A scholarly paper published in Current Science has revisited the mathematical treatises of Brahmagupta, specifically the 7th-century Brahmasphutasiddhanta. The research identifies a previously overlooked section of the text that describes a numerical constant for 'the force that causes bodies to fall,' which aligns remarkably close to the modern value of gravitational acceleration when adjusted for the units used in the Vedic mathematical tradition.
The study argues that Brahmagupta's work suggests an early understanding of non-linear dynamics and an attraction-based model of planetary motion. By analyzing the geometric proofs provided in the manuscript, the researchers conclude that the text outlines a methodology for calculating the 'pull' of the Earth as a function of its mass and radius, predating Western gravitational theories by nearly a millennium.