Vedic Maths - History

Sri Jagad Guru Bharti Krishna Tirathji Maharaj between the period 1911 to 1918 rediscovered from the Atharva Vedas the sixteen sutras of mathematics, the ancient Indian system of calculations later named as Vedic Maths. These sutras were derived from “The Ganit Sutras” also known as Sulabh Sutras or the simple system of mathematics.

The language of these sutras was in Sanskrit which was not so easy to understand by a common man. It took the genius of Tirathji to decode the various layers of similar sets with different meaning.

According to his research all of mathematics is based on sixteen Sutras or word-formulae. The 16 sutras have 13 sub sutras derived from Vedic text covering every branch and part of mathematics – arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physics, plain and spherical geometry, conics, calculus, both differential and integral, applied mathematics of various kinds, dynamics, hydrostatics, static, kinematics and all.

Bharti Krishna Tirathji, the Founder

The Scholar

Shree Bharti Krishna Tirathji was known as Venkatraman before he took to Sainthood. Venkatraman was born on the 14th of March, 1884 at Tinnievelly, Tamil Nadu. The Sanskrit Association of Madras, recognizing his all round proficiency & oratory abilities in Sanskrit, awarded him the title of “Saraswati ” in July 1899. His academic credentials only proved his Genius, as he collected Master’s Degree in six subjects – Sanskrit, English, History, Philosophy, Mathematics & Science form The Bombay Centre of the American College of Science, Rochester, New York.

The Freedom Fighter

He graduated from a lecturer in Baroda College to the Principal of National College Rajamundri, but gave away his brilliant carrier in 1905 to become a Freedom Fighter & an ardent Nationalist. Later he took to writing for the newspapers supporting the freedom movement.

The Father of Vedic Mathematics

Under the auspicious guidance of Shri Shankracharya Shri Sachidananda Shiva Abhinava Narsimha Saraswati, he took to Self Realization at Shringeri Matha.

He devoted 7 years in deep meditation & study of Vedanta. He lived the life of a Sadhu from 1911 to 1918. During this period of solitude he decoded from the Atharva Veda the 16 Sutras of Ganita Sutras with the help of lexicographs, which later went on to be compiled as the Vedic maths.

16 Volumes of text written by Bharti Krishana Tirathji on Vedic maths, one volume per Sutra, were either destroyed or stolen by foreigners from Nagpur, where they were stored. The lost work was later reconstructed in one volume by Bharti Krishana Tirathji based on his memory, basically as an introduction to the lost volumes.

The Shankracharya

He was named Shri Bharti Krishna Tirthaji after being initiated into Sanyas in July 1919 by Shri Trivikram Teerathaji of Varanasi.

Shri Trivikram Tirathji appointed him as the Head of Dwarikapeeth in 1921. Later he headed the Govardhan Math Monastry, Puri, Orissa from 1925 to till his Mahasmadhi in the year 1960.