What is Vedic Maths?

Vedic Maths is a book written by the Indian monk Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Bharati Krishna Tirthaji Maharaj.

The book was first published in 1965. This book is very popular among maths teachers and students who prepare for competitive exams.

According to this book, Vedic Maths is a collection of 16 sutras and 14 sub sutras. These sutras were written in Sanskrit (mother of all languages).

Now you must be thinking, what is the meaning of sutra. A sutra is a name of a technique for solving a particular type of sum.

The reason why people want to learn Vedic Maths is that it is faster than regular math calculation systems.

Students who prepare for entrance exams are more likely to join Vedic Maths to use its tricks to crack the exam as it provides speed and accuracy in maths calculations.

Topics covered under Vedic Maths are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square, cube square root, cube root, algebra, etc.

Vedic Maths is also known as conditional maths, once you satisfy a condition and then you can apply a sutra in order to find the answer.

Once you learn all the sutras, all you need to do is to identify which sutras need to be applied and within a few seconds you can find out the perfect answer. You can see 16 sutras and 14 sub sutras in the table below.

Sixteen (16) Sutras of Vedic Maths

S No	Sutra	Translation
1	एकाधिकेन पूर्वेण Ekadhikina Purvena	By one more than the previous one
2	निखिलं नवतः चरमं दशतः Nikhilam Navatashcaramam Dashatah	All from 9 and the last from 10
3	ऊर्ध्व-तिर्यग्भ्याम् Urdhva-Tiryagbyham	Vertically and crosswise
4	परावर्त्य योजयेत् Paraavartya Yojayet	Transpose and adjust
5	शून्यं साम्यसमुच्चये Shunyam Saamyasamuchaye	When the sum is the same, that sum is zero
6	(आनुरूप्ये) शून्यंमन्यत् Anurupye Shunyamanyat	If One is in Ratio the Other is Zero
7	संकलन व्यवकलनाभ्याम् Sankalana vyavakalanabhyam	By Addition and by Subtraction
8	पूरणापूरणाभ्याम् Puranapuranabyham	By the Completion or Non-Completion
9	चलनकलनाभ्याम् Chalana Kalanabyham	Differences and Similarities
10	यावदूनम Yaavadunam	Whatever the extent of its deficiency
11	व्यष्टिसमष्टिः Vyashtisamanstih	Part and Whole
12	शेषाण्यङ्केन चरमेण Shesanyankena Charamena	The remainders by the last digit
13	सोपान्त्यद्वयमन्त्यम् Sopaantyadvayamantyam	The ultimate amadharnd twice the penultimate
14	एकन्युनेन पूर्वेण Ekanyunena Purvena	By one less than the previous one
15	गुणितसमुच्चयः Gunitasamucpornhyah	The product of the sum is equal to the sum of the product
16	गुणक समुच्चयः Gunakasamuchyah	The factors of the sum is equal to the sum of the factors

Fourteen (14) Sub Sutras of Vedic Maths

S No	Sutra	Translation
1	आनुरुप्येण Anurupyena	Proportionately
2	शिष्यते शेषसंज्ञः Sisyate Sesasamjnah	The Remainder Remains Constant
3	आद्यं आद्येन् अन्त्यम् अन्त्येन Adyamadyenantyamantyena	The First by the First and the Last by the Last
4	केवलैः सप्तकं गुण्यात् Kevalaih Saptakam Gunyat	For 7 the Multiplicand is 143
5	वेष्टनम् Vestanam	By Osculation
6	यावदूनं तावदूनम् Yavadunam Tavadunam	Lessen by the Deficiency
7	यावदूनं तावदूनीकृत्य वर्गं च योजयेत् Yavadunam Tavadunikritya Varga Yojayet	Whatever the Deficiency lessen by that amount and set up the Square of the Deficiency
8	अन्त्ययोर्दशकेऽपी Antyayordashake’pi	Last Totalling 10
9	अन्त्ययोरेव Antyayoreva	Only the Last Terms
10	समुच्चयगुणितः Samuccayagunitah	The Sum of the Products
11	लोपनस्थापनाभ्याम् Lopanasthapanabhyam	By Alternate Elimination and Retention
12	विलोकनम् Vilokanam	By Mere Observation
13	गुणितसमुच्चयः समुच्चयगुणितः Gunitasamuccayah Samuccayagunitah	The Product of the Sum is the Sum of the Products
14	ध्वजांक Dhvajanka	On the Flag

Click To Watch Complete Tutorials

Some Advantages/Benefits of Learning Vedic Maths 

• Remove the fear of maths
• Make mathematics a fun activity
• Develops interest in maths
• Helps in preparing for competitive exams
• Enhances mental maths skills
• Saves time in maths exams
• Provides accuracy in calculations
• Makes you a human calculator
• and most importantly, it is an Indian way of doing mathematics

In the recent few years, Vedic maths has gained tremendous popularity across the globe.

Do not take Vedic maths only shortcut tricks for solving calculations but it is a science of formulas. This Indian ancient maths system has become a hot topic in one of the eminent universities in the world.

A lot of research work is being done on Vedic Maths to take this subject to the next level. A picture given below shows the difference between Vedic Maths and regular maths.

There are not only good things about Vedic Maths but it has also been criticized for its limitations. There is also the other side of the coin.

According to some maths lovers and enthusiasts, Vedic Maths is a conditional maths and is good for students just as an activity because it is not applicable in the whole maths system and people are selling Vedic Maths courses at a very fee in the name of Vedas. 

In my opinion, both sides have the right to express their views on this popular and emerging subject.

I will not advise but only suggest to learners at least a few tricks can be a game-changer in your maths exams. Calculations demand a lot of time which can be handled through Vedic maths techniques.

Learning a few tricks is no harm in this competitive world when it comes to crack competitive exams, maths quizzes, math olympiads, etc.