Swami Bharathi Krishna Thirtha (1884-1960), a pontiff of over two hundred million Hindus (Sankaracharya of Puri), rediscovered, reformulated and introduced ancient mathematical techniques to the modern world. Swamiji in his ground breaking book Vedic Mathematics (Motilal Banarasidas, 1965) published posthumously by his disciples in 1965, acknowledges that he distilled sixteen sutras [4] (aphorisms/principles/ rules) from the Appendices (parishista) of Atharva Veda – the last of the four Vedas that Hindu’s hold as the fountainheads of knowledge. Atharva Veda deals with the existential aspects of human life - architecture, engineering, science and medicine. A brilliant man, before he became a monk, Swamiji had garnered seven masters degrees in Sanskrit, Philosophy, English, Mathematics, History and Science, from the American College of Sciences (Rochester), at an young age of twenty.

Between, 1911 and 1918, Swamiji researched extensively in Hindu scientific and philosophic literature and wrote sixteen volumes on Vedic Math. Decades later, when it was discovered that the manuscripts were irretrievably lost, Swamiji completed the current book in a span of few months as a summary. In 1958, in spite of his failing health, Swamiji travelled to the USA delivering lectures on Vedanta philosophy and on Vedic Math. On Febraury 18, 1958, he gave a talk on Vedic Mathematics at CalTech, Pasadena, California, to a student group. This was the first talk by Swamiji in the US on his mathematical discoveries. This was followed by two subsequent talks at CalTech on March 4th (algebra and quadratics) and on March 10th (calculus). Due to constraints on time because of his short visit to the US, Swamiji could not fulfill his invitations to over 150 universtities and colleges accross the US (see [2] pp. 19-24, pp.107-112). According to the New York Times article dated April 3, 1958 [5], "The Shankaracharya's program includes appearances at Farleigh Dickinson University, Columbia University, Connecticut State Teachers College and the Community Church."

Though he had in his own words been carrying "... on an incessant and strenuous campaign for the India-wide diffusion of all this scientific knowledge, by means of lectures, blackboard-demonstrations, regular classes and so on in schools, colleges and univeristies etc...," (see [1], p. xxxix) the enthusiastic response in the US and the continued insistence of his disciples, relented to write the book [1] inspite of his failing health [2].

Controversy over the term 'Vedic Math'

The term Vedic Math has been criticised by some as the math not being Vedic in origin (see K.S. Shukla in [3], pp. 31-39; W.H. Abdi in [3], pp. 63-64). Swamiji in his book (Vedic Mathematics, Motilal Banarasidas, 1965) has acknowledged the contributions of the Veda (ancient Hindu literature) as the source of 'Vedic Math' described in his book. Especially the Appendices (parishishtas) of Atharva Veda - the last of the four Vedas that deal with the existential issues of architecture, mathematics, engineering and medicine, is mentioned. Though there is no reason for us to suspect what Swamiji has said regarding the origin, it is true that Swamiji has not documented the location of these Appendices of Atharva Veda. Further, it is also true that the original source of the sutras is yet to be found.

Our purpose here is simply utilitarian. As educationists, we focus solely on whether this approach of teaching mathematics is beneficial to students and makes pedagogical sense. Since it does, we leave it to other experts to sort this issue out.

REFERENCES

[1] Bharathi Krishan Thirtha, Vedic Mathematics, Motilal Banarasidas, 1965 (20 editions).

[2] Pande T.G., Jagatguru Shankaracharya, Shri Bharai Krishna Teertha: His Life Thought and Literature, B.R. Publications, Delhi, 2nd revised edition, 2007.

[3] Khare, H.C. (Ed.) Issues in Vedic Mathematics, Motilal Banarasidas, Delhi, 1991 (reprint 2006).

[4] Williams, K. R., Discover Vedic Mathematics, Motilal Banarasidas, New Delhi (first Indian Edition), 2006,

[5] "Hindu Monk Asks for World Peace," New York Times, April 3, 1958.

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