"India was the motherland of our race and Sanskrit the mother of Europe's languages. India was the mother of our philosophy, of much of our mathematics, of the ideals embodied in Christianity...of self-government and democracy. In many ways, Mother India is the mother of us all." - Will Durant, American Historian 1885-1981
What is an ancient system of mathematics that is being taught in some of the most prestigious institutions in England and Europe and not in India? It is Vedic mathematics-a long forgotten technique for mathematical calculations! It is amazing how with the help of 16 sutras and 16 upa-sutras you will be able to solve/calculate complex mathematical problems-mentally! The basic roots of Vedic mathematics lie in Vedas jus as basic roots of Hinduism. Vedic Maths form part of Jyothisha which is one of the six Vedangas. To many Indians Vedic and Sanskrit slokas/manthras are relevant only for religious purposes/occasions. But Vedas (written around 1500-900 BCE) in fact are a treasure house of knowledge and human experience-both secular and spiritual. Here you will will get an idea about the power of Vedic Mathematics.
Vedic Mathematics is the name given to the ancient system of Mathematics which was rediscovered from the Vedas between 1911 and 1918 by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960). According to his research all of mathematics is based on sixteen Sutras or word-formulae. For example, 'Vertically and Crosswise` is one of these Sutras. These formulae describe the way the mind naturally works and are therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Vedic system is its coherence. Instead of a hotch-potch of unrelated techniques the whole system is beautifully interrelated and unified: the general multiplication method, for example, is easily reversed to allow one-line divisions and the simple squaring method can be reversed to give one-line square roots. And these are all easily understood. This unifying quality is very satisfying, it makes mathematics easy and enjoyable and encourages innovation.
In the Vedic system 'difficult' problems or huge sums can often be solved immediately by the Vedic method. These striking and beautiful methods are just a part of a complete system of mathematics which is far more systematic than the modern 'system'. Vedic Mathematics manifests the coherent and unified structure of mathematics and the methods are complementary, direct and easy.
The simplicity of Vedic Mathematics means that calculations can be carried out mentally (though the methods can also be written down). There are many advantages in using a flexible, mental system. Pupils can invent their own methods, they are not limited to the one 'correct' method. This leads to more creative, interested and intelligent pupils.
Interest in the Vedic system is growing in education where mathematics teachers are looking for something better and finding the Vedic system is the answer. Research is being carried out in many areas including the effects of learning Vedic Maths on children; developing new, powerful but easy applications of the Vedic Sutras in geometry, calculus, computing etc.
But the real beauty and effectiveness of Vedic Mathematics cannot be fully appreciated without actually practising the system. One can then see that it is perhaps the most refined and efficient mathematical system possible.
Vedic Number Representation
Vedic knowledge is in the form of slokas or poems in Sanskrit verse. A number was encoded using consonant groups of the Sanskrit alphabet, and vowels were provided as additional latitude to the author in poetic composition. The coding key is given as Kaadi nav, taadi nav, paadi panchak, yaadashtak ta ksha shunyam translated as below.
Varnmala
ka kha ga gha gnacha chha ja jha injata tha da dha napa pha ba bha maya ra la va shasha sa ha chjha tra gna
·letter "ka" and the following eight letters
·letter "ta" and the following eight letters
·letter "pa" and the following four letters
·letter "ya" and the following seven letters, and
·letter "ksha" for zero.
In other words,
·ka, ta, pa, ya = 1
·kha, tha, pha, ra = 2
·ga, da, ba, la = 3
·gha, dha, bha, va = 4
·gna, na, ma, scha = 5
·cha, ta, sha = 6
·chha, tha, sa = 7
·ja, da, ha = 8
·jha, dha = 9
·ksha = 0
Thus pa pa is 11, ma ra is 52. Words kapa, tapa , papa, and yapa all mean the same that is 11.
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uages. India was the mother of our philosophy, of much of our mathematics, of the ideals embodied in Christianity...of self-government and democracy. In many ways, Mother India is the mother of us all." - Will Durant, American Historian 1885-1981
