Growing Popularity of Vedic Math

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The Magic of Vedic Maths

Its Growing Popularity

"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

 

Interest in Vedic maths is growing in the field of education where

maths teachers are looking for a new and better approach to the

subject. Even students at IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) are

said to be using this ancient technique for quick calculations. No

wonder, a recent Convocation speech addressed to the students of IIT,

Delhi, by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Indian Minister for Science &

Technology, stressed the significance of Vedic maths, while pointing

out the important contributions of ancient Indian mathematicians,

such as Aryabhatta, who laid the foundations of algebra, Baudhayan,

the great geometer, and Medhatithi and Madhyatithi, the saint duo,

who formulated the basic framework for numerals.

 

Vedic Maths in Schools

Quite a few years ago, St James' School, London, and other schools

began to teach the Vedic system, with notable success. Today this

remarkable system is taught in many schools and institutes in India

and abroad, and even to MBA and economics students.

 

When in 1988, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi brought to light the marvels of

Vedic maths, Maharishi Schools around the world incorporated it in

their syllabi. At the school in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, UK, a full

course called "The Cosmic Computer" was written and tested on 11 to

14 year old pupils, and later published in 1998. According to Mahesh

Yogi, "The sutras of Vedic Mathematics are the software for the

cosmic computer that runs this universe."

 

Since 1999, a Delhi-based forum called International Research

Foundation for Vedic Mathematics and Indian Heritage, which promotes

value-based education, has been organising lectures on Vedic maths in

various schools in Delhi, including Cambridge School, Amity

International, DAV Public School, and Tagore International School.

 

Vedic Math Research

Researches are being undertaken in many areas, including the effects

of learning Vedic maths on children. A great deal of research is also

being done on how to develop more powerful and easy applications of

the Vedic sutras in geometry, calculus, and computing. The Vedic

Mathematics Research Group published three new books in 1984, the

year of the centenary of the birth of Sri Bharati Krishna Tirthaji.

 

Plus Points

There are obviously many advantages of using a flexible, refined and

efficient mental system like Vedic math. Pupils can come out of the

confinement of the 'only one correct' way, and make their own methods

under the Vedic system. Thus, it can induce creativity in intelligent

pupils, while helping slow-learners grasp the basic concepts of

mathematics. A wider use of Vedic math can undoubtedly generate

interest in a subject that is generally dreaded by children.