Humanity has been enthralled with gravity, the unseen force that keeps us rooted and controls the motion of celestial bodies, for eons. India has a long history of struggling with the concept of gravity, even though the understanding varied from the present scientific definition, despite the fact that Isaac Newton is mostly credited with formulating the law of universal gravitation.

Early Understanding: Brahmagupta to the Vedas

The Vedas, which are ancient Indian texts that date from 1500 to 500 BCE, include songs that allude to the knowledge of an object being drawn towards the earth by a power. But these songs were not as rigorously scientific as later versions; they were essentially philosophical.

The Mathematician Who Described the Attractive Force, Brahmagupta

The 7th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer Brahmagupta provides the earliest verifiable evidence of a scientific theory of gravity (598-668 CE). The Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta (The Opening of the Universe), his work, explores the idea of gurutvākarṣaṇam (गुरुत्वाकम्षणम्), which meaning "gravity's attraction."

Bhaskara II: Extending the Principle of Attraction

Bhaskara II (1114-1185 CE), another distinguished Indian mathematician and astronomer, followed Brahmagupta's example and further investigated the idea of gravity in his book, the Siddhānta Shiromani (The Crest-Jewel of Knowledge). He suggested that gravity operated radially inward towards the center of the Earth, depicting it as spherical.

An Alternative Viewpoint: Differing from Newton's Law

It is noteworthy that the Indian conception of gravity was not the same as Newton's theory of universal gravitation. It was not Newton's universal force of gravity but the Earth's innate ability to attract items that was the emphasis of Brahmagupta and Bhaskara II. Their observations lacked the quantitative elements that characterize the laws of modern science, and were instead qualitative.

The Legacy: An Important Turn in the Scientific Process

Even while India may not share Newton's credit for finding gravity, the contributions of researchers such as Brahmagupta and Bhaskara II are noteworthy. Their discoveries and explanations prepared the basis for further scientific investigation and a greater comprehension of the cosmos.

Contemporary Illusions and Conscientious Conversation

There have been new assertions that these Indian sages were the ones who "discovered gravity" before Newton. Accurate historical perspective is essential.  Not the complete scientific theory of gravity, but the early investigation of the idea of attraction is India's contribution.

Concluding Remarks: Honoring Intellectual Curiosity

The tale of gravity in India bears witness to the persistent human pursuit of comprehension of the natural world.  The early contributions from India demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a readiness to address basic issues about the world, even though scientific understanding has grown throughout time. Acknowledging these contributions enhances our admiration for the worldwide fabric of scientific advancement.