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VEDIC MATHEMATICS NEWSLETTER Newsletter of the World Academy of Vedic Mathematics (part of the International Research and Resource Foundation for Indian heritage)
A warm welcome to our new subscribers.
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), where I happen to be a member on the Board of Management, has entrusted me the job of making a film on India's first Noble laureate and the great Scientist, Shri c. v. Raman. I was doing my studies for the same. When I saw the reference of Bose Einstein theory I was lost in the trip down memory lane of my Calcutta University postgraduate education days. Shri Satyen Bose was the top most Indian Scientist of his time. I was fortunate to be his student in the postgraduate classes of mathematics. If my memory is not failing me, we were hardly four students. Shri Satyen Bose looked like an Indian Rishi in his white Dhoti-Kurta, snow-white hair and beautiful fair complexion, round face and a strong body. It was 1947 and India had just become independent. I was trying to ride two boats. Astronomy was my hobby and mathematics was helpful in that. I stood first in Mathematics graduation exam of Calcutta University and was a Gold medallist also. Obviously, I was keen to pursue my studies. It was 1956, two years after the establishment of Sansad. The Puri Shankracharya Jagat Guru Swami, Shri Bharti Krishan Tirthji Maharaj (1884-1960) happened to visit Calcutta. I had heard that he was a great mathematician. I went to offer my pranaams to him. When I told him that I was also a student of mathematics under the famous Scientist, Shri Sat yen Bose, he took keen interest in me. He acquainted me with ancient Indian science of mathematics, which was much more developed than western mathematics, which is only a few hundred years old. He recited a number of Sanskrit hymns on mathematics. A number of large multiplications and divisions were done by him within a few minutes. I was stunned. I posed some questions on differential and integral calculus also and he answered the same in no time. I got extremely excited and on the next day went to meet Shri Sat yen Bose. I was meeting the Professor after many years. I told him all, about the Jagat Guru. His first reaction was that I am superstitious and have been swayed by a saffron saint. But when I explained to him Jagat Guru's exploits, he gave me a patient hearing. Ultimately, I was able to persuade him to attend a programme being organised by the Sansad where he and Jagat Guru Shankracharya would share a platform and both would give a lecture on mathematics. I and my other colleagues worked very hard to make this event a success. The notice was sent to various schools and colleges. I and Sh. Dhandharia met some principals personally so that we can ensure the participation of a respectable and knowledgeable audience. The Sansad hall whose capacity was for 200 people was full to its capacity. We placed a huge blackboard on the stage. I introduced Jagat Guru Shri Shankracharya and Shri Sat yen Bose and requested Jagat Guru to open the Conference. He invited people from the audience to write down complicated mathematics questions on the blackboard. Somebody from the audience wrote a long multiplication with about 8 -9 digits. Swamiji wrote the answer within a minute. A number of other people from the audience also wrote various questions, long divisions etc., and Jagat Guru was able to solve them in no time. It looked as if the whole thing was a magic. The programme created a lot of excitement. Shri Sat yen Bose expressed great satisfaction that I insisted and brought him here. After the programme was over, I delved deeper into the subject. The Vedic Rishis got this knowledge by intuition. Swami Vivekananda used to see his Ishtha Mantra shining with a golden hue. Our Rishis were therefore called "Mantra- drishta" and that was their method of acquiring knowledge. Jagat Guru Bharti Krishanji had worked very hard for eight years to get all this knowledge. The ancient Indian knowledge comprises of four Vedas -Rig Veda, Saam Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharv Veda. Each Veda has four Upvedas and sixteen Vedangs. Sthapatya Veda is the Upveda of Atharv Veda. The science of mathematics comes under that. Jagat Guru obtained this knowledge from this Sthapatya Veda. Large mathematical questions can be answered in no time. But it does need some practice. jagat Guru illustrated us by giving examples of eight digit multiplications. But I am giving here illustration of simple multiplications so that the reader can understand easily. This is explained by a Sanskrit hymn "Urdhva Tiryagbhyam (vertically-crosswise)". 12 1) The methodology is that one has to multiply the left digit of the
multiplication namely 1 x 1 = 1. This is the left digit of the answer.- First step consists by multiplication of 6x6 = 36 Second step consists of Multiplication and addition 6x2 + 6x4 = 36 Third step consists of multiplication of first & third digit and vertical multiplication of the second digit. The three are added The total becomes the next step. 6xl + 6x7 + 4x2 = 6 + 42 + 8 = 56 The fourth step consists of crosswise multiplication of 1st & 4th digit followed by the crosswise multiplication of 2nd & 3rd digits. The four results are added. 6x2 + 6x1 + 4x1 + 7x2 = 12 + 6 + 4 + 14 = 36 The fifth step consists of crosswise multiplication of 2nd & 4th
digit followed by vertical multiplication of the 3rd digit. The sixth step consists of multiplication of 3rd & 4th digits and then their addition 7x2 + 1x1 = 14+1 = 15 The last step consists of multiplication of the 4th digits. lx2 = 2 These seven are added for the final answer: 40197852. The meeting ended with great excitement. It was an interaction between a great scientist and a great saint. Both were the highest men of their times. Three years later in 1956, Jagat Guru went to America and left first volume of the book for publication. His plan was to write 16 volumes but unfortunately his health deteriorated and he passed away in 1960. We are deprived of the huge knowledge, which would have been contained in the next 15 volumes. The Banaras Hindu University took interest in it and with the help of Sh Arvind Mafatlal's donation, this book was published in 1965 under the heading "Vedic Mathematics". 16 hymns are contained in the book and they have been explained in great details. Those who are interested should read this book.
SHANKARACHARYA INTERVIEW Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji who reconstructed the system we know as Vedic Mathematics was a Shankaracarya of India. 'Shankaracarya' refers to the head of maths (monasteries) in India. There are four of these maths and they were initially established by Adi Shankaracarya who lived in the 8th century AD (some say 5th century BC). Sri Bharati Krsna was Shankaracarya of the Puri math. The current Shankaracarya of Puri has recently given an interview to Gaurav Tekriwal in which he answered questions about Vedic Mathematics. Some of the points raised are: 1) A Westerner stole the 16 missing volumes and took them abroad where he wrote books of his own (including a book on computers) based on them. This person was approached by Dr Tiwari, a disciple of BKT, and admitted stealing the books. 2) The VM Sutras are not in the Vedic texts, but you can find references to the Sutras throughout the Vedas. 3) The current Shankaracharya has written three books on VM: 4) Shankaracharya says that numbers should be counted from 0, not from 1. 5) Children in India cannot use VM, because they have been trained in the western style. Knowledge of the Vedas and tantras is needed. 6) Shankaracharya hopes to write two more books on VM: 7) Shankaracharya can reconstruct the 16 missing volumes if he has help. FROM PROF. DR. P. K. SRIVATHSA I have been receiving your E-mails regularly, with lot of interesting
news on & about VM. Thank you for the same. As a practicing VM scholar,
for nearly 20 years, I have been discovering new insights in the realm
of VM (Swamiji's as well the Vedic literature) and Ancient Indian Mathematics.
I will be bringing out books & CDs on the same, which include Computer
based numerical methods based on VM and AIM. Incidentally, the responses
to VM & AIM are steadily growing in Karnataka. Recently, I conducted
workshops for the college students and teachers, an advanced level workshop
(2 days) wherein 250 students and 45 teachers participated, in Shivamogga,
Mysore and Bangalore. Further workshops are on the anvil. I would be
pleased to render my co-operation and services for the propagation of
VM/AIM, so that a healthy respect is developed for these wonderful contributions
by the Ancient Indian Seers & Scientists. VOICE OF BHARATI KRSNA A 2 minute recording of the voice of Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji, who
reconstructed the Vedic system, has been put online by Gaurav Tekriwal,
Calcutta. It is part of an interview with Dr Arnold Toynbee, a famous
American historian, in 1958 when he visited the US. Go to: FROM REBECCA NEWBURN, CALIFORNIA, USA I made a Vedic Maths group on YouTube. People can subscribe to the group for free and when new videos come out, they get a message in their inbox. Anyone can watch the videos, but only members can post new videos. FROM NAMRATA D. CHANDRUVA, MUMBAI, INDIA: VM WORKSHOP Magic methods of maths will remove fear and instill confidence in maths.
Trade shows and mathematics conventions in the USA this year at which
Math Monkey will be offering the opportunity to find out about owning
a Vedic Math franchise (see www.mathmonkey.com) are at: UK ACADEMY OF VEDIC MATHEMATICS Please note change of details of the UK Academy of Vedic Mathematics.
WORLD ACADEMY FOR VEDIC MATHEMATICS - contact details Registered Address: Vishwa Punarnirman Sangh, Raval Bhawan, Near Telankhedi
Garden, Nagpur-440 001, India. **************************** Your comments about this Newsletter are invited. Previous issues of this Newsletter can be copied from the Web Site: www.vedicmaths.org To subscribe or unsubscribe to this Newsletter simply send an email
to that Visit the Vedic Mathematics web site at
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