Matching, consent and the decision to marry
Matching a chart with another person's data should only be done with that person's consent, and the decision to marry belongs to the people who will marry.
What it is
Traditional matching is often done by families, and the texts treat marriage as a family matter as well as a personal one. Modern practice differs. In either case, the people whose charts are compared should know that their details are being used.
How it is worked out or read
This site does not store any birth details. Each calculation runs in your browser, and nothing is sent to the site's servers. Please enter another person's details only with their agreement.
Where it appears on this site
The privacy details are on the privacy page. The compatibility myths article explains the limits of matching.
Whose consent is needed
Consent in matching has two parts: the consent of the people whose details are used, and the consent of the people who will decide whether to marry. The first is about privacy and the second about the decision itself. Traditional practice often involved families, and modern practice varies, but in either case the people whose charts are compared should know that their details are being used.
A reader who gathers details for someone else should therefore ask for permission first and explain what the details will be used for.
Respecting differing views
Families and individuals often have different views on matching, and some do not wish to use it at all. A good practice is to respect those views and to avoid pressing a method on anyone who does not want it. The method is one tradition among several ways of thinking about a relationship, and its use should be a free choice.
Keeping the process fair
A fair process gives each person the same information about the method, the same chance to ask questions and the same freedom to withdraw. A reader who runs a comparison should explain its limits to everyone involved, and should be ready to stop if any person is uncomfortable. The site provides the tools for personal study and does not make decisions for anyone.
The law
In India, marriage requires the free consent of both people and the legal minimum ages of eighteen for women and twenty-one for men. The Special Marriage Act provides for marriage regardless of religion or community. No astrological factor changes these requirements.
Matching as advice
Families who value matching can use it as one source of advice. It should never be used to pressure someone into a marriage they do not want, or to break a relationship that both people wish to continue. When a match shows a dosha, the texts' own exceptions and the couple's wishes deserve equal attention.
Where to get help
Anyone facing pressure to marry, or to give up a relationship, against their will can seek help from trusted family members, friends, counsellors or the legal support services available in their area. A chart should never be the reason a person's own choice is overridden.