Post # 136
The value of Pi...
The above verse looks and sounds like it has been picked up from a Bhakti poetry book, doesn't it? Would it surprise you to learn that it is connected more with mathematics than with poetry?
The above verse represents the value of the mathematical symbol Pi, to 31 digits after the decimal, in encrypted form! The reader, by chanting this verse, is memorizing the value of Pi as:
Pi = 3.1415926535897932384626433832792
Really? How? Therein lies an interesting tale...
Pi is, of course, a mathematical symbol, representing the ratio of the circumference of a circle, to its diameter.
People acquainted with this number know that Pi is an irrational number, the digits after the decimal are an infinite series (they donot end) and there is no pattern of repetition in the digits whatsoever.
So, figuring out the precise value of this number has been a quest for mathematical geeks right from 2000 BCE. It is said that:
"Probably no symbol in mathematics has evoked as much mystery, romanticism, misconception and human interest as the number Pi.”
The below is a list of the who's who of mathematics who chased the digits of this mirage-like number.
Now, let's go back to the verse. It belongs to something called the Katapayadi Sutra of the Indian School of Mathematics. Our earliest evidence of its use is the 7th-9th centuries CE. Its genesis is possibly much older.
The Katapayadi Sutra uses a table to convert numbers to consonants of language.
All the consonants of the Sanskrit varnamala are arranged to correspond to the digits 1 to 9 and 0. So the first number 1 has ka, ta, pa and ya corresponding to it. Hence this method is called Katapayadi system.
The consonants in the above verse when decoded using the Katapayadi table, yield:
ga = 3, pa = 1, bha = 4, ya = 1, ma = 5, dhu = 9, ra = 2, tha = 6, shru = 5, ga = 3, sho = 5, da = 8, dhi = 9, sa = 7, dha = 9, ga = 3, kha = 2, la = 3, ji = 8, vi = 4, ta = 6, kha = 2, ta = 6, va = 4, ga = 3, la = 3, ha = 8, la = 3, ra = 2, sa = 7, Da = 9, ra = 2
So, the value of Pi = 3.1415926535897932384626433832792, to 31 decimal places, as per this Sutra.
Amazing mnemonics, right?
Do you know? Till date, 31 trillion digits have been identified after the decimal. And still people are seeking for more!
The current Guinness book of world records holder for memorizing the maximum number of digits of Pi is an Indian named - Rajveer Meena - from VIT University, Vellore. He recited 70000 digits to a panel from Guiness book of world records, blindfolded for 10 hours.
On a lighter note, mathematical geeks the world over, especially Pi lovers celebrate 14th March every year as Pi day. If you are wondering why 14th March, just look at the first three digits of Pi (3.14 = 3/14).
Incidentally, check out these cool Pi T-shirts available on Amazon.com.
