4 - The Vedic numerical code.

VEDIC MATHEMATICS NEWSLETTER

ISSUE No. 4

Vedic Mathematics is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people
are introduced to the beautifully unified and easy Vedic methods.
The purpose of this Newsletter is to provide information about developments
in education and research and books, articles, courses, talks etc., and also
to bring together those working with Vedic Mathematics.
If you are working with Vedic Mathematics- teaching it or doing research-
please contact us and let us include you and some description of your work in
the Newsletter. Perhaps you would like to submit an article for inclusion in
a later issue.
If you are learning Vedic Maths, let us know how you are getting on and what
you think of this system.

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This issue's article:

THE VEDIC NUMERICAL CODE

In the Sanskrit language each consonant can be associated with a number. This
enables text to be translated into numbers and there are various advantages
in doing this. Some other languages have a similar method: Greek and Hebrew
for example.

There have been different forms of the Sanskrit code but Sri Bharati Krsna
Tirthaji, who reconstructed the ancient system of Vedic Mathematics, used a
particular form which he describes in his book. It seems this was
instrumental in deciphering the Sanskrit texts which were headed Ganita
Sutras (Mathematics) but which the western scholars of the late nineteenth century were unable to understand.

The code is as follows:

ka, Ta, pa and ya all denote 1;
kha, tha, pha and ra all represent 2;
ga, Da, ba, and la all stand for 3;
gha, dha, bha, and va all denote 4;
gna, Na, ma and sa all represent 5;
ca, TA and sha all stand for 6;
cha, tha, and Sa denote 7;
ja, DA and ha all represent 8;
jha and dha stand for 9; and
Ksa (or Ksudra) means Zero!

Those consonants above which are written with a capital letter, like TA,
are pronounced with the tongue initially in the cerebral position, i.e. the
tongue points up and then moves forward and down. In words with conjunct
consonants only the last consonant counts and vowels do not count at all.
Thus 'papa' is 11, 'mama' is 55 and 'mary' is 52 and so on.

This code was not used for concealment (it follows naturally from the
structure of the Sanskrit language) but to aid memory and to add historical
allusions, political reflections etc. to text. One striking example given by
Bharati Krsna is a hymn to the Lord Shri Krishna which translates into the
value of pi to 32 figures.

The hymn starts:

Gopibhagyamadhuvrata......

Here 'go' gives 3; pi gives 1; 'bha' gives 4; 'ya' gives 1; 'ma' gives 5;
'dhu' gives 9; 'ra' gives 2; TA gives 6.
Together we get 31415926, the first eight figures of pi (3.1415926...).

Thus by knowing the code and the hymn you know the value of pi to 32 figures!

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Future issues of this Newsletter could focus on:

advice and comments from teachers teaching Vedic Mathematics,
educational research,
research in new applications of the Vedic methods,
historical issues,
the Sutras,
etc.

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NEWS

#1. The main purpose of this issue of the Newsletter is to inform you of the
launch of two new Vedic Mathematics web sites to replace the old one. These
are at:
www.vedicmaths.org (which is a site for general information covering just
about everything you could want to know about Vedic Maths) and
www.vedicmaths.com (which is for books on Vedic Mathematics).
The www.vedicmaths.org site is quite extensive and aims to be a comprehensive
resource on Vedic Mathematics. It will be developed as appropriate and we
would welcome any suggestions. If you find there is something missing or
wrong we will be very glad to know. Perhaps you teach Vedic Mathematics or
have written an article - let us mention you. A page on organisations
involved in Vedic Mathematics is yet to be added. Please look at the sites
and send us your views. We look forward to hearing from you.

#2. Andrew Nicholas' new book 'The Circle Revelation' will be available in a
few days and you can get a copy at the initial bargain price of 5 UK pounds.

#3. An article has just appeared in the Mathematics in Schools journal
(published by the Mathematical Association, England) called 'Vertically and
Crosswise', by Kenneth Williams. One teacher commented: 'quite fascinating!'

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Your comments about this Newsletter are invited.

If you would like to send us details about your work or submit an article for
inclusion please let us know on

Articles in previous issues can be copied from the web site - www.vedicmaths.org:

Issue 1: An Introduction
Issue 2: "So What's so Special about Vedic Mathematics?"
Issue 3: Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji: More than a Mathematical Genius

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Please pass a copy of this Newsletter on (unedited) to anyone you think may
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Visit the Vedic Mathematics web sites at
www.vedicmaths.org and www.vedicmaths.com

15th October 1999

 

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