Physics Laws Unveiled in the Epic of Ramayana: Tracing Scientific Principles in Ancient Texts

Introduction:

The ancient Indian epic, Ramayana, is renowned for its rich mythology and profound teachings. While it primarily delves into spiritual and moral aspects, an intriguing aspect emerges when we examine the epic through the lens of physics. Surprisingly, several incidents and phenomena described in the Ramayana can be correlated with fundamental principles of physics. In this blog, we will explore the presence of physics laws in the Ramayana, showcasing how ancient wisdom intertwined with scientific concepts. With references to relevant verses and supported by credible citations, we embark on a fascinating journey where science and mythology converge.

1. Archimedes' Principle and Hanuman's Leap:

One of the most well-known events in the Ramayana is when Hanuman, the powerful monkey god, jumped across the ocean to reach the island of Lanka. This incredible feat can be understood using Archimedes' principle, which explains the behavior of objects submerged in fluids.

According to Archimedes' principle, when an object is submerged in a fluid (such as water), it experiences an upward force called buoyant force. This force is equal to the weight of the fluid that is displaced or pushed aside by the object. Now, let's apply this principle to Hanuman's leap. As he jumped across the ocean, his body moved through the water. The water that was displaced or moved aside by his body created an upward buoyant force. This buoyant force would have aided Hanuman's flight, helping him stay airborne and cover the vast distance to reach Lanka.

In simpler terms, just like a buoyant force helps objects float in water, the water displaced by Hanuman's body acted like a supportive force, allowing him to soar across the ocean.

Examples: To further understand Archimedes' principle and its application, let's consider a simple example: Imagine you have a rubber duck floating in a bathtub. When you press the duck underwater, it pops back up. This happens because the water pushes upward on the submerged duck, creating a buoyant force that counteracts the force you applied.

2. Bernoulli's Principle and the Floating Bridge:

In the epic Ramayana, Rama and his army needed to cross the vast ocean to reach the island of Lanka. To accomplish this, they constructed a floating bridge known as Rama Setu. Interestingly, the construction of this bridge can be explained using Bernoulli's principle, which connects the speed of a fluid with its pressure.

Bernoulli's principle states that as the speed of a fluid increases, its pressure decreases, and vice versa. Now, let's apply this principle to the floating bridge in the Ramayana. As the waters of the ocean flowed beneath the bridge, they moved at different speeds. The water beneath the bridge, being obstructed by the structure, had to squeeze through a narrower space, causing it to accelerate and move faster.

According to Bernoulli's principle, the faster-moving water beneath the bridge experienced a lower pressure compared to the surrounding slower-moving water. This lower pressure exerted an upward force on the bridge, counteracting the downward force of its weight. As a result, the bridge remained buoyant and was able to support the weight of Rama's army as they crossed the ocean.

In simpler terms, the faster water beneath the bridge created a sort of lifting force due to its lower pressure, which helped the bridge stay afloat and carry the army across the water. This connection between Bernoulli's principle and the floating bridge in the Ramayana demonstrates how scientific principles can be observed in ancient stories and legends.

Please note that the Ramayana is a mythical narrative, and while the floating bridge is described in the epic, the connection with Bernoulli's principle is a modern interpretation to explain the concept in the context of the story.

3. Newton's Third Law and Jatayu's Fight:

In the Ramayana, there is a significant episode where Jatayu, a noble vulture, engages in a fierce battle with the powerful demon king Ravana while trying to rescue Sita. This intense fight between Jatayu and Ravana can be understood through Newton's third law of motion, which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

According to Newton's third law, when two objects interact, the forces they exert on each other are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. Applying this principle to the fight between Jatayu and Ravana, we can see that as they clashed and exchanged blows, the forces they applied on each other followed this law.

For example, when Jatayu struck Ravana with his wings or attacked him with his beak, he exerted a force on Ravana. In response, Ravana would have exerted an equal but opposite force on Jatayu, resisting his attacks. Similarly, when Ravana counterattacked, the force he exerted on Jatayu would have been met with an equal and opposite force from Jatayu.

In simpler terms, for every action Jatayu and Ravana took during their battle, there was a corresponding reaction of equal magnitude but opposite direction. This mutual exchange of forces in the fight between Jatayu and Ravana exemplifies Newton's third law of motion. By connecting this ancient tale from the Ramayana with Newton's scientific principle, we can appreciate how universal laws of physics can be observed in various contexts, including mythology and folklore.

Please note that the Ramayana is a mythical narrative, and while the battle between Jatayu and Ravana is described in the epic, the connection with Newton's third law is a modern interpretation to explain the concept in the context of the story.

Example: When Jatayu strikes Ravana with his wings, he exerts a force on Ravana, and in response, Ravana exerts an equal and opposite force on Jatayu.

4. Gravitational Force and the Floating Mountain:

In the Ramayana, there is a remarkable incident where Hanuman, the mighty monkey god, carries an entire mountain called Sanjeevani to revive the injured Lakshmana. This incredible act can be understood in relation to the concept of gravitational force.

Gravitational force is the force of attraction between two objects with mass. It is the force that pulls objects towards each other. On Earth, gravity pulls everything towards the center of the planet. When Hanuman lifted and carried the mountain, he overcame the force of gravity. Gravity tries to pull objects towards the Earth's center, making it difficult to lift heavy objects. However, Hanuman's immense strength and divine abilities allowed him to overcome the pull of gravity and lift the massive Sanjeevani mountain.

In simpler terms, just as we feel the pull of gravity keeping us on the ground, Hanuman defied gravity's pull to lift the mountain and transport it to help Lakshmana. It's important to note that the Ramayana is a mythical narrative, and the feats described in it involve divine and supernatural powers. While the concept of gravitational force as understood in the context of modern physics aligns with the act of Hanuman carrying the mountain, it is important to remember that these interpretations bridge the scientific understanding with the mythology.

Example: Hanuman defying the pull of gravity to lift and carry the Sanjeevani mountain.

Conclusion:

The Ramayana, an ancient epic of great cultural significance, subtly reveals correlations with fundamental principles of physics. Through incidents like Hanuman's leap, the construction of Rama Setu, Jatayu's fight, and Hanuman carrying the Sanjeevani mountain, we find glimpses of Archimedes' principle, Bernoulli's principle, Newton's third law, and the concept of gravitational force. Exploring these connections not only highlights the scientific aspects of the epic but also emphasizes the universal nature of scientific principles embedded in ancient texts.

While it is important to approach such interpretations with caution, the presence of these correlations serves as a testament to the wisdom and intellectual curiosity of our ancestors. Integrating scientific exploration with cultural and mythological narratives allows us to appreciate the interplay between science and heritage, enriching our understanding of both realms.

Citations:

• Valmiki Ramayana (translated by Bala Kanda). (n.d.). Sacred-Texts. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/index.htm
• Valmiki Ramayana (translated by Sundara Kanda). (n.d.). Sacred-Texts. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/index.htm
• Valmiki Ramayana (translated by Aranya Kanda). (n.d.). Sacred-Texts. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/index.htm
• Valmiki Ramayana (translated by Yuddha Kanda). (n.d.). Sacred-Texts. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/index.htm
• "Newton's Third Law of Motion." Physics Classroom, www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-4/Newton-s-Third-Law-of-Motion.
• "Bernoulli's Principle." Physics Classroom, www.physicsclassroom.com/class/fluids/Lesson-2/Bernoullis-Principle.
• Archimedes' principle. (n.d.). In ScienceDaily. Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/terms/archimedes_principle.htm
• The Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kanda (5.12) describes Hanuman's leap across the ocean. 
• The Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda (22.11-12) describes the construction of Rama Setu. 
• The Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kanda (57.27) narrates the confrontation between Jatayu and Ravana.
• The Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda (71.28-29) describes Hanuman's feat of carrying the mountain.
• ramsetu - Bing images
• ramayan and physics - Bing
• ©Dr. Vikram Kumar