Glossary
South Indian Matrimony Glossary
Canonical definitions of the matrimony, horoscope matching and wedding ritual terms used across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam communities.
Horoscope matching
- Guna Milan(Ashta-Koota · Kundali Milan)
- Guna Milan (also called Ashta-Koota) is the traditional Vedic system for checking marriage compatibility between two horoscopes on eight factors — Varna, Vashya, Tara, Yoni, Graha Maitri, Gana, Bhakoot and Nadi — for a maximum score of 36 Gunas. A score of 18 or more is traditionally considered acceptable for marriage, 24+ very good, and 32+ excellent.
- Nakshatra(Janma Nakshatra · Birth Star)
- Nakshatra is the lunar mansion the moon occupies at the time of birth — there are 27 Nakshatras in Vedic astrology. Nakshatra compatibility is part of Guna Milan and is used to compute the Yoni, Gana, Bhakoot and Nadi Kootas.
- Rasi(Moon Sign · Janma Rasi)
- Rasi is the moon sign at birth — the zodiac sign occupied by the moon in the natal chart. Rasi is used in South Indian compatibility methods (Rasi Porutham, Rasiadhipathy Porutham) and is computed from birth date, time and place.
- Porutham(10-Porutham · Tamil compatibility)
- Porutham is the South Indian (predominantly Tamil and Malayalee) marriage compatibility system that checks 10 factors: Dinam, Ganam, Mahendram, Sthree-Deergham, Yoni, Rasi, Rasiadhipathy, Vasyam, Rajju and Vedha. MangalyaMatrimony computes both Porutham and Guna Milan on every match.
- Mangal Dosha(Manglik · Kuja Dosha)
- Mangal Dosha (also called Kuja Dosha) is the astrological condition in which Mars occupies the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house of the natal chart. Traditional matchmaking prefers Manglik-to-Manglik alliances to neutralise the dosha; profile filters on MangalyaMatrimony include a Manglik status field.
- Nadi Dosha
- Nadi Dosha occurs when the bride and groom share the same Nadi (Aadi, Madhya or Antya) — derived from the Nakshatra. Same-Nadi matches are traditionally discouraged because the Nadi Koota carries the highest weight (8 of 36 Gunas) in Ashta-Koota.
Lineage
- Gotra
- Gotra is the patrilineal ancestral lineage traced to one of the ancient Vedic rishis. Hindu marriage tradition prohibits matches within the same gotra; same-gotra matches are hidden by default on MangalyaMatrimony.
Wedding ritual
- Muhurtham(Wedding date · Muhurtam)
- Muhurtham is the auspicious time fixed for the wedding ceremony, determined by a family priest using the bride's and groom's birth charts, lunar calendar and Panchangam. The Mangalsutra Dharana (tying of the sacred necklace) typically happens at the exact muhurtham time.
- Mangala Snanam
- Mangala Snanam is the ritual purification bath taken by both the bride and groom in their own homes on the morning of the wedding day, usually before sunrise. Sesame oil, turmeric and sandalwood paste are applied before the bath.
- Kanyadanam(Kanyadan)
- Kanyadanam is the ritual in which the bride's parents formally give her hand to the groom, sealed with a sankalpam (vow) recited by the priest. The bride and groom hold a coconut wrapped in mango leaves while sacred water flows over their hands.
- Mangalsutra(Mangalyam · Thaali)
- Mangalsutra (called Mangalyam or Thaali in Tamil/Malayalam contexts) is the sacred wedding necklace tied around the bride's neck by the groom with three knots — symbolising mental, physical and spiritual union. The tying happens at the muhurtham and is the moment of religious marriage in most South Indian traditions.
- Saptapadi(Seven steps)
- Saptapadi is the seven-step ritual the couple performs together around the sacred fire (Agni). Each step represents a vow — for food, strength, prosperity, happiness, progeny, health and lifelong companionship. Saptapadi makes the marriage legally and religiously complete under Hindu Marriage Act.
Telugu wedding
- Pelli Choopulu(Pellichoopulu)
- Pelli Choopulu is the formal first meeting between the prospective Telugu bride and groom and their families. Traditionally held at the bride's home, it includes a meal, light conversation and a horoscope exchange. If both families agree, the proposal proceeds to Nischitartham.
- Nischitartham(Niscchitardham · Telugu engagement)
- Nischitartham is the formal Telugu engagement ceremony where the wedding date (muhurtham) is fixed, rings or gifts are exchanged and both families publicly commit to the alliance.
- Jeelakarra-Bellam(Cumin and jaggery ritual)
- Unique to Telugu weddings, Jeelakarra-Bellam is the moment the bride and groom place a paste of cumin and jaggery on each other's heads at the exact muhurtham time — symbolising an inseparable bond.
- Talambralu
- Talambralu is the playful Telugu wedding finale in which the bride and groom shower each other with a mix of rice, turmeric, pearls and saffron — signalling the formal end of the wedding rites.
Iyengar tradition
- Pavitram
- Pavitram is a sacred ring made of darbha grass worn during Vedic rituals. In Iyengar (Sri Vaishnava) families it is associated with the Pancha Samskara initiation; some Iyengar profiles record Pavitram as a structured field for compatibility considerations.
Community
- Sub-caste(Sub-community · Sub-group)
- A regional or hereditary sub-grouping within a caste. South Indian sub-castes include Panta Reddy, Pakanati Reddy, Gampa Kamma, Pedda Kamma, Vadama Iyer, Thenkalai Iyengar, Veerashaiva Lingayat, Gangadikara Vokkaliga, Kiriyathil Nair and many others. MangalyaMatrimony treats sub-caste as a structured first-class search field.
Kamma tradition
- Intinti-peru(Family house name)
- Intinti-peru is the family house name used in Kamma community lineage tracking. Marriage tradition typically excludes alliances with the same intinti-peru. MangalyaMatrimony exposes intinti-peru as a structured filter on Kamma profiles.
Audience
- NRI(Non-Resident Indian)
- NRI (Non-Resident Indian) refers to Indian citizens or persons of Indian origin residing outside India. South Indian NRI matrimony segments are concentrated in the US (Bay Area, New Jersey, Dallas), UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and the UAE. MangalyaMatrimony provides per-country NRI pages with citizenship/visa-status filters and time-zone-aware masked video calls.
Platform feature
- Masked video call(1-1 video call)
- A masked 1-1 video call is a secure in-platform video call that does not require phone-number exchange between matches. Once both users accept Interest, either can initiate a video call. MangalyaMatrimony includes masked video calls with accepted Interest at no per-call charge.
- Verified profile
- A verified profile on MangalyaMatrimony has completed phone OTP verification, government ID verification (Aadhaar/Passport/PAN) and photo verification, plus passed AI image screening that detects AI-generated faces, mismatched faces and harmful content before profiles appear in search.