An interdisciplinary team of mathematicians and Sanskritists has completed a computational study of the 11th-century Grahaganita-Muktavali, a lesser-known astronomical treatise from the Deccan. The analysis revealed that the manuscript contains advanced algorithms for calculating the non-linear solar tidal stress exerted on the Earth's lithosphere. Unlike previous models that focused purely on planetary positions, this text utilizes iterative series to estimate the gravitational perturbation of the sun during perigee-syzygy events.
The research, published in Anthropological Science Letters, highlights that the Sanskrit formulas exhibit a precursor to perturbation theory, allowing for the prediction of subtle shifts in the timing of solar eclipses caused by the Earth's non-spherical shape. These findings suggest that medieval Indian mathematicians were developing highly specialized numerical methods to account for geodynamic variables, significantly predating similar developments in European theoretical mechanics. The team used modern planetary ephemerides to validate the ancient calculations, finding an accuracy rate of 98.4% for events recorded between 1050 and 1100 CE.