INTRODUCTION

Vedic Mathematics is the name given to the ancient system of Indian 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 Mathematics is the name given to the ancient system of Indian 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.

HISTORY

The following is a series of articles about the development of Vedic Mathematics

Tirthaji and the rediscovery of Vedic Mathematics

Development of further material
Maharishi school
Calculating Prodigies

Tirthaji and the rediscovery of Vedic Mathematics

The ancient system of Vedic Mathematics was rediscovered
from the Indian Sanskrit texts known as the Vedas, between
1911 and 1918 by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960). At
the beginning of the twentieth century, when there was a great
interest in the Sanskrit texts in Europe, Bharati Krsna tells us some scholars ridiculed
certain texts which were headed 'Ganita Sutras'- which means mathematics. They
could find no mathematics in the translation and dismissed the texts as rubbish.
Bharati Krsna, who was himself a scholar of Sanskrit, Mathematics, History and
Philosophy, studied these texts and after lengthy and careful investigation was able
to reconstruct the mathematics of the Vedas. According to his research all of
mathematics is based on sixteen Sutras, or word-formulae.

Bharati Krsna wrote sixteen volumes expounding the Vedic system but these were
unaccountably lost and when the loss was confirmed in his final years he wrote a
single book: Vedic Mathematics, currently available. It was published in 1965, five
years after his death.

Click here to access an audio recording of sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji.

Development of further material

A copy of the book was brought to London a few years later and some English
mathematicians (Kenneth Williams, Andrew Nicholas, Jeremy Pickles) took an
interest in it. They extended the introductory material given in Bharati Krsna's book
and gave many courses and talks in London. A book (now out of print), Introductory
Lectures on Vedic Mathematics, was published in 1981. Between 1981 and 1987
Andrew Nicholas made four trips to India initially to find out what further was known
about it. Following these journeys a renewed interest was taken by scholars and
teachers in India. It seems that once they saw that some people in the West took
Vedic Mathematics seriously they realised they had something special. St James'
School, then in Queensgate, London, and other schools began to teach the Vedic
system, with notable success. Today Vedic Mathematics is taught widely in schools
in India and a great deal of research is being done. Three further books appeared in
1984, the year of the centenary of the birth of Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji. These were
published by The Vedic Mathematics Research Group. 

This website first appeared in 1998 and the Vedic Maths Newsletter was started soon
afterwards. At that time an Internet search for "Vedic Mathematics" and related
phrases did not yield a single 'hit'. Now there are 700,000 hits (on Google) and
increasing.

Maharishi Schools
When Maharishi Mahesh Yogi began to explain the significance and marvelous
qualities of Vedic Mathematics in 1988, Maharishi Schools around the world began to
teach it. At the school in Skelmersdale, Lancashire a full course was written and
trialled for 11 to 14 year old pupils, called The Cosmic Computer. (Maharishi had said
that the Sutras of Vedic Mathematics are the software for the cosmic computer- the
cosmic computer runs the entire universe on every level and in every detail). This
course was published in March 1998 (titled The Cosmic Calculator).
Calculating Prodigies
People who can perform astonishingly long or complex calculations in their head are
often called calculating prodigies or lightning calculators. There are many examples
from the past, from Jedediah Buxton who worked as a labourer and remained
illiterate all his life to Karl Friedrich Gauss a mathematician who is ranked with
Newton and Archimedes. Since Vedic Mathematics is the most efficient mathematical
system it would be interesting to ask whether these calculating prodigies may have
used it.

It is peculiar to arithmetic that once the basic facts are understood any intelligent
person can construct the whole science: number science develops in a totally natural
way. This is what seems to have happened in most cases of calculating prodigies.
From a basic understanding the young calculator realises that the power of their mind
to calculate seems to be almost unlimited. Once they understand a problem they can
solve it. Ampere was an amazing mental calculator at the age of three and Gauss at
the same age corrected his father's mistake in a payroll reckoning. These people are
self-taught, they construct their own methods of calculation.

In some cases however the methods they devise are extraordinarily complicated,
especially in view of the ultra-efficient methods of Vedic Mathematics. Jedediah
Buxton, for example, could multiply huge numbers together in his head but seems to
use the most awkward methods, multiplying parts of the number and adding them.
This may not have been difficult for him as he had an extraordinary memory. He
could remember many long numbers and recite them from the left, from the right or
from any other point. He would also remember all the steps in a calculation for a long
time afterwards.

All mental calculators have a good memory and they make use of previous results
they have found out. Some also work two or more figures at a time (a feature of the
Vedic system, as is calculating from right to left or left to right). Calculating prodigies
do not seem to necessarily always seek the most efficient method - only one that
works and that they are happy with. But calculations can often become unconscious
and the calculator cannot then describe their method. And furthermore what may
have been an effective method can get altered and simplified with practice so that
many calculating prodigies may be using Vedic methods without knowing it.

When Bharati Krsna Tirthaji gave talks in India after discovering the Vedic system
some people took advantage by learning the Vedic methods and giving
demonstrations, sometimes pretending to be divinely inspired or to have the help of
some spirit. This demonstrates the effectiveness of Vedic Mathematics as an efficient
mental system. The Introduction to the book "The Natural Calculator" describes the
many advantages of mental mathematics and the Vedic system and supports the
view that everyone is potentially a lightning calculator.

References
1. Scripture E.W. (1891) American Journal of Psychology, Vol. IV 1-59
2. Mitchell F.D. (1907) American Journal of Psychology, Vol. XVIII 61-143
3. Williams K.R. (1991) The Natural Calculator, Motilal Banarsidass