The Lo Shu grid is a three by three square holding the numbers 1 to 9. Indian numerology places the digits of a birth date in it to see which numbers are present, missing or repeated, and which lines are complete. This page explains the square, the meaning given to each position, the arrows and planes, and the method our calculator follows. It also says where teachers differ, which is often.
Where the square comes from
The Lo Shu is a Chinese magic square. According to legend a turtle came out of the Luo river carrying a pattern of dots on its shell, and the dots formed this square. Every row, every column and both diagonals add up to 15, and the nine numbers add up to 45. Using it to read a birth date is a later and mostly modern practice in Indian numerology, and it does not come from the classical texts of Vedic astrology. It is a tradition worth knowing, held lightly.
The square as it is drawn
| 4 | 9 | 2 |
| 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 8 | 1 | 6 |
The numbers sit in these fixed places whatever the date. The date decides which of them are filled and how many times.
How a birth date fills the grid
Write the date of birth as digits, such as 15 August 1947 as 15, 08, 1947. Each non-zero digit goes into its own place in the square, and zeros are left out. A repeated digit is written again in the same box. That date gives 1, 5, 8, 1, 9, 4 and 7, so the 1 is written twice and the numbers 2, 3 and 6 are missing.
The calculator offers one choice that teachers disagree about. Many Indian teachers also add the moolank and bhagyank to the square as extra digits, and a tick box lets you do that. By default we use only the digits of the date. We do not add a kua number. The Feng Shui kua number is a separate Chinese system for directions, and mixing it into the grid is something only some teachers do.
What each position stands for
The meanings below are those commonly taught. Different books word them differently, so treat them as themes.
| Number | Position | Commonly taught theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | bottom middle | self-expression and communication |
| 2 | top right | sensitivity and intuition |
| 3 | middle left | imagination, learning and creativity |
| 4 | top left | practicality, order and method |
| 5 | centre | balance and the ability to adapt |
| 6 | bottom right | home, care and harmony |
| 7 | middle right | reflection and analysis |
| 8 | bottom left | discipline and responsibility |
| 9 | top middle | ideals, compassion and drive |
Missing numbers
A number that is absent from the date is called missing. Tradition reads a missing number as a quality that takes more deliberate effort, for instance a missing 8 as an area where saving and planning need practice. It is not a flaw and not a prediction. Most people are missing several numbers, and a date with all nine present is rare.
Repeated numbers
A digit that appears more than once is said to be emphasised. Two 1s are read as a strong voice, and several 9s as strong feeling. Teachers say a heavily repeated number can tip over into excess, so the remedy given is usually balance, not avoidance. Again, these are descriptions and not forecasts.
The arrows and planes
When all three numbers on a line are present, the line is called complete, or an arrow. There are eight lines. Names vary between teachers, and these are widely used.
| Line | Numbers | Commonly used name |
|---|---|---|
| Top row | 4, 9, 2 | Mental plane |
| Middle row | 3, 5, 7 | Emotional plane |
| Bottom row | 8, 1, 6 | Practical plane |
| Left column | 4, 3, 8 | Thought plane |
| Middle column | 9, 5, 1 | Will plane |
| Right column | 2, 7, 6 | Action plane |
| Diagonal | 4, 5, 6 | Golden line (Golden Yog) |
| Diagonal | 2, 5, 8 | Silver line (Silver Yog) |
A complete line is read as a strength in that area. A line with none of its three numbers is called empty, and is read as an area that asks for conscious attention. The calculator lists both.
Where teachers differ
Four things vary between teachers: whether the moolank and bhagyank are added to the grid, whether a kua number is added, the names given to the lines, and the meaning given to individual numbers. Because of this, two sources can draw different squares from the same date. The calculator states which choice it has used so you can compare it with any other source.
Find your own square with the Lo Shu grid calculator, and your two main numbers with the moolank and bhagyank calculator. Each of the nine numbers has a page, starting with number 1 and ending with number 9, and the numerology hub has the full list.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is the Lo Shu grid in numerology?
It is a three by three magic square of the numbers 1 to 9 into which the digits of a birth date are placed, to show which numbers are present, missing or repeated.
↳ What does a missing number mean?
Tradition reads it as a quality that needs more effort, not a defect and not a forecast. The meaning depends on which number is missing.
↳ Are zeros counted in the grid?
No. There is no 0 in the square, so zeros in the date are left out.
↳ Why does another site show a different grid for my date?
Teachers differ on whether to add the moolank, bhagyank or a kua number to the square. Our calculator uses only the date digits unless you tick the box to add moolank and bhagyank.
↳ Is the Lo Shu grid part of Vedic astrology?
No. It is a Chinese square that Indian numerologists later adopted. It is not described in the classical texts of jyotish.