Was Ramanujan Guided by Goddess Namagiri? The Story Behind the “Red Screen”

When you think of mathematics, you may picture formulas, exams, and long nights of practice. But Indian wisdom invites you to see mathematics as something far deeper—almost like a living intelligence that you can access, not just memorize.

The Vedic aphorism “Dehasthah Sarvavidyasch Dehasthah Sarvadevtah” carries a powerful idea: your body is a microcosm of the universe. In other words, within you exists all knowledge—Para (higher) and Apara (worldly)—and within you also exist the divine energies that guide human evolution. If you look at mathematics through this lens, it stops being only a school subject. It becomes a doorway—one that can connect your intellect to your inner awareness.

That’s why, when you reflect on Srinivasa Ramanujan, you may begin to see his genius not only as intelligence, but as a spiritual phenomenon. Ramanujan was known for his deep spiritual nature—his devotion, rituals, and mantra-like discipline. From a yogic perspective, this kind of inner life can awaken subtle centres within you—especially the Ajna Chakra, often described as the command centre of intuition, insight, and inner vision.

And here comes the most fascinating part: you may have heard the belief that Goddess Namagiri Thayar (a form of Mahalakshmi) would come into Ramanujan’s dreams and reveal mathematical truths to him. Some narratives describe that she would “write” complex mathematical expressions—like elliptical integrals—on a “red screen.”

Now ask yourself: What if that “red screen” wasn’t just imagination? What if it symbolised an inner neurological-spiritual space—something like the Medulla Oblongata–Ajna region—where intuition becomes visible to you as inner knowing? When you start thinking this way, you realize that Ramanujan’s story isn’t only about one man. It becomes a question for you too: How much potential is sleeping inside your own mind?

If you’ve ever experienced an unexpected breakthrough—especially in exams—you already know what this feels like. Sometimes, despite stress, something “opens,” and the right answers start flowing as if your mind has switched to a higher mode. Many people call it luck. But you may feel it as something else: alignment, grace, or a sudden clarity that is hard to explain.

In my own life, I witnessed what I consider a miracle connected to mathematics during my 10th CBSE board exam. The nature of the experience was different from Ramanujan’s, but the lesson was similar: when something within you shifts, your relationship with knowledge changes.

You also find such accounts in other spiritual traditions. For example, it is said that KundaliniYogaRishi Dr. Shiv Bachan SiddhaPurush ji—who worked as a geologist in ONGC Ltd.—learned astrology in a single night, receiving knowledge directly from Bhagwan Shiva. Whether you interpret this literally or symbolically, the message still speaks to you: there are states of consciousness in which learning becomes instantaneous, intuitive, and complete.

Yogic texts discuss this possibility with striking confidence. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, you encounter concepts like jnana (knowledge), aishwarya (inner mastery), siddhi and vibhuti (extraordinary attainments)—often described as results of disciplined practice, deep concentration, and refined breath-work. The goal isn’t to chase supernatural claims; the goal is to understand that your attention, breath, and inner stillness can transform how you think.

Now, when you connect this to the Indian tradition, you see that mathematics was never isolated from life. Mathematics is deeply integrated into multiple knowledge systems that still influence your world today:

• Astrology & Cosmology: You see precise calculations mapping planetary movements, time cycles, and cosmic rhythms.

• Vaastu Shastra: You see geometry, ratios, directions, and spatial mathematics shaping architecture and energy flow.

• Ayurveda: You see patterns, numbers, cycles, and formulations that reflect biological rhythms and structured combinations.

This is where Vedic Ganita becomes more than a chapter in history. It becomes a bridge between the material and the spiritual—between what you can measure and what you can experience. It reminds you that numbers are not “dry.” Numbers are patterns. And patterns are the language through which nature—and perhaps consciousness itself—communicates.

That is why Vedanga Jyotisha offers a striking metaphor:

“As the crests on the heads of peacocks, as the gems on the hoods of snakes, so is Ganita at the top of the sciences known as the Vedanga.”

When you absorb that line, you realize the message is not only praise for mathematics. It’s a reminder for you: if you want clarity in life, discipline in thought, and power in decision-making—mathematics is not your enemy. It is your ally.

So on Indian Mathematics Day, as you pay tribute to Srinivasa Ramanujan, you can do something meaningful: don’t just admire him. Let his story challenge you.

What if your intelligence is bigger than your fear?
What if your mind can learn faster than you believe?
What if mathematics, approached with devotion, discipline, and inner focus, becomes a path that elevates you—not just in marks, but in mindset?