Four poruthams, four dimensions
Rajju porutham is the one test that can veto a marriage on its own. The next four most important, Dina, Gana, Yoni and Rasi, each measure a different dimension of compatibility: star distance, temperament, animal symbolism and zodiac-sign position. Together they form the backbone of the Tamil porutham evaluation.
Each porutham has its own calculation method, its own look-up tables and its own exceptions. This article walks through all four in detail, so you understand exactly what is being tested and why.
Dina porutham, star compatibility
Dina porutham (also called Dinam or Tara porutham) tests the distance between the bride's and groom's birth nakshatras. The name 'dina' refers to the daily star position, and the calculation is identical to the tarabalam system, only applied to two people rather than a person and a day.
How to calculate
- Count from the bride's birth nakshatra to the groom's (inclusive of the bride's own star as 1).
- Divide the result by 9.
- If the remainder is 2, 4, 6, 8 or 0, porutham passes.
- If the remainder is 1, 3, 5 or 7, porutham does not pass.
- In some traditions the count is repeated in the reverse direction (groom to bride), and both must pass.
| Remainder after dividing by 9 | Result |
|---|---|
| 0 (divisible by 9) | Favourable |
| 1 | Not favourable |
| 2 | Favourable |
| 3 | Not favourable |
| 4 | Favourable |
| 5 | Not favourable |
| 6 | Favourable |
| 7 | Not favourable |
| 8 | Favourable |
Worked example
Example: Rohini (4th) to Hasta (13th)
Bride: Rohini (nakshatra no. 4). Groom: Hasta (nakshatra no. 13).
- Count
- 13 - 4 + 1 = 10
- Division
- 10 / 9 = 1 remainder 1
- Assessment
- Remainder 1 = not favourable
From Rohini to Hasta, inclusive of Rohini.
The remainder is 1.
Odd remainder.
Dina porutham does not pass in this direction.
Also check the reverse: Hasta to Rohini = 27 - 10 + 2 = 19, 19 mod 9 = 1. Also not favourable.
Gana porutham, temperament match
Gana porutham assesses whether the couple's temperaments harmonise. Each nakshatra belongs to one of three ganas (temperaments): Deva (divine, gentle), Manushya (human, balanced) or Rakshasa (fierce, intense). There are 9 nakshatras in each gana.
| Gana | Nakshatras |
|---|---|
| Deva (divine) | Ashwini, Mrigashirsha, Punarvasu, Pushya, Swati, Anuradha, Shravana, Revathi, Hasta |
| Manushya (human) | Bharani, Rohini, Ardra, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada |
| Rakshasa (fierce) | Krittika, Ashlesha, Magha, Chitra, Vishakha, Jyeshtha, Moola, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha |
Compatibility matrix
| Groom \ Bride | Deva | Manushya | Rakshasa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deva | Pass | Pass | Fail |
| Manushya | Pass | Pass | Fail |
| Rakshasa | See exception | Fail | Pass |
Yoni porutham, animal symbol match
Yoni porutham compares the animal symbols of the bride's and groom's nakshatras. Each nakshatra is assigned an animal, and the 27 nakshatras (plus Abhijit in some traditions) are distributed across 14 animal pairs. Each pair has a 'male' and a 'female' nakshatra.
| Animal | Male nakshatra | Female nakshatra |
|---|---|---|
| Horse | Ashwini | Shatabhisha |
| Elephant | Bharani | Revathi |
| Goat | Pushya | Krittika |
| Serpent | Rohini | Mrigashirsha |
| Dog | Ardra | Moola |
| Cat | Ashlesha | Punarvasu |
| Rat | Magha | Purva Phalguni |
| Cow | Uttara Phalguni | Uttara Bhadrapada |
| Buffalo | Hasta | Swati |
| Tiger | Chitra | Vishakha |
| Deer | Anuradha | Jyeshtha |
| Monkey | Purva Ashadha | Shravana |
| Mongoose | Uttara Ashadha | Abhijit |
| Lion | Dhanishta | Purva Bhadrapada |
Compatibility rules
- Same animal = best match (e.g. both Horse).
- Friendly animals = favourable.
- Enemy animal pairs = yoni porutham fails.
- Natural enemies: Cat-Rat, Serpent-Mongoose, Dog-Deer, Cow-Tiger, Elephant-Lion, Horse-Buffalo.
| Enemy pair | Animal 1 | Animal 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cat | Rat |
| 2 | Serpent | Mongoose |
| 3 | Dog | Deer |
| 4 | Cow | Tiger |
| 5 | Elephant | Lion |
| 6 | Horse | Buffalo |
Rasi porutham, zodiac compatibility
Rasi porutham evaluates compatibility based on the relative positions of the bride's and groom's rashi (zodiac sign). Each zodiac sign is one of the 12 rashis, and the position is counted from the groom's rashi to the bride's.
Favourable and unfavourable positions
| Position from groom to bride | Result | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 (same rashi) | Acceptable | Favourable if nakshatras differ |
| 2-12 | Favourable | Adjacent positions in both directions |
| 3-11 | Favourable | Third position in both directions |
| 5-9 | Favourable | Trikona (trine) position, very strong |
| 6-8 | Favourable | Sixth and eighth position |
| 7-7 | Favourable | Opposite signs complement each other |
| 4-10 | Not favourable | Fourth position, tensions |
The position pair is always read in both directions: '2-12' means the bride's rashi is the 2nd sign from the groom's, and the groom's is the 12th from the bride's. The two numbers always add up to 14 (except 7-7 which also totals 14, and 1-1).
How the four work together
None of the four poruthams (Dina, Gana, Yoni, Rasi) is individually decisive. Unlike Rajju porutham, which alone can block a marriage, these four function as a composite picture of compatibility. The question is not whether a single porutham passes, but how many match.
- The traditional minimum is 5 out of 10 poruthams overall.
- Rajju and these four (Dina, Gana, Yoni, Rasi) carry the most weight, they are considered the most important.
- A couple that passes Rajju + all four of these is in a strong position, even if the remaining five are mixed.
- A couple that fails Rajju is normally not recommended, no matter how well the other four match.
- In practice, poruthams are supplemented by a broader horoscope analysis, doshas (flaws) and dashas (planetary periods) also play a role.