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VEDIC MATHEMATICS REDISCOVERED VEDIC MATHEMATICS Research is being carried out in many _ published in 1965, five years after his REDISCOVERED areas, including the effects on children of — death, and is still available. \ J edic Mathematics is the name given learning Vedic maths and the development to the ancient system of mathemat- of new, powerful but easy applications of _ Rekindled Interest in Vedic Maths ics which was rediscovered from the Vedic sutras in geometry, calculus, A copy of the book was brought to the Vedas between 1911 and 1918 by Sri computing, etc. London a few years later and some English Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960). But the real beauty and effectiveness of mathematicians (Kenneth Williams, According to his research, all of mathe- Vedic mathematics cannot be fully appreci- Andrew Nicholas, Jeremy Pickles) took an matics is based on 16 sutras, or word for- ated without actually practising the system. interest in it. They extended the introduc- mulas. For example, "Vertically and One can then see that it is perhaps the most tory material given in Bharati Krsna's book Crosswise" is one of these sutras. These _ refined and efficient mathematical system and gave many courses and talks in formulas describe the way the mind natu- possible. London. A book (now out of print), rally works, and are therefore a great Introductory Lectures on Vedic help in directing the student to the " . Pn Mathematics, was published in 1981. appropriate method of solution. On seeing this kind of work actually Between 1981 and 1987, Andrew Perhaps the most striking feature | being performed by the little children, Nicholas made four trips to India, of the Vedic system is its coherence. the doctors, professors and other initially to find out what else was Instead of being a hotchpotch of known about Vedic mathematics. hi ' . unrelated techniques, the whole sys- big guns of mathematics are . As a result of these journeys, schol- tem is beautifully interrelated and wonderstruck and exclaim: ‘Is this ars and teachers in India showed united te general multiplication mathematics or magic?" And we renewed interest It seems tet once reversed to allow one-line divisions, | MVArlably answer and say: ‘itis both. fi wesc took Vedie maths seriously, and the simple squaring method can It is magic until you understand it, they realised they had something be reversed to give one-line square and it is mathematics thereafter..."" special. roots. And these are all easily under- St James's School, then in — Bharati Krsna Tithaji (1884-1960) Rediscoverer of Vedic Mathematics stood. This unifying quality is very satisfying; it makes mathematics easy and enjoyable and encourages inno- system, with notable success. vation. . Today, Vedic mathematics is taught "Difficult" problems or huge sums can Research and Reconstruction widely in schools in India and a great deal often be solved immediately by the Vedic At the beginning of the 20th century, of research is being done. Three further method. These striking and beautiful meth- when there was a great interest in the books appeared in 1984, the year of the ods are just a part of a complete system of Sanskrit texts in Europe, Bharati Krsna centenary of the birth of Sri Bharati Krsna mathematics which is far more systematic — tells us some scholars ridiculed certain Tirthaji. These were published by The than the modern "system". Vedic mathe- texts which were headed Ganita Sutras— Vedic Mathematics Research Group. matics manifests the coherent and unified which means mathematics. They could structure of mathematics, and the methods _ find no mathematics in the translation and ~The Cosmic Computer are complementary, direct and easy. dismissed the texts as rubbish. When Maharishi Mahesh Yogi began to The simplicity of Vedic mathematics However, Bharati Krsna, who was him- explain the significance and marvellous means that calculations can be carried out _ self a scholar of Sanskrit, mathematics, his- qualities of Vedic mathematics in 1988, mentally (though the methods can also be _ tory and philosophy, studied these texts and Maharishi schools around the world began written down). There are many advantages after lengthy and careful investigation was to teach it. At the school in Skelmersdale, in using a flexible, mental system. Pupils able to reconstruct the mathematics of the Lancashire, UK, a full course, called "The can invent their own methods; they are not. Vedas. According to his research, all of | Cosmic Computer", was trialled for 11-14- limited to the one "correct" method. This | mathematics is based on 16 sutras, or word year-old pupils. leads to more creative, interested and intel- formulas. Maharishi said that the sutras of Vedic ligent students. Bharati Krsna wrote 16 volumes mathematics are the software for the cos- Interest in the Vedic system is growing expounding the Vedic system, but these mic computer which runs the entire in education, where mathematics teachers were unaccountably lost; so when the loss —_ Universe on every level and in every detail. are looking for something better and find- _ was confirmed in his final years, he wrote a (Source: from the VedicMaths.Org web - ing that the Vedic system is the answer. — single book, Vedic Mathematics. It was _ site, http://vedicmaths.org) Queensgate, London, and other schools began to teach the Vedic published in 1965, five years after his death, and is still available. The Cosmic Computer When Maharishi Mahesh Yogi began to explain the significance and marvellous qualities of Vedic mathematics in 1988, Maharishi schools around the world began to teach it. At the school in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, UK, a full course, called "The Cosmic Computer", was trialled for 11-14- year-old pupils. Maharishi said that the sutras of Vedic mathematics are the software for the cos- mic computer which runs the entire Universe on every level and in every detail. (Source: from the VedicMaths.Org web - site, http://vedicmaths.org) NEXUS +37 OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2003 www.nexusmagazine.com