Graha Maitri Koota Explained

Graha Maitri is the 5th Koota of Ashtakoota Gun Milan. It gives 5 points out of the full 36. The word Graha means planet. The word Maitri means friendship. So Graha Maitri Koota is the planet friendship match.

This Koota checks the ruling planets of both Moon Rashis. Each Rashi has a lord. That lord rules the mind of the person born under that Rashi. When the two lords are friends, the minds feel at ease. When the two lords are enemies, the minds may pull apart.^[1]

Naksham's analysis reveals that this Koota is the mental bond test of the Vedic system. It does not rule money or health. It rules how two minds talk and share. This is why wise astrologers call it the mind-to-mind match.

The scoring uses a fixed table from Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. This table never changes. Each of the seven planets has set friends and set enemies. Your Rashi lord's place on this table decides the score.

Each of the 12 Rashis has one planet as its lord. Seven planets rule all 12 Rashis. Some planets rule two Rashis, and some rule only one. Here is the full list.

• Mangal (Mars). Rules Mesha (Aries) and Vrishchika (Scorpio). The planet of drive and fire.
• Shukra (Venus). Rules Vrishabha (Taurus) and Tula (Libra). The planet of love and art.
• Budh (Mercury). Rules Mithuna (Gemini) and Kanya (Virgo). The planet of mind and speech.
• Chandra (Moon). Rules Karka (Cancer) only. The planet of feeling and care.
• Surya (Sun). Rules Simha (Leo) only. The planet of the soul and will.
• Guru (Jupiter). Rules Dhanu (Sagittarius) and Meena (Pisces). The planet of wisdom.
• Shani (Saturn). Rules Makara (Capricorn) and Kumbha (Aquarius). The planet of time and work.

Rahu and Ketu do not rule any Rashi. So they do not take part in Graha Maitri scoring. Only these seven classical planets count.

The natural friendship table comes from Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. This is the Naisargika Maitri table. It is the base that every Vedic astrologer uses. Naksham's analysis reveals each planet's bonds here.^[1]

• Surya (Sun). Friends: Chandra, Mangal, Guru. Neutral: Budh. Enemies: Shukra, Shani.
• Chandra (Moon). Friends: Surya, Budh. Neutral: Mangal, Guru, Shukra, Shani. No enemies.
• Mangal (Mars). Friends: Surya, Chandra, Guru. Neutral: Shukra, Shani. Enemy: Budh.
• Budh (Mercury). Friends: Surya, Shukra. Neutral: Mangal, Guru, Shani. Enemy: Chandra.
• Guru (Jupiter). Friends: Surya, Chandra, Mangal. Neutral: Shani. Enemies: Shukra, Budh.
• Shukra (Venus). Friends: Shani, Budh. Neutral: Mangal, Guru. Enemies: Surya, Chandra.
• Shani (Saturn). Friends: Shukra, Budh. Neutral: Guru. Enemies: Surya, Chandra, Mangal.

Chandra is the only planet with no enemies. This is a soft rule in the classical texts. The Moon is open to all. It feels every planet with care.

The scoring is a two-way check. You find the boy's Rashi lord. You find the girl's Rashi lord. Then you check both views. You check how each planet sees the other on the Naisargika table.

1. Friend of both: 5 points. Both lords see each other as friends. The best score. Easy mental bond.
2. Friend + neutral: 4 points. One lord sees the other as a friend. The other sees as neutral. Still very good.
3. Neutral + neutral: 3 points. Both lords stay neutral. A steady mental bond. No heat either way.
4. Neutral + enemy: 1 point. One lord is neutral. The other is an enemy. Needs a little care.
5. Enemy + enemy: 0 points. Both lords are enemies. A growth area. The minds see things from very different places.

Naksham's view is that even a 0 in Graha Maitri is workable. Many couples turn this into a rich bond. They learn from the other mind. Same-minded couples often miss this growth path.