Phase 6 · Indian Contributions

26.2 Gravity — 500 Years Before Newton

Bhaskaracharya's 1150 CE description of Earth's gravitational force, and earlier precedents in Brahmagupta and Varahamihira

~12 min3 pages + knowledge check

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Gravity: The Indian Tradition

Newton's apple story is famous — a falling apple in 1665 inspired the law of gravity. But seeing the Earth as an object that pulls things toward itself was an established scientific idea in India more than 1,000 years before Newton.

Three Indian Precedents

Varahamihira (505 CE)

Brihat Samhita — describes Earth's inherent attractive force. Asks: why do objects below a spherical Earth not fall off? Answer: Earth attracts everything.

Brahmagupta (628 CE)

Brahmasphutasiddhanta — "The Earth attracts all bodies toward itself." Clear and concise statement.

Bhaskaracharya (1150 CE)

Siddhanta Shiromani — most detailed treatment. "The Earth has the quality of attraction. All heavy objects fall to the Earth." Extended discussion in Goladhyaya.

Bhaskaracharya's Original Verse

"The Earth has the power of attraction on all sides. Heavy bodies fall in the sky (toward Earth). Therefore the Earth is the support of all."
— Bhaskaracharya, Siddhanta Shiromani, Goladhyaya (1150 CE)