What is Rajju?
Rajju (meaning "rope" in Sanskrit) is considered the most important compatibility rule in South Indian kundali matching, even more critical than Nadi Kuta. It groups the 27 nakshatras into five Rajju zones of the body — Shiro (head), Kantha (neck), Udara (stomach), Kati (waist), and Pada (feet). When both partners' Moon nakshatras fall in the same Rajju, it creates Rajju Dosha, a very serious incompatibility traditionally associated with danger to the male partner's longevity.
The Five Rajju Groups
| Rajju | Body Part | Traditional Concern | Nakshatras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiro | Head | Danger to husband's life | Mrigashira · Chitra · Dhanishtha |
| Kantha | Neck | Early widowhood | Rohini · Ardra · Hasta · Swati · Shatabhisha |
| Udara | Stomach / Navel | Loss of children | Krittika · Punarvasu · Uttara Phalguni · Vishakha · Uttara Ashadha |
| Kati | Waist | Poverty, financial hardship | Bharani · Pushyami · Purva Phalguni · Anuradha · Purva Ashadha |
| Pada | Feet | Wandering, instability | Ashwini · Ashlesha · Magha · Jyeshtha · Moola · Shravana · Revati · Purva Bhadra · Uttara Bhadra |
Scoring Rule
- Different Rajju groups → Compatible — full points in RVA system
- Same Rajju group → Rajju Dosha — 0 points, traditional prohibition
All 27 Nakshatras — Rajju Reference
| # | Nakshatra | Rajju | # | Nakshatra | Rajju |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Pada | 15 | Swati | Kantha |
| 2 | Bharani | Kati | 16 | Vishakha | Udara |
| 3 | Krittika | Udara | 17 | Anuradha | Kati |
| 4 | Rohini | Kantha | 18 | Jyeshtha | Pada |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Shiro | 19 | Moola | Pada |
| 6 | Ardra | Kantha | 20 | Purva Ashadha | Kati |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Udara | 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Udara |
| 8 | Pushyami | Kati | 22 | Shravana | Pada |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Pada | 23 | Dhanishtha | Shiro |
| 10 | Magha | Pada | 24 | Shatabhisha | Kantha |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Kati | 25 | Purva Bhadra | Pada |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Udara | 26 | Uttara Bhadra | Pada |
| 13 | Hasta | Kantha | 27 | Revati | Pada |
| 14 | Chitra | Shiro |
Worked Example
Significance
In South Indian (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) traditions, Rajju is often given higher priority than Nadi. The body-zone metaphor suggests which life area is at risk: Shiro (head) Rajju threatens the husband's life itself; Kantha (neck) threatens the wife becoming a widow; Udara (stomach) may affect children; Kati (waist) brings poverty; Pada (feet) brings instability and wandering.