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Ancient Indians contributed to the development of many concepts of modern Physics (Samskrit: भौतिकविज्ञानम्) much earlier than the advent of modern physics. The study of physics involves an understanding of the functioning, interactions and relationships between the fundamental components of the observable universe and the observable cosmos. The field of physics covers all aspects of the natural world, both at macroscopic and microscopic levels. The conception of [[Panchamahabhutas (पञ्चमहाभूतानि)|Panchamahabhutas,]] or the five gross elements, to explain the diversity of nature, was the foundational aspect of Indian physical shastras. Nature consists of a variety of things – solids, water, gas, fire, and space. Space, or Akasa, is considered eternal and was created to give material objects a positive reference, a substratum, and a medium on which things exist. In modern terms it resembles the concept of an all-pervading ether medium.<ref name=":0">Kumar, A. (2019). ''Ancient Hindu Science: its transmission and impact on world cultures''. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.2200/S00906ED1V01Y201903ENG034</nowiki> (chapter 5)</ref>

Ancient Indians contributed to the development of many concepts of modern Physics (Samskrit: भौतिकविज्ञानम्) much earlier than the advent of modern physics. The study of physics involves an understanding of the functioning, interactions and relationships between the fundamental components of the observable universe and the observable cosmos. The field of physics covers all aspects of the natural world, both at macroscopic and microscopic levels. The conception of [[Panchamahabhutas (पञ्चमहाभूतानि)|Panchamahabhutas,]] or the five gross elements, to explain the diversity of nature, was the foundational aspect of Indian physical shastras. Nature consists of a variety of things – solids, water, gas, fire, and space. Space, or Akasa, is considered eternal and was created to give material objects a positive reference, a substratum, and a medium on which things exist. In modern terms it resembles the concept of an all-pervading ether medium.<ref name=":0">Kumar, A. (2019). ''Ancient Hindu Science: its transmission and impact on world cultures''. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.2200/S00906ED1V01Y201903ENG034</nowiki> (chapter 5)</ref>

Electricity, light, heat, mechanics (motion and inertia of things), gravitation, sound and its transmission, and quantum physics, which comprise the subjects of modern physics have been explored in several Indian traditions along with their applications.  

Electricity, light, heat, mechanics (motion and inertia of things), gravitation, sound and its transmission, and quantum physics, which comprise the subjects of modern physics have been explored in several Indian traditions along with their applications.  

== Source Texts for Physics in India ==

== Source Texts for Physics in India ==

# Siddhanta granthas - Surya siddhanta for example describes the planetary motion, eclipses, calculation of time (concept of cyclic time, yugas, kalpas) and trignometric functions.  

# Siddhanta granthas - Surya siddhanta for example describes the planetary motion, eclipses, calculation of time (concept of cyclic time, yugas, kalpas) and trignometric functions.  

# Commentaries - Astronomical texts such as [[Aryabhata (आर्यभट्ट)|Aryabhata's]] Aryabhatiya gave the foundational concepts such as rotational motion of earth, celestial body calculations, correct order of planetary orbits and the infiniteness of the universe. Bhaskara II's Siddhanta Shiromani deals with advanced astronomical principles, mechanics and planetary equations. A commentary of Kamasutra by Visvakarma details design of machines.   

# Commentaries - Astronomical texts such as [[Aryabhata (आर्यभट्ट)|Aryabhata's]] Aryabhatiya gave the foundational concepts such as rotational motion of earth, celestial body calculations, correct order of planetary orbits and the infiniteness of the universe. Bhaskara II's Siddhanta Shiromani deals with advanced astronomical principles, mechanics and planetary equations. A commentary of Kamasutra by Visvakarma details design of machines.   

# Other works - Many texts were lost but we find their references in major texts such as Mahabhashya, Mahabharata, Puranas, Arthashastra and Samarangana Sutradhara.   

# Other works - Many texts were lost but we find their references in major texts such as Mahabhashya, Mahabharata, Puranas, [[Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्रम्)|Arthashastra]] and Samarangana Sutradhara.   

## Samarangana Sutradhara - Yantras or contrivances useful in creating mechanical objects such as birds, fountains are described in this text. It also describes yantras used in war machines, water-lifting instruments for agricultural uses, and time devices such as water clocks for astronomical measurements.  

## Samarangana Sutradhara - Yantras or contrivances useful in creating mechanical objects such as birds, fountains are described in this text. It also describes yantras used in war machines, water-lifting instruments for agricultural uses, and time devices such as water clocks for astronomical measurements.

## Yantrarnava - describes physical concepts such as generation of power/energy or motion through the continuous movement of lever/pulley.   

## Yantrarnava - describes physical concepts such as generation of power/energy or motion through the continuous movement of lever/pulley.   

## Natyashastra - describes various musical instruments and their acoustical characteristics  

## Natyashastra - describes various musical instruments and their acoustical characteristics  

==== Rta ====

==== Rta ====

[[Rta (ऋतम्)|Rta]] is the cosmic law of harmony. ‘Rta’ means ‘the course of things’, order or law, and the primal principle, which is non-temporal and cohesive. It is a natural law which even the Vedic deities have to follow; they are often described as the "guardians of rta" and "practicers of rta" in the Rigveda (1.23.5). The natural phenomena, such as the flow of rivers, change of seasons, and day and night, are stated to be in accordance with this natural law (Rig. Veda. 4.3.8-12; 5.80.1). Aditya, or Surya, is the all-pervading light extolled as the dweller in eternal law and, eventually, the eternal law itself (Rig Veda 4.40.5). The Rigvedic seers were convinced that nature is not as heterogeneous as it seems to us and that all types of natural motions are traceable to rta, which, according to them, is self-existent and ever extending. Symbolically, rta was also conceived by the Rigvedic seers as Varuna, who was supposed to have determined the laws of the physical universe. Rta helps Indra "light up and energise the whole world" and Ushas to "illumine the universe". As eternal order, it is transcendental, signifying uniformity of nature or an ordered course in a cosmic sense.<ref name=":1" />

[[Rta (ऋतम्)|Rta]] is the cosmic law of harmony. ‘Rta’ means ‘the course of things’, order or law, and the primal principle, which is non-temporal and cohesive. It is a natural law which even the Vedic deities have to follow; they are often described as the "guardians of rta" and "practicers of rta" in the Rigveda (1.23.5). The natural phenomena, such as the flow of rivers, change of seasons, and day and night, are stated to be in accordance with this natural law (Rig. Veda. 4.3.8-12; 5.80.1). Aditya, or Surya, is the all-pervading light extolled as the dweller in eternal law and, eventually, the eternal law itself (Rig Veda 4.40.5). The Rigvedic seers were convinced that nature is not as heterogeneous as it seems to us and that all types of natural motions are traceable to rta, which, according to them, is self-existent and ever extending. Symbolically, rta was also conceived by the Rigvedic seers as Varuna, who was supposed to have determined the laws of the physical universe. Rta helps Indra "light up and energize the whole world" and Ushas to "illumine the universe". As eternal order, it is transcendental, signifying uniformity of nature or an ordered course in a cosmic sense.<ref name=":1" />

The Vedic seers had the instinctive conviction in the natural order. They conceived the external world as an ordered whole and that its dynamic or changing phenomena were regulated by rta. Vedas state that the emergence of ''ṛta'' is the initiation of the process of creation. In the context of physical sciences, it is not far-fetched to infer that Prakriti from the state of existence (first attribute) undergoes a change by way of rajas guna (second attribute), or motion. In modern scientific language this would mean that energy at rest changed to kinetic form and thus the Vedic term for modern kinetic energy is ''ṛta.''<ref name=":2">Verma, K. D. (2012). ''Vedic Physics: Towards Unification of Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity''. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.,. <nowiki>https://archive.org/details/vedic-physics-keshav-dev-verma</nowiki></ref>  

The Vedic seers had the instinctive conviction in the natural order. They conceived the external world as an ordered whole and that its dynamic or changing phenomena were regulated by rta. Vedas state that the emergence of ''ṛta'' is the initiation of the process of creation. In the context of physical sciences, it is not far-fetched to infer that Prakriti from the state of existence (first attribute) undergoes a change by way of rajas guna (second attribute), or motion. In modern scientific language this would mean that energy at rest changed to kinetic form and thus the Vedic term for modern kinetic energy is ''ṛta.''<ref name=":2">Verma, K. D. (2012). ''Vedic Physics: Towards Unification of Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity''. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.,. <nowiki>https://archive.org/details/vedic-physics-keshav-dev-verma</nowiki></ref>  

==== Panchamahabhutas ====

==== Panchamahabhutas ====

The Indian doctrine of five elements, or [[Panchamahabhutas (पञ्चमहाभूतानि)|Panchamahabhutas]], it must be emphasised, is a part of the philosophical ideas. In other words, it does not have an independent standing apart from its being an integrated component of the leading systems of Indian thought.<ref name=":1" /> It accounts for the apparently unordered, diverse world of matter and qualities. Also known as Pancabhutas (mahabhutani), the five elements are prthvi, ap, tejas, vayu, and akasa, which are loosely translated respectively as earth, water, fire, air and a non-material ubiquitous substance. Since they are interrelated, they have to be viewed in totality.  

The Indian doctrine of five elements, or [[Panchamahabhutas (पञ्चमहाभूतानि)|Panchamahabhutas]], it must be emphasised, is a part of the philosophical ideas. In other words, it does not have an independent standing apart from its being an integrated component of the leading systems of Indian thought.<ref name=":1" /> It accounts for the apparently unordered, diverse world of matter and qualities. Also known as Pancabhutas (mahabhutani), the five elements are prthvi, ap, tejas, vayu, and akasa, which are loosely translated respectively as earth, water, fire, air and a non-material ubiquitous substance. Since they are interrelated, they have to be viewed in totality.  

== Light ==

== Light ==

* '''Tejas''' refers to radiance or brilliance. Tejas is associated with the concept of [[Agni (अग्निः)|agni]], or fire, and is considered to be a form of energy that fills the universe. It is often associated with the concept of tapas, or spiritual discipline, and is believed to be the source of inner strength, energy, and illumination.

* '''Tejas''' refers to radiance or brilliance. Tejas is associated with the concept of [[Agni (अग्निः)|agni]], or fire, and is considered to be a form of energy that fills the universe. It is often associated with the concept of tapas, or spiritual discipline, and is believed to be the source of inner strength, energy, and illumination.

== Energy ==

== Space and Time ==

 

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Physics]]

[[Category:Physics]]