Assessment of Nakshatra Yonis

अश्विन्मम्बुपयोर्हयो निगदितः स्वात्यर्कयोः कासरः
सिंहो वस्वजपाद्भयोः समुदितो याम्यान्त्ययोः कुञ्जरः ।
मेषो देवपुरोहितानलभयोः कर्णाम्बुचरो वानरः
स्याद्वैश्वाभिजितोस्तथैव नकुलश्चान्द्राब्जयोन्योरहिः ।। २५ ।।

ज्येष्ठामैत्रभयोः कुरंग उदितो मूलार्द्रयोः श्वा तथा
मार्जारोऽदितिसार्पयोरथ मघायोन्योस्तथैवोन्दुरुः ।
व्याघ्रो द्वीशभचित्रयोरपि च गौरर्यम्णबुध्न्यर्क्षयो-
र्योनिः पादगयोः परस्परमहावैरं भयोन्योस्त्यजेत् ।। २६ ।।

Key Takeaways:

Yoni Koota carries a maximum of 4 points.
The 27 nakshatras—or 28 when Abhijit is included—are classified under 14 symbolic Yonis.
The same Yoni receives 4 points, while a Mahavaira or mutually hostile Yoni pair receives 0.
Muhurta Chintamani specifically advises against marriage between nakshatras belonging to Mahavaira Yoni pairs.
Yoni Koota is traditionally associated with physical compatibility, intimacy and mutual attraction.

Nakshatras and Their Yonis

Yoni	Nakshatras	Male / Female Classification
Horse	Ashwini, Shatabhisha	Male
Elephant	Bharani, Revati	Female
Sheep	Pushya, Krittika	Female
Serpent	Rohini, Mrigashira	Male
Dog	Mula, Ardra	Male
Cat	Ashlesha, Punarvasu	Female
Mouse	Magha, Purva Phalguni	Male
Cow	Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Bhadrapada	Female
Buffalo	Swati, Hasta	Female
Tiger	Vishakha, Chitra	Male
Deer	Jyeshtha, Anuradha	Female
Monkey	Shravana, Purva Ashadha	Male
Mongoose	Uttara Ashadha, Abhijit	Female
Lion	Dhanishtha, Purva Bhadrapada	Male

Mahavaira Yoni Pairs — Traditionally Avoided

The final part of verse 26 of Muhurta Chintamani states: परस्परमहावैरं भयोन्योस्त्यजेत्. It advises avoiding marriage between partners whose nakshatras belong to mutually hostile Mahavaira Yonis. Each of the following seven pairs receives 0 points in Yoni Koota.

#	Mahavaira Pair	Associated Nakshatras
1	Horse ↔ Buffalo	Ashwini, Shatabhisha ↔ Swati, Hasta
2	Elephant ↔ Lion	Bharani, Revati ↔ Dhanishtha, Purva Bhadrapada
3	Sheep ↔ Monkey	Pushya, Krittika ↔ Shravana, Purva Ashadha
4	Serpent ↔ Mongoose	Rohini, Mrigashira ↔ Uttara Ashadha, Abhijit
5	Dog ↔ Deer	Mula, Ardra ↔ Jyeshtha, Anuradha
6	Cat ↔ Mouse	Ashlesha, Punarvasu ↔ Magha, Purva Phalguni
7	Cow ↔ Tiger	Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Bhadrapada ↔ Vishakha, Chitra

Yoni Koota Scoring Rules

Relationship	Points	Traditional Assessment
Same Yoni	4	Excellent — full physical and instinctive compatibility
Friendly Yonis	3	Favourable
Neutral Yonis	2	Moderate
Hostile Yonis	1	Limited compatibility; possible friction
Mahavaira Yonis	0	Traditionally avoided

Note: Classical texts broadly agree on the full score of 4 for the same Yoni and the score of 0 for Mahavaira pairs. The intermediate classifications—friendly (3), neutral (2) and hostile (1)—vary slightly among commentaries on Muhurta Chintamani, Jyotirnibandha and related texts. In practical assessment, identifying Mahavaira combinations is therefore given particular importance.

Male and Female Yoni Consideration

Traditional authorities consider it preferable when the groom's nakshatra belongs to a male Yoni and the bride's nakshatra to a female Yoni. Two male Yonis are associated with greater differences of opinion, while two female Yonis are traditionally interpreted as indicating closeness but comparatively less decisiveness. This is a supplementary consideration and should not be judged in isolation.

Yoni Dosha Cancellation

When Yoni Koota receives a low score, the severity may be reduced if the lords of the Moon signs have excellent Graha Maitri, Nadi and Bhakoota are free from dosha, or the lords of the bride's and groom's Navamsha Ascendants are mutual friends. Traditional authorities generally do not extend these mitigating rules to a Mahavaira Yoni combination.