What is Gana Kuta?
Gana Kuta tests temperament compatibility — whether two people share the same fundamental nature or disposition. Each Moon nakshatra belongs to one of three ganas (groups): Deva (divine/gentle), Manushya (human/balanced), or Rakshasa (demon/intense). Partners whose ganas are compatible are expected to have similar life outlooks, emotional responses, and values.
Maximum Score: 6 — the second-highest kuta in classical Ashtakuta, reflecting the importance of temperamental harmony in a long-term relationship.
The Three Ganas
| Gana | Nature | Moon Nakshatras |
|---|
| Deva | Divine · gentle · idealistic · spiritually inclined | Ashwini · Mrigashira · Punarvasu · Pushyami · Hasta · Swati · Anuradha · Shravana · Revati |
| Manushya | Human · balanced · practical · worldly | Bharani · Rohini · Ardra · Purva Phalguni · Uttara Phalguni · Purva Ashadha · Uttara Ashadha · Purva Bhadra · Uttara Bhadra |
| Rakshasa | Intense · driven · passionate · fierce | Krittika · Ashlesha · Magha · Chitra · Vishakha · Jyeshtha · Moola · Dhanishtha · Shatabhisha |
Scoring Rule
| Male Gana | Female Gana | Score | Compatibility |
|---|
| Deva | Deva | 6 | Excellent |
| Manushya | Manushya | 6 | Excellent |
| Rakshasa | Rakshasa | 6 | Excellent |
| Deva | Manushya | 5 | Good |
| Manushya | Deva | 5 | Good |
| Deva | Rakshasa | 1 | Poor |
| Rakshasa | Deva | 1 | Poor |
| Manushya | Rakshasa | 0 | Incompatible |
| Rakshasa | Manushya | 0 | Incompatible |
Exception: Some texts permit a Deva male + Rakshasa female combination if both charts are otherwise very strong. Rakshasa + Rakshasa scoring 6 is notable — these pairs are considered fiercely loyal to each other.
Worked Examples
MaleMoon in Hasta → Deva
FemaleMoon in Swati → Deva
✓ Deva + Deva — both gentle and idealistic — Score: 6 / 6
MaleMoon in Rohini → Manushya
FemaleMoon in Magha → Rakshasa
✗ Manushya + Rakshasa — conflicting natures — Score: 0 / 6
MaleMoon in Punarvasu → Deva
FemaleMoon in Uttara Phalguni → Manushya
~ Deva + Manushya — good but not perfect — Score: 5 / 6
Nakshatra Gana Quick Reference
| # | Nakshatra | Gana | # | Nakshatra | Gana |
|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Deva | 15 | Swati | Deva |
| 2 | Bharani | Manushya | 16 | Vishakha | Rakshasa |
| 3 | Krittika | Rakshasa | 17 | Anuradha | Deva |
| 4 | Rohini | Manushya | 18 | Jyeshtha | Manushya |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Deva | 19 | Moola | Rakshasa |
| 6 | Ardra | Manushya | 20 | Purva Ashadha | Manushya |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Deva | 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Manushya |
| 8 | Pushyami | Deva | 22 | Shravana | Deva |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Rakshasa | 23 | Dhanishtha | Rakshasa |
| 10 | Magha | Rakshasa | 24 | Shatabhisha | Rakshasa |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Manushya | 25 | Purva Bhadra | Manushya |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Manushya | 26 | Uttara Bhadra | Manushya |
| 13 | Hasta | Deva | 27 | Revati | Deva |
| 14 | Chitra | Rakshasa | | | |
Significance
Gana Kuta is one of the more decisive matching rules. At 6 out of 36 points (16.7% of total), a mismatch — especially Manushya + Rakshasa — carries real weight. The gana reveals how a person reacts emotionally and socially: Deva people tend toward compromise and idealism; Manushya toward pragmatic give-and-take; Rakshasa toward intensity and high expectations. Deep gana mismatches can lead to chronic misunderstanding of each other's emotional needs.
Modern context: Many astrologers consider Gana Kuta especially important for predicting day-to-day emotional harmony. A Deva-Rakshasa pair may work with awareness and effort, but a Manushya-Rakshasa pairing is considered the most challenging.
