(15) Ramanujan's Date with Numbers.
Pankaj Khanna
9424810575
Previous/Next Blog Posts:
(1) Beauty Squarely Introduction & Kuber Yantra
(2) Murphy Radio!? अले वाह!! My first Experience of Magic Square.
(3) Decoding the Quadratum Mirabile! How to solve 3x3 Magic Squares.
(4) Lo Shu Square History of Chinese Magic Square.
(5) The Unhurried Odyssey of a Turtle!! History of Magic Squares in short.
Brief Introduction.
(7) Khajuraho Magic: Introduction.
(8) Chautisa Yantra: Mytho-math Spice.
(9) Dürer Square
(11) Tona Lisa as a Rock Star!
(15) Ramanujan's Date with Numbers.
Did Srinivasa Ramanujan ever date a girl—in India or in England? History, rather unhelpfully, has no answer. But considering his spartan life, monk-like focus, and single-minded devotion, it seems unlikely.
This shy, intensely focused genius had far more exciting things to do than 'dating'—like interacting with infinity, settling a score with series, and taming unruly equations. Romance, if it existed at all, took a rather unconventional form. Instead of candlelight dinners, Ramanujan went on a “date” with a magic square—one where his own date of birth proudly sat in the first row. And that was his 'love at first sum'.
Let us now take a closer look at the numbers in Ramanujan’s Birthdate Square. He begins, quite deliberately, by placing his own date of birth in the first row. What follows is where the real elegance reveals itself.
Observe the remaining twelve numbers carefully and the magic becomes apparent. The great man balances the entire square using nothing more than the four numbers from the first row—by adding or subtracting just 1, 2, or 3. No elaborate machinery, no numerical acrobatics!
The result is as impressive as the creator himself. Every row, every column, and both diagonals sum to 139—a prime number, suitably befitting a prime mathematician. And the magic doesn’t stop there: seven of the nine possible 2×2 subsquares also obediently add up to 139.
When numbers behave this well, one can almost imagine Ramanujan smiling in his temple town.
In short, Ramanujan didn’t construct the square—he just nudged the numbers gently, and they happily cooperated being his beloved pets.
To be honest, this magic square does not belong to the aristocracy of magic squares. It is neither a perfect magic square, nor a pandiagonal marvel of the Khajuraho kind, nor an associated beauty in the grand Dürer tradition. In terms of classical symmetry and ancient elegance, it politely stands aside and lets those venerable giants take the bow.
And yet—this is precisely where Ramanujan’s genius peeks out and grins. The square’s real charm lies not in competing with the old masters, but in doing something entirely new. With one playful stroke, Ramanujan turned a serious mathematical object into an invitation. He showed that a magic square could be personal.
Suddenly, magic square lovers everywhere were encouraged to try their own birthdays, crafting little numerical celebrations of their own. It may not be the most symmetrical square in history—but it is surely one of the most generous.
If we denote the date as A, Month as B, first two digits of a year as C and the last two digits as D then by observing Ramanjuans Square' we can create a similar generator for any birthdate, just saying: 1,2,3... Run!
And if we dare to generalise the above magic square, something remarkable happens. The specific quietly gives way to the universal, fully grown magic square. At this point, calling it just another square would be an injustice. It deserves a better name—one with gravitas, charm, and a touch of gratitude.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Ramanujan Yantra!
As the image above happily demonstrates, Ramanujan’s birth date alone can generate infinitely many Birthdate Squares. So go ahead—pick your date, tune your numbers, and create a Birthdate Square that fits you perfectly.
Carry this Ramanuja Yantra with you—no batteries, no downloads, no guru, no coaching classes required. Creating your own Birthdate Magic Square is delightfully simple. Just follow these 'sacred' steps:
Step 1:
Write your birth date in the first row. Let the date be A, the month B, the first two digits of the year C, and the last two digits D. Congratulations—you’ve just signed your mathematical autograph!
Step 2:
Now choose a value of x = ±(1, 2, 3 … ∞)—guided entirely by your birth date, intuition, or mood of the day. Add or subtract in the Ramanujan Yantra with confidence; the numbers know what they’re doing.
And then—lo and behold!
Your very own magic square appears. A personal yantra, custom-made by arithmetic itself, ready to be framed, admired, and possibly stored alongside a Kuber Yantra in your secret Swiss account!
All accomplished in a jiffy—just by counting 1, 2, 3. Ramanujan would approve. Numbers certainly do.
The next blog post will unveil yet another avatar of the Ramanujan Yantra—one that not only keeps evil spirits at a distance, but also generously offers magic-square lovers a fresh and friendly way to construct their own Birthdate Squares with all distinct and natural numbers.
Pankaj Khanna
9424810575
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मेरे कुछ अन्य ब्लॉग:
हिन्दी में:
तवा संगीत : ग्रामोफोन का संगीत और कुछ किस्सागोई।
रेल संगीत: रेल और रेल पर बने हिंदी गानों के बारे में।
साइकल संगीत: साइकल पर आधारित हिंदी गाने।
कुछ भी: विभिन्न विषयों पर लेख।
तवा भाजी: वन्य भाजियों को बनाने की विधियां!
मालवा का ठिलवा बैंड: पिंचिस का आर्केस्टा!
ईक्षक इंदौरी: इंदौर के पर्यटक स्थल। (लेखन जारी है।)
अंग्रेजी में:
Love Thy Numbers : गणित में रुचि रखने वालों के लिए।
Epeolatry: अंग्रेजी भाषा में रुचि रखने वालों के लिए।
CAT-a-LOG: CAT-IIM कोचिंग।छात्र और पालक सभी पढ़ें।
Corruption in Oil Companies: HPCL के बारे में जहां 1984 से 2007 तक काम किया।
