Graha Maitri is the fifth koota — 5 of 36 points reading mental and emotional compatibility, based on the classical friendship between the two partners' Moon-sign ruling planets.
Graha Maitri means "planetary friendship," and this koota reads mental compatibility — how naturally two people think alike, communicate, and grow together intellectually over the years. It's derived from the ruling planet (lord) of each partner's Moon sign, and carries 5 of the 36 total Ashtakoot points — one of the heavier-weighted factors, alongside Nadi and Gana.
Each of the seven classical grahas (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn — Rahu and Ketu are excluded here since no rashi is ruled by them) has a fixed set of natural friends, neutrals, and enemies in Vedic astrology, independent of any specific chart:
The Moon-sign lords of both partners are compared: if both planets are mutual friends, the full 5 points are awarded; if one is friend and one neutral, or both neutral, a partial score applies; and if the planets are mutual enemies, the score drops to 0. A single planet ruling both partners' Moon signs (e.g. both Moons in Cancer, ruled by the Moon itself) is treated as the strongest case — full points.
See your full Ashtakoot Guna Milan score — Graha Maitri is one of eight factors — get all 36 points, koota by koota, with your compatibility report. Check Kundli Matching
It carries 5 of the 36 total points — more than Varna, Vashya, Tara, or Yoni — because mental and emotional compatibility is classically seen as central to a lasting partnership.
That's the strongest possible case — the same ruling planet is read as maximum friendship, earning the full 5 points.
No — this koota only uses the seven classical grahas that rule a zodiac sign (Sun through Saturn). Rahu and Ketu don't rule any rashi, so they're excluded.
The natural (naisargika) friendship table used here is fixed and universal — it doesn't change chart to chart, unlike temporal friendship, which depends on each specific chart's house placements.