Astrological compatibility (synastry) is the branch of

astrology Astrology is a range of Divination, divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of Celestial o ...

that studies relationships by comparing natal horoscopes. A natal horoscope is a chart or map of the angles of the

planet A planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is neither a star nor its remnant. The best available theory of planet formation is the nebular hypothesis, which posits that an interstellar cloud collapses out of a nebula to create a you ...

s in the

Solar System The Solar SystemCapitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Solar S ...

and their positions in the

zodiac The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the Sun path, apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. ...

at the exact time of a person's birth. These

angle In Euclidean geometry, an angle is the figure formed by two Ray (geometry), rays, called the ''Side (plane geometry), sides'' of the angle, sharing a common endpoint, called the ''vertex (geometry), vertex'' of the angle. Angles formed by two ...

s represent the positive and negative relationships between the

s. These relationships describe the relationship between the two people under consideration. Compatibility between Zodiac signs is always approached within a particular branch of astrological tradition:

Western astrology Western astrology is the system of astrology most popular in Western countries. Western astrology is historically based on Ptolemy's ''Tetrabiblos'' (2nd century CE), which in turn was a continuation of Hellenistic astrology, Hellenistic and ult ...

Vedic astrology Jyotisha or Jyotishya (from Sanskrit ', from ' “light, heavenly body" and ''ish'' - from Isvara or God) is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, Indian astrology and more recently Vedic astrology. It is one ...

Chinese astrology Chinese astrology is based on the traditional astronomy and calendars. Chinese astrology came to flourish during the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC to 2nd century AD). Chinese astrology has a close relation with Chinese philosophy (theory of the t ...

Compatibility in Western astrology

This principle was most clearly demonstrated in modern times by the work of

Carl Jung Carl Gustav Jung ( ; ; 26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology. Jung's work has been influential in the fields of psychiatry, anthropology, archaeology, literature, philo ...

in his book

Synchronicity Synchronicity (german: Synchronizität) is a concept first introduced by analytical psychologist Carl G. Jung "to describe circumstances that appear meaningfully related yet lack a causal connection." In contemporary research, synchronicity ...

. Jung was exploring the nature of coincidence for a study. He was offered a collection of over 400 pairs of horoscopes of married couples for this purpose. Jung randomized half of the pairs of horoscopes and attempted to find the couples who were actually married. Jung found a correlation between the married couples that matched astrological prediction. Astonished, he questioned his influence in the study and repeated the experiment with the same results. He again changed his methods and again arrived at the results astrologers predicted. He could not find a causal relationship to explain his correlations, so he termed Synchronicity an acausal principle.

Compatibility in Indian astrology

The Hindu/Indian system of examining compatibility based on horoscopes of the aspirant couple is unique. The fundamental concept of matching horoscopes emanates from constellations occupied by the Ascendant/Lagna (

Lagna In Vedic Astrology Jyotiṣa, the Lagna (') or Hour Marker, is the first moment of contact between the soul and its new life on earth in Jyotiṣa.''The Essentials of Vedic and thantrik Astrology'', by Komilla Sutton, The Wessex Astrologer Ltd, E ...

) at the time of births of bride and bridegroom. Individuals inherit qualities of the birth constellation. Various constellations represent different nature in respect of their casts, animals presented by them, sex, ''Gana'' (God/man/demon), humour, birds ruled, primordial elements, Gotra, directions ruled, consonants and vowels, mutual harmony and repulsion with certain stars, beneficence to the other stars by virtue of mutual distance etc. In addition, a host of other factors such as longevity of the individuals, character (sexual), widowhood, poverty, progeny, body status, radical strengths and indications, planetary nature and afflictions, currency of major and minor periods,'' Marakaas'' (death inflicting planets), placement of

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...

in their nativity (

Mangal Dosha Mangala Dosha (IAST: Maṅgala-doṣa), also known as Mangal Dosh because of schwa deletion, is a Hindu superstition prevalent in India. A person born under the influence of Mars (Mangala) as per Hindu astrology is said to have "mangala dosha" ("m ...

), time of query, omen (''Shagun''), antidotes, propitiations, auspicious time for marriage etc. should be examined to arrive at a suitable union of the couple. Based on the birth constellations, the following aspects are examined ''Varna, Vashya, Tara, Yoni, Gana, Graha Maitri, Bhakoota, Nadi, Mahendra, Vedha, Rajju, Stree Deergha, Linga, Gotra, Varga and Yujja'' for checking compatibility. In another system, only eight of these factors are given importance and are assigned numeric values - ''Varna'' (1 point), ''Vashya'' (2 Points), ''Tara'' (3 points), ''Yoni'' (4 points), ''Graha Maitri'' (5 points), ''Gana'' (6 points), ''Bhakoota'' (7 points) and ''Nadi'' (8 points). The total of these factors adds up to 36 points and a horoscope is considered to be matched only if the compatibility score is more than 18. Significance of various aspects in compatibility are as follows: * ''Varna'': Grade of spiritual development, obedience * ''Vashya'': Mutual control – friendship. * ''Tara'': Mutual beneficence-luck-auspiciousness * ''Yoni'': Sexual aspects, affinity, urge, compatibility. * ''Graha Maitri'': Psychological disposition, friendship. * ''Gana'': Nature: Dev – Manush – Raakshas * ''Bhakoota'': Children, growth of family. * ''Nadi'': Temperaments, hereditary (astrological), affliction and death to other * ''Mahendra'': Promotes attachments, increase in longevity. * ''Stree – Dergha'': Service to husband. * ''Rajju'': Felicity and duration of married life. * ''Vedha – Varga'': Mutual repellence and enmity. * ''Varga'': Mutual friendship/enmity judged from their names * ''Yujja'': Type of mutual love – from one side – both sides. Based on the above aspects, mathematical computation is performed to find a match. The logic is this - when two persons from different backgrounds come together, one has very little information on their compatibilities. This, using a statistical algorithm of planets and their positions are used to figure out. In certain cases need based matching is done and the astrologer has to use his skills in examining compatibility. It is felt essential to match the horoscopes before further marriage negotiations are done. However it is explicitly mentioned in the ancient books that these matches are to be looked at only in the case of an arranged marriage. In a love marriage the match of minds is already existing and love overrides all these matches. If the minds are matching, horoscope matching has little relevance. Even if all the matches above are present or absent, the love marriage can proceed auspiciously. The above system is in practice for the last two millennia.

References

{{Reflist Technical factors of Western astrology Technical factors of Hindu astrology

Compatibility in Western astrology

Compatibility in Indian astrology

See also

Further reading

References