What is Vedic Mathematics?

Vedic Mathematics is basically a list of mental calculations tricks and techniques that are constituted and compiled in the book of the same name written by Bharati Krishna Tirthaji, which was first published in 1965. According to the researches done by Bharati Krishna Tirthaji after having studied Vedas for several years, he came to a conclusion that mathematics is based on 16 sutras (word formulae) and all of these sutras describe the way a mind naturally functions. In current times Vedic Math is considered to be one of the best ways to direct the students mind towards achieving appropriate methods of solution in the shortest time possible.

History

Bharati Krishna Tirthaji after having formulated the concept of Vedic Mathematics started propagating it through lectures and classes years before the book was actually published. The book was actually written in 1957 during Tirthaji’s trip to the United States. However Tirthaji passed away in 1960 and the typescript returned to India only to be published five years later in 1965.

Content

As mentioned above the nook contains 16 sutras with each of them consisting of a list of mental calculation techniques, which are as follows,

                       NAME                                                   MEANING

1. EkadhikenaPurvena  – By one more than the previous one
2. NikhilamNavatashcaramamDashatah – All from 9 and the last from 10
3. Urdhva-Tiryagbyham – Vertically and crosswise
4. Paravartya Yojayet – Transpose and adjust
5. ShunyamSaamyasamuccaye – When the sum is the same that sum is zero
6. AnurupyeShunyamanyat – If one is in ratio, the other is zero
7. Sankalana-vyavakalanabhyam – By addition and by subtraction
8. Purana Purana Byham – By the completion or non-completion
9. Chalana-Kalanabyham – Differences and Similarities
10. Yaavadunam – Whatever the extent of its deficiency
11. Vyashti Samastah – Part and Whole
12. ShesanyankenaCharamena – The remainders by the last digit
13. Sopaantyadvayamantyam – The ultimate and twice the penultimate
14. EkanyunenaPurvena – By one less than the previous one
15. Gunita Samuchaya – Product of the sum = to the sum of product
16. Gunakasamuchyah – Factors of the sum = to the sum of the factors

Criticism

Over the years the authenticity of the solutions of the book has been challenged over and over again. Although Tirthaji claimed to have deduced these sutras from the Vedas, none of these sutras were found to any extent of Vedic literature. However some professors and researchers believe that although none of these sutras were in the standard editions of the Parishishta, they might have occurred in Tirthaji Down Parishishta.

The first of the editors of the book Prof. Vasudeva Saran Agrawala too has indicated the fact that these techniques in no way date back to the Vedic period. A similar conclusion has also been given S. G. Dani believes that all these techniques are not at all unique and that similar systems can be found in Lester Meyers’s book High-speed Mathematics that was published 10 years before Tirthaji had started writing his i.e. in 1947.