Using Vedic Mathematics as a Metric of Technology Development

Abstract

The Ancients developed Mathematics not for its own sake as a specialized subject, but to analyze philosophy and develop technology for everyday life as well as grand challenges. The body of evidence to-date is only a small fraction of what remains to be found. Vedic Mathematics is set in the context of mounting evidence of technology development. The period of interest spanned the evolution of communications from mental/oral to memorization of brief poetic hints, to graphical representation based on rebus, to formal text, symbolics and line drawings. Specific examples include construction of temples and cities, metallurgy and ceramics, textile weaving, ocean-going ships, stellar navigation, astronomy, and astrology. The Ancients used mathematics in all walks of life. Initial motivators included philosophy, music, architecture, arts and entertainment, as well as trade accounting, city planning, transportation, navigation. Deterministic market forces rather than random meandering, drove developments in mathematics. Predating texts and drawing, Indian mathematical theorems and algorithms used mental concepts and tools, but results were seen in all fields. Compact oral communication was facilitated by music. Generalization and abstraction of ideas occurred through philosophical Ṛks. Applications drove innovation of methods. Abstraction and generalization followed extensive empirical experience. Condensation into Ṛks and verse enabled packing knowledge for arduous lifelong trading journeys. The history of Indian mathematics is evident in the development of various technologies. The Grand Challenge of Indian Mathematics is to discover our own history through advanced mathematics combined with deep traditional knowledge from the entire regions of our ancestors’ travels and influence.