

3. Match the nakshatra to its yoni using the table above.

Astrogya's free birth chart report calculates your nakshatra and yoni automatically from your birth details, so you do not need to do this by hand.

Common Doubts About Yoni Matching

Is yoni matching scientific?
No. The Moon's nakshatra position is an astronomical fact. The animal symbolism and compatibility meaning attached to it is a traditional interpretive system, not an empirically tested one.

How many yoni types are there: 13 or 14?
There are 14. Some older or regional sources list 13 because Nakula (Mongoose) has only one nakshatra and gets dropped or merged in simplified lists.

Does a yoni mismatch mean a marriage will fail?
No single Kuta decides that. Yoni Kuta is 4 of 36 points in Guna Milan. A full reading considers the 7th house, Venus, Mars, the Navamsa chart, and the overall score together.

Is yoni porutham the same as yoni kuta?
Yes. Yoni Porutham is the South Indian term for the same factor that is called Yoni Kuta or Yoni Koota in North Indian systems. The scoring logic is identical.

Can I check yoni compatibility without knowing my exact birth time? Approximate compatibility is possible with date and place alone, but nakshatra and yoni results can shift if you do not have an accurate birth time, since the Moon moves quickly through the nakshatras.

Check Your Yoni Compatibility on Astrogya

You can get your nakshatra, yoni, and a full Ashtakoot compatibility breakdown free on Astrogya. Our AI astrology system calculates your chart instantly, and you can ask it follow-up questions about your specific result.

For a deeper reading, including the 7th house, Navamsa chart, and a remedy plan, our paid matching report adds human astrologer verification on top of the AI analysis. This gives you both speed and a second, qualified human opinion before you act on the result.