Gotra, Rashi, Nakshatra & Manglik in a Biodata, Explained
20 June 2026 · 6 min read
If you're filling a Hindu marriage biodata, you'll meet a set of horoscope fields that don't appear on a normal résumé: gotra, rashi, nakshatra, gan and manglik status. Here's what each one means and why families look for them.
Gotra
Gotra is your paternal lineage, traced to an ancestral sage. Many communities avoid matches within the same gotra, so families check it early. You inherit it from your father's side.
Rashi (zodiac / moon sign)
Rashi is your moon sign in Vedic astrology, based on the moon's position at birth. It's used in kundli (horoscope) matching to assess compatibility.
Nakshatra (birth star)
Nakshatra is your birth star — one of 27 lunar mansions. Along with rashi, it's central to traditional matchmaking and is often required before families proceed.
Gan and Manglik status
Gan (Dev, Manushya or Rakshas) is derived from your nakshatra and used in compatibility scoring. Manglik (or Mangal dosha) indicates a specific placement of Mars; families often note whether someone is manglik so horoscopes can be matched accordingly.
- Gan: Dev / Manushya / Rakshas
- Manglik: yes / no (Mangal dosha)
Where to find these details
All of these come from your birth chart (janam kundli), which a family astrologer prepares from your date, time and place of birth. Our Hindu biodata templates include ready fields for each, so you just fill them in.
Ready to make yours?
Create your biodata freeFAQ
Are horoscope fields required on a marriage biodata?
For most Hindu matches, yes — families use gotra, rashi, nakshatra and manglik status for kundli matching. Muslim, Sikh and Christian biodatas don't use them.
Where do I find my rashi and nakshatra?
They come from your janam kundli (birth chart), calculated from your date, time and place of birth — usually by a family astrologer.
What does manglik mean on a biodata?
Manglik (Mangal dosha) refers to a specific position of Mars in the birth chart. Families note it so horoscopes can be matched appropriately.
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