The Ten Commandments of Tamil Matching: Porutham
In South Indian Astrology (Tamil/Kerala tradition), marriage compatibility is not just a game of numbers; it is a rigorous check of biological and spiritual harmony known as **Dasavidha Porutham** (10 Matches). Unlike the 36-point system of the North, this system is binary (Match/No Match) but far more stringent. It places supreme importance on the woman's longevity (Mahendra) and the couple's physical safety (Rajju).
"Rajju is the Mangalsutra. If Rajju fails, the matching fails, regardless of other scores."
The Critical 10 Poruthams
The 10 Poruthams cover every aspect of married life. **Dina:** Daily health and freedom from sickness. **Gana:** Temperament compatibility (Human vs. Divine). **Mahendra:** Progeny and longevity of the bond. **Stree Deergha:** Wealth and general prosperity. **Yoni:** Sexual compatibility. **Rasi:** Mental unity and friendship.
**Rasi Adhipathi:** Relationship between the birth lords. **Vashya:** Mutual attraction and magnetism. **Rajju:** Physical longevity of the couple (Most Important). **Vedha:** Absence of affliction or 'evil eye'.
Key Poruthams:
- Rajju: Must not match (Same Rajju is dangerous).
- Mahendra: Indicates the blessing of children.
- Dina: Ensures daily harmony and health.
- Yoni: Ensures biological satisfaction.
"In the knot of marriage, Rajju is the thread that must not snap."
Why Rajju Porutham is Non-Negotiable
Of all the 10 matches, **Rajju** is the deal-breaker. It represents the 'Chin-Strap' or the rope binding life. The stars are divided into Head, Neck, Middle, Thigh, and Foot Rajju. The rule is strictly **Mismatch**: The boy and girl should belong to different Rajju groups.
If both have Head Rajju, it endangers the husband. If both have Neck Rajju, it endangers the wife. Middle Rajju affects children. Thigh Rajju affects wealth. Foot Rajju affects travel. A marriage with Rajju Dosha is traditionally forbidden in South India, even if all other 9 Poruthams match perfectly.
Rajju Groups:
- Siro (Head): Mrigasira, Chitra, Dhanishta.
- Kanta (Neck): Rohini, Ardra, Hasta, Swati.
- Udara (Stomach): Krittika, Punarvasu, U.Phalguni.
- Uru (Thigh): Bharani, Pushya, P.Phalguni.
- Pada (Foot): Ashwini, Aslesha, Magha.
"Prosperity follows the woman (Stree). Longevity follows the man (Mahendra)."
Mahendra and Stree Deergha
These two matches are unique to the South Indian system. **Mahendra Porutham** specifically checks the man's capability to protect the wife and produce offspring. It is calculated by counting the stars from the girl to the boy. Specific intervals (4, 7, 10, etc.) are good.
**Stree Deergha** ensures the girl's prosperity. It measures the 'distance' between the stars. If the boy's star is more than 13 stars away from the girl's, it is excellent. This distance implies that the boy is 'ahead' in karmic maturity to guide the family.
Significance:
- Mahendra: Strength of lineage.
- Stree Deergha: Accumulation of wealth.
- Cancellation: If Rasi Adhipathi is good, Stree Deergha can be ignored.
"Nature cannot be faked. Instincts must align for peace in the bedroom."
Yoni Porutham: The Animal Totems
Yoni Porutham assigns an animal symbol to every Nakshatra (e.g., Horse, Elephant, Cat, Rat). This assesses the sexual compatibility of the couple. Certain animals are natural enemies (Cat vs. Rat, Snake vs. Mongoose). A marriage between enemy Yonis is said to lead to constant fighting or lack of intimacy.
Ideally, the animals should be the same (Perfect) or friendly. For example, a Horse (Ashwini) matches well with a Deer (Anuradha) but fights with a Buffalo (Swati). This ancient totemism is a psychological profile of basic instincts.
Enemy Pairs (Avoid):
- Cat vs. Rat: Ashlesha vs. Magha.
- Elephant vs. Lion: Bharani vs. Dhanishta.
- Horse vs. Buffalo: Ashwini vs. Swati.
- Dog vs. Deer: Moola vs. Jyeshta.
"God is in the details. A shift of one degree can change a destiny."
Advanced Settings: Latitude and Ayanamsa
Unlike simple web calculators, our Porutham tool offers **Advanced Settings**. You can manually input the Latitude and Longitude if the city is not found. We also use the **Lahiri Ayanamsa** by default but allow for adjustments.
Why does this matter? The Moon moves 13 degrees a day. If your calculation of the Moon's degree is off by even a few minutes, the Nakshatra Pada might change, altering the entire Rajju or Dina prediction. Precision is the soul of Vedic matchmaking.
Tech Specs:
- Ayanamsa: Lahiri (Chitra Paksha).
- Calculation: Topocentric Moon position.
- Star Boundary: Exact entry/exit times.
- Correction: Parallax adjustment.
"Survival first, happiness second. This is the wisdom of the ancients."
Porutham vs. Guna Milan
Is Porutham better than the North Indian Guna Milan? They serve different philosophies. Guna Milan is a point-based accumulation (get 18/36 to pass). Porutham is a checklist-based elimination (Rajju fail = Total fail).
The Tamil system is generally considered more conservative and stricter regarding health and longevity. It does not compromise on safety (Rajju/Vedha) for the sake of emotional affinity (Bhakoot). It prioritizes survival and lineage first, then happiness.
Differences:
- Scoring: Points vs. Yes/No.
- Focus: Emotion vs. Biology.
- Fatal Flaw: Bhakoot vs. Rajju.
- Deity: Moon vs. Star Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding the 10 matches.
Q.How many Poruthams must match?
Traditionally, at least 6 out of 10 should match. However, **Rajju** and **Dina** are critical. If Rajju matches (which is bad), the marriage is often rejected even if the score is 9/10. Some astrologers accept 5/10 if Rasi Adhipathi (Lordship) is excellent.
Q.What is 'Madhyama Rajju'?
This is the Middle Rajju. If both partners belong to this group, it is believed to cause harm to the health of the couple or issues with children. It is one of the most feared Doshas in Tamil matchmaking.
Q.Is Vedha Porutham important?
Yes. Vedha means 'Affliction'. Certain stars are mutually repelling (e.g., Ashwini and Jyeshta). If Vedha exists, the couple will constantly irritate each other or face bad luck. It cancels out a good Yoni match.
Q.Can we marry if Gana doesn't match?
Gana (Temperament) mismatch (e.g., Deva vs. Rakshasa) is manageable if **Mahendra** or **Rasi Adhipathi** is strong. It implies a difference in nature (one soft, one hard), which can be harmonized with maturity.
Q.What is the 'Star of the Girl' rule?
In Porutham, the girl's star is the anchor. Calculations are often done from the Girl to the Boy. For example, the boy's star should be the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, or 9th from the girl's star for **Dina Porutham** to be good.
Q.Does this apply to love marriages?
In love marriages, the hearts have already matched (Manas Porutham). However, consulting the Porutham helps identify potential friction points (like financial stress from Vasya dosha) so the couple can be prepared.