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Jantar
Mantar in Jaipur is the one of the most prominent one among the other
five observatories which are founded by Sawai Jai Singh, it is
situated close to the gate of City Palace of Jaipur. Jantar Mantar is
the main stone observatory in the world, it is still in a running
condition.
The
name 'Jantar Mantar' is derived from Sanskrit word 'Yantra Mantra'
which means instruments and formulas. Due to mispronunciation of the
Sanskrit word it was amended to the name Jantar Mantar.
Maharaja
Sawai Jai Singh II who was the Rajput ruler of Amber and the founder
of Jaipur was well educated and an astronomer, who was extremely
interested in the working of the celestial bodies, so he built the
observatory known as Jantar Mantar.
Maharaja Jai Singh II built 5 observatories in central and west part
of India between 1727 to 1734, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the largest
among all of them.
Sawai Jai
Singh II was commissioned by Emperor Muhammad Shah, to make
corrections in the astronomical tables and to verify the data which is
already available on the planetary positions. Sawai Jai Singh II took
7 years to finish the task. He built the first stone observatory in
1724 in Delhi. |
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There
is a very exciting history behind the foundation of the observatory.
Sawai Jai Singh II sent his men to various parts of the world.
The men
came back with guidebooks, data and astronomical tables on the
advances made in the field of astronomy. One of these guidebooks is La
Hire's "Tables". Sawai Jai Singh II wants the observatory to be built
according to the data given in the guidebook. It was revealed after
the foundation of Jantar Mantar, that it was more accurate than the
Table itself.
Regarding
the construction of the Observatory Sawai Jai Singh has 2 options, he
may either use metal instruments or he may use stonework. According
the text of the Islamic school of astronomy, metal instruments used in
the construction did not measure up to Jai Singh's expectations.
So, he
removed them in favor of the instruments of stone and masonry that he
himself designed. In this Observatory one can view the wonderful
stonework. The observatory has the Jaiprakash Yantra, Diganta Yantra,
Large Kranti Yantra, Dhruva Yantra, Ram Yantra, Jai Prakash Yantra,
Chakra Yantra, Raj Yantra, Disha Yantra, Dakshina Yantra, Unnathamsa
Yantra, Samrat Yantra, Ram Yantra and the Composite instrument, which
includes a large hemisphere and a sundial. Jantar Mantar was built not
only to verify astronomical observations made at Jaipur, but also to
arouse interest in astronomy. |
