Vedic math vs authentic Indian gaṇita

Vedic math vs authentic Indian gaṇita

C. K. Raju

c.k.raju@ganita.guru

"Vedic math" has NOTHING to do with Veda-s

Everybody agrees! (Including original "Vedic math" book.)
As stated on its opening page and on p. xxxv (emph. added)

"Obviously these formulae are not to be found in present recensions of the Atharvaveda".

My past writings on this issue

Article in Hindu, and in Jansatta
Responses to critics on this blog
esp. admission by Atul Kothari that "Vedic math not found in Veda" is true.

The REAL math found in the Veda

is described in this book
and its great importance is explained in my recent book on Aryan Race Conjecture.
Also अक्ष सूक्त (ऋग्वेद 10.34), my translation
in my paper on "Probability in ancient India" in Elesevier Handbook of Philosophy of Statistics.

No mention of any of above in "Vedic math" book

So, real math in Veda-s is NOT "Vedic math"!
It is authentic traditional Indian gaṇita
which "Vedic math" seeks to replace.
Note. Gaṇita NOT synonym for math: see my Himanjali article "गणित बनाम मैथमेटिक्स".

So, name "Vedic" in "Vedic math" misleading: used only to CHEAT people

that "Vedic math" has some connection with Veda.
Using name of Veda to cheat and mislead, to sell, demeans the Veda.
A disservice to Hinduism.

Apologias

"Vedic in sense that all knowledge is in the Veda"
All knowledge?⁉
Manual for car repair?

"Ancient" hence "Vedic"?

(Atul Kothari said that so.)
WRONG claim. Everything ancient is NOT "Vedic"!
Lokayata, Buddhists, Jains REJECTED belief in Veda-s or related शब्द प्रमाण.
Lokayata said that moksha is laughable.

Lokayata said that authors of the Veda are धूर्त, and that Veda-s are false (अनृत) and contradictory (व्याघात).
Eng trans. (Cowell) that "three authors of the Veda were buffoons, knaves and demons".
Calling this "Vedic"!😖
JUST to justify misguided attempt to sell "Vedic" math, is going too far!

Anyway, no evidence "Vedic math" is ancient 😀

Our source modern: Bharati Krishna Tirtha.
Could not explain his sources when asked by K. S. Shukla, ca. 1950.
"Vedic math" NOT found in ANY traditional Indian math/astronomy text
from Vedanga Jyotiṣa (\(-1500\) CE) to Yuktibhāṣa (+1500 CE) across 3000 years.

Arithmetic as currently taught IS of Indian origin

which went from India to Europe,
and was returned as part of colonial education.
So "Vedic math" seeks to replaces real Indian gaṇita by using fake label "Vedic".

"Vedic math" has VERY limited use

At BEST good for mental calculations in elementary arithmetic for primary school.
Perhaps for some competitive tests where a calculator is disallowed.
My point: teach mental arithmetic (many systems) if you want, but at least remove the false labeal "Vedic".

Any OTHER harm in teaching "Vedic math"?

Yes! Damages authentic Indian tradition of gaṇita in various ways
and its REVOLUTIONARY possibilities for future S&T which even Africans understand
But most Indians don't.

Colonialism taught us to ape Whites/West,
and we are easily fooled by one FALSE label "Vedic",
and related ELEMENTARY mental arithmetic
(teaching which does NOT threaten West).

Authentic Indian gaṇita VERY useful for current S&T

Indian calculus (without limits)
and probability and statistics
very useful for advanced science and 21st c. technology of AI and quantum mechanics
As also explained in these popular-level articles 1, 2

Or see these scholarly writings

Indian origin of calculus and its transmission to Europe (PS. Talk on 25th.)
Probability in ancient India and transmission to Europe.
See this list for related teaching courses on calculus, statistics, geometry,
taught in several countries and universities and schools.

Conclusions

Be honest to Indian tradition. Drop the false label "Vedic" in Vedic math.
Teach authentic Indian gaṇita as in my alternative math curriculum (now from primary school on)
Indian gaṇita, VERY useful for future technology development and related need to create skilled people.
It makes a strong and valid statement about India's cultural pride and contemporary relevance of Indian tradition.