Introduction to Vedic Mathematics (Part-1)

V.G. UNKALKAR: Received the Master's degree in Physical Chemistry from Karnataka University in the year 1969. At present he is looking after the working of Research Centre of West Coast Paper Mills Ltd., Dandeli, as a research Officer.

Vedic Mathematics, Singing and playing musical instruments are his hobbies. He is also a column writer for 'Tarun Bharat' Belgaum-a Marathi daily, and has published a series of articles on VM for the benefit of the readers. He has delivered hundreds of introductory lectures and conducted twenty seminars, workshops on VM in different parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh. He has actively participated in National conferences on VM held at Chickballapur, Bidar, Bangalore & Sullia (D.K.).

S. SESHACHALA RAO: Passed M.Sc. (Organic Chemistry) from University of Mysore in 1978. Presently he is associated with Diamond Dyechem, Ankaleshwar, Gujarat.

Participated in National & International Bridge Tournaments and received many awards and Diploma Certificate from International Bridge Federation for his outstanding performance. Playing Chess, compiling and solving the Crosswords are his additional hobbies. He also conducts coaching clases on VM.

It gives us pleasure to present this introductory book on Vedic Mathematics.

During 'Sanskrit Sangam' week celebrated here about 5 years back, there included a topic 'Vedic Mathematics'. Out of curiosity, we attended that introductory talk and were very much impressed by the easy and smiling methods of fundamentals. Then we took the correspondance courses which are being conducted regularly by (i) Dr. Narinder Puri (54, Amod Kunj, University Campus, Roorkee) and (ii) Dr. S. N. Padiyar (Sindu, Chikkensal Road, Kundapur). Both doctors have written many books on VM in English, Hindi & Kannada. Their course material and Swami Bharati Krishna Trith's "Vedic Mathematics' have inspired us to writen this comprehensive book on VM. There are very few books on this subject and we felt that a book which describes the fundamental operations of methematics solved in easiest menner is a necessity. So we took up the work in this direction.

To sperad this knowledge amongst students, teachers and other as well, Vedic Mathematics workshop organised in December 1995 by Dandeli Education Society (DES) in collaboration with Dr. Narinder Puri and his team from Spiritual Study Groups, Roorkee, got a tremendous respones from all sections of the society. This was an inspiration to write this book.

We also received personal guidance/valuable advice from Dr. Narinder Puri during his stay at Dandeli and has given us extra strenght to go ahead with the writing. Inspired by the response at VM Workshop, Sri G. S. Mundra Secretary D.E.S., took special interest in this work. Our special thanks are due to Dr. Narinder Puri and Sri G. S. Mundra.

Our thanks are also due to M/s. West Coast Paper Mills Ltd... and its educational wing, Dandeli Education Society, for their whole- hearted support to publish this book.

Vedic Mathematics (VM) is the valuable treasure left behind by the intelligence of the Swamiji, His Holiness Sri Bharati Krishna Thirtha Maharaj. He was a seer of great knowledge. His brilliance covered many fields. He held Post-graduate Degree in Science, Mathematics, languages as well as Philosophy. Apart from the cause of Sanatana dharma as the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Goverdhan Math, Puri, his contributions to the society are many. He has written many books. One of the books Sanatana Dharma describes the scientific background of various rituals and religious practices in bharath, many of which are labelled as orthodox. His book on VM is a unique one. It is said that he hard written 16 volumes on VM, all os which were lost and at the fag end of his life after learning about the loss he could write only one volume because of his failing health. It would have been the greatest boon to the world of knowledge if the greatst treasure of the 16 volumes were to be available to the mankind.

VM consists of 16 sutras (Formula of afforisms) of 120 Sanskrit words. Sutras are very simply to understand, easy to remember and easy to apply. According to Swamiji, these sutras can be applied to each and every chapter of each and every branch of Maths, whether pure or applied. Though the sutras are in Sanskrit, knowledge of Sanskrit language is not a must to learn and understand VM. Anybody can learn VM easily. Maths is considered as a hard nut to crack by modern method, but can be made as an easiest subject by Vedic method. It is learnt by survery that most of the drop outs in Schools is because of the inability to learn mathematics. Teaching of VM to the students will stop the out, as it will change the attitude of the students towards maths.

VM has very fast methods. Sums can be done quickly and most of the results are obtained quicker than that by calculator. Many big computations having dozens of degits can be done easily and speedily by these methods which is not possible in the calculator. Now-a-days people including students are becoming slaves of the calculators as even for the simplest addition they use calculators. Study of VM will change this sorry state of affairs. In vedic way one gets the answers easily and fast giving a joyous feeling. This is expressed by a smile on his face. Hence VM can be called as Marhs will smile. I have delivered more than 300 lectures and conducted about 40 workshops all over India. I have found a lot of interst and enthusiasm amongst participants to learn more. All along my lectures given at various forums, I have observed the smile on the face of the participants hailing from all sections of the society.

Easiest of the four fundamental computations is addition. In VM even this addition is done more easily and fast. Either in addition or subtraction there is no carryover. Multiplication in VM is a pleasure to do. Division, a difficult task in modern maths, can be done by a a number of methods in VM. In Nikhilam and Paravartya Division, there is no division at all but only multiplication of single digits and simple addition. Most of the work in the above computations is done in a single line. Multiplication of any number by a series of 9's using the sutra "Eknyunen Purven (By one less than the previous)" is like magic. Before the teacher completes the problems on the blackboard the students can write the answers!

Mr. V. G. Unkalkar and Mr. S. Seshachala Rao, have taken lot of pains to bring out this introductory book on VM. They have presented the material in a systematic manner and will be useful to students and teachers alike. It is also helpful for various competitive examinations. There are only a few books on the subject, the number is not sufficient. The present book by the authors is timely and very much helpful in fulfilling the need for addtional better books in the study and learning of VM. My congratulations to the authors, Mr. V. G. Unkalkar and Mr. S. Seshachala Rao and hope the public will make extensive use of this book.

**Contents and Sample Pages**