Cosmography and Geography in Early Indian Literature c6.s2.52

c6.s2.52

The various spheres including the earth were also the subject of study of the Indian astronomers, whose views along with those of the Puranic writers were admirably summarised by Al-Bīrūnī in the 11th century A.D.³⁹ It is interesting to note that Āryabhaṭa and his followers believed the earth to be moving from east to west and the heaven to be resting, though most astronomers rejected the theory on the grounds that, in that case, a bird would not be able to return to its nest and stones and trees would fall from the earth.⁴⁰