"Jantar Mantar" is derived from the Sanskrit Yantrasala, literally, storehouse of machines; its scattered futuristic structures are an assemblage of complex astronomical instruments designed and constructed by Sawai Jai Singh in his pursuit of unravelling the mysteries of the universe.
Sawai Jai Singh was interested in astronomy and astrology from his early years. After studying all the available contemporary works in Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian with his preceptor, the renowned scholar Pandit Jagannath Samrat, he became interested in instrumentation. Noticing the defects in the brass astrolabes, sextants and sundials collected by him, he decided to design his own instruments based on his personal observations. The metal instruments made by him were too heavy and had limited application; the resourceful Jai Singh went on to design and construct gigantic instruments of stone and masonry to help him in his task of revising the planetary tables. He declared later in the preface of his comprehensive work, the Zij Jadid Muhammad Shahi, that as no one had paid attention to this since Ulugh Beg, the Timurid ruler of Samarkand and astronomer, he, would undertake this task. Accordingly, five observatories were constructed in Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Varanasi and Ujjain. The Jaipur observatory is the largest among these and almost intact. All the 13 instruments designed by him as well as three large metal ones are still to be seen here. Instruments of note in the Jaipur observatory are: Nari Valaya Yantra: This is an instrument which can determine local time, ante and post meridian. It is a hemispherical sundial which consists of two cylinders with a diameter of 3 m (10 ft), and an axis parallel to the earth's and in the meridian. Samrat Yantra: This is an equinoctial sundial of gigantic proportions (the largest in the world) designed to measure local time, meridian pass time, zenith distance, and the declination and altitude of the celestial spheres with greater precision. It consists of a 27-m (90-ft) high wall topped with a domed chatri in the shape of a triangle, the 44-m (146-ft) long hypotenuse of which is the gnomon pointing towards the north pole at an angle of 27°, equivalent to the altitude of Jaipur. This is flanked by two quadrants of 15-m (50-ft) radius with graduations in hours, minutes and seconds where the shadow of the gnomon travels about 4 m (13 ft) an hour. Also Visit - Golden Triangle Tour Packages Rashi Valaya Yantra: This is a group of 12 instruments which appear to be smaller versions of the Samrat Yantra. They represent the 12 zodiac signs. Though they are not of much use in serious astronomical research, traditional astrologers and almanac-makers find them serviceable. Jai Prakash Yantra: This is a multi-purpose instrument invented by Sawai Jai Singh, an armillary sphere, consist-ing of two marble bowls sunk into a rectangular sandstone platform. The concave hemispheres represent the celestial sphere. The rim of the bowls represent the horizon which is graduated in 360°. It displays the relationship between the local and the equatorial system of coordinates. Ram Yantra: Consisting of two complementary cylindrical structures of huge proportions found at the western end of the observatory, this is used to calculate the azimuth and altitude of celestial objects at any time of day or night. Digansha Yantra: This is a huge compass of unique design consisting of three concentric constructions round a pillar-like structure in the centre. It is used for calculation of azimuth of the sun and other celestial bodies. Amongst the metal instruments designed and made by Sawai Jai Singh two are of great significance, the Kranti Valaya Yantra and the Yantra Raj. The former is a combination of two graduated frames, one resting on a masonry base inclined to the plane of the equator by 23° and another rotating frame inclined to the ecliptic. The Yantra Raj is the most ambitious of Jai Singh's metal instruments. It is a huge astrolabe marked with the stereographic projection of the heavens upon its surface. This is the largest astrolabe in the world. For more information on things to do in Jantar Mantar Jaipur contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India.
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AuthorSwan Tours one of the leading travel agnets in India Archives
January 2018
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