In India, astronomy is in practice since around 2000 B.C. The science of Astronomy is known as Khagola-shastra. The word Khagola was derived from the famous astronomical University of Nalanda. It was called Khagola. The famous astronomer Aryabhatta had studied at Khagola.

Aryabhatta (the great astronomer) was born in 476 A.D. at a town called Ashmaka. According to our states this town is, now, in Kerala. At a young age he was sent to the University of Nalanda to study astronomy. He made important contributions to the field of astronomy. He was the one to put forward the Heliocentric theory of gravitation even before Copernicus, almost one thousand years ago.

Aryabhatta`s great work- the Aryabhattiya was translated into Latin in the 13th century and Arabic translations of the same were done in 8th century. Aryabhatta had some clue about the eclipses and that the moon`s light was due to the sun. But this did not prove to be fruitful. Observations of Galileo and Copernicus highlighted the same facts in a better way.

Aryabhatta had discovered these facts 1500 years ago, and 1000 years before Copernicus and Galileo. This is when he proved himself. This makes him quite great in this area too. The methods of astronomical calculations were detailed in Aryabhatta-siddhanta that was reliable for making the Panchanga (Hindu calendar).

As there was no telescope available in those days, it became quite difficult for the astronomy to advance or progress. Even with these difficulties the astronomers managed to make certain observations with the other alternate instruments. These observations, somewhat, neared the perfect measurement of astronomical movements and predict eclipses.

Indian astronomers, with their research, found that the earth was a sphere. Aryabhatta was the first one to discover this theory in the 5th century.

There is an old Sanskrit Sloka (couplet) which is as follows:
"Sarva Dishanaam, Suryaha, Suryaha, Suryaha."
This couplet means that the sun is in all directions. Earlier the ancient Indian astronomers had done an important and good discovery that the stars are similar to the Sun. Hence this couplet says that even at night the sky is full of suns. In other words, it was believed that the sun, though being the nearest one, is also a star. This understanding is demonstrated in another sloka which says that when one sun sinks below the horizon, a thousand suns (stars at night) take its place.

Later many Indian astronomers studied about gravity and gravitation. Brahmagupta, in the 7th century had said about gravity that its earth`s nature to attract the bodies falling towards it, just as it is in the nature of water to flow.

Varahamihira was of the opinion that there must be something, which keeps the bodies and heavenly bodies intact with the earth. So there was realization of the existence of some attractive force that controls the falling of objects to earth and still remaining stationery.

The Sanskrit term for gravity is Gurutvaakarshan. Akarshan means to be attracted. Thus the fact that the character of this force was of attraction was also recognized. The Aryans used to consider the sun as God. Hence, they thought that it was the sun that attracted the various bodies or things.

The actual meaning of the term Gurutvakarshan also supports the recognition of the heliocentric theory.
Indian Astronomers like Aryabhatta and Varahamihira who lived between 476 and 587 A.D. made deep research to the concept of Heliocentric.

The Surya-Siddhanta also says "Bestowing upon him the Vedas as gifts and establishing him within the egg as grandfather of all worlds, he himself then revolves causing existence". (Quoted from the Surya-Siddhanta, Translated by Rev. Ebenezer Burgess)

No More ........
Antariksa:Antariksa is the space between heaven and earth.