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Jantar Mantar sounds good? When I heard the name of Jantar-Mantar of Delhi for the first time, it sounded very exciting to me. The name sounds like a title of an interesting story, a poem or a novel. But, it was not so. You will know about the history, tour and facts about Jantar Mantar, in this article.
In fact, Jantar Mantar is an astronomical and geographical observatory built in 18th century A.D, by Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II. The name Jantar Mantar has been derived from two Sanskrit words, Jantar meaning instrument and Mantar means formulae based calculation.
Jantar Mantar is amazing with strange architecture dominated in deep terracotta color, in geometric forms, and it has been a center of wonder and attraction from its’ past. It has been a unique site for historians, scholars, architects and artists from India and world over.
Today, the Jantar Mantar (located in center of New Delhi), is visited by tourists, researchers and students from India and abroad. This is a historical monument with huge instruments’ structures of building size.
Historically, the Jantar-Mantar of Delhi was built by Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, (perhaps started in 1721) and completed in 1724 AD. Jai Singh was the ruler of Amber (Jaipur), Kachwaha state under the Indian Mughals. Maharaja Jai Singh was a learned man and he had command over Sanskrit Language, and he was well versed in Persian too. He had great passion in art and science. Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II is credited for translating Euclid’s “Elements of Geometry” into Sanskrit language.
He had high zeal and interest in mathematics, architecture, astrology and astronomy. He had a research bent of mind particularly in astronomy and astrology. Consequently; he built 5 astronomical observatories in five different cities in India, including one in Delhi. He named these observatories as Jantar Mantar.
Jantar Mantar built on open space area with group of different instruments was used to study the movement of stars, moon, Earth, the differences of duration between days and nights and the seasonal change. It was also used to calculate the accurate local time using the huge masonry structure as the instrument like a sundial.
These calculations, data, studies and tables derived from using these instruments at Jantar-Mantar were used to predict even solar and lunar eclipses with high accuracy.
These collected data were also used to make calendar and to predict the auspicious dates for the ceremonies like wedding and to undertake a special journey. Of course, the calculation and study was the job of experts and specialists.
Even, Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II used to visit and make observations and studies at Jantar Mantar of Jaipur. Hence, that was built in a very close proximity to his Palace at Jaipur.
The Jantar Mantar of Delhi contains 13 different astronomical instruments built in an open space in masonry and stones. Out of these, 4 instruments are wonderful and considered as the most important. (1) Ram Yantra, (2) Samrat Yantra, (3) Jai Prakash Yantra and (4) Misra Yantra.
Rama Yantra or Ram Instrument is named after the grandfather of Sawai Jai Singh II, Raja Ram Singh. It is built in two parts in large cylindrical shapes, complementing each other. This is open on top. Each comprises of a circular wall surrounding a central pillar. The wall floor and pillar have scales marked on them. It was used to measure the distance of stars and to observe other celestial bodies to the reference of Earth’s latitude and longitude.
Samrat Yantra (Supreme instrument) is a huge triangular sundial of 70 feet high, 114 feet long, and 10 feet broad, and it is the main structured instrument of Jantar Mantar or observatory.
The sundial placed parallel to the axis of Earth points towards North Pole, indicating seconds, minutes and hour in digits inscribed on the concave plane on either side.
The shadow cast by the wall during sunshine on two concave planes of either side tells us the exact local time in AM and PM respectively. Samrat instrument has stairs to reach on top and to observe from top too.
It is rightly said about a sundial or Samrat Yantra at Jantar Mantar that; “No Sun, No Fun”. In fact, in the absence of sunlight, the sundial loses its usability.
Jai Prakash Yantra (named after Sawai Jai Singh, the founder) is another instrument of attention at observatory. It is in two parts representing the Northern and Southern hemisphere of the Earth in hollow, accessible from the ground surface.
Misra Yantra comprises in a set of five different instruments used to measure the longest and shortest period of days occurring in a year. These five instruments of Misra Yantra (Misr Instrument) are the Samrat, Niyat Chakra, Dhakshinottara Bhitti (north-south horizon), Kark Rasivalaya and the Western Quadrant.
Misra Yantra is considered to be the only instrument in Jantar Mantar complex which was not invented by Jai Singh.
As its name “Misra” appears, it seems that, Misra Yantra was installed by Egyptian astronomers under the guidance of Jai Singh. Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II had a good diplomatic and cultural relation with his contemporary Rulers of Egypt. Exchange of ideas and the visits of dignitaries were common. Egypt was then known as Misr in India.
A visit to Jantar Mantar of New Delhi will be an interesting experience to explore the astrological scientific center of experiments and studies of gone days. This is an important historical monument of New Delhi, India.
Jantar Mantar area is also famous for protests and demonstrations. Some times, protests are organized by civil societies and people to register their grievances against anti people policy of government.
Undoubtedly, Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II had a good relation and he was respected by Indian Mughal Emperors, as he was a learned man with healthy wits. Jai Singh was an assertive and able ruler as well.
This is interesting to note here that in 1699 he was honored with the title of “Sawai” (one and a quarter time’s superior to his colleagues) by Emperor Aurangzeb.
Muhammad Shah, the 13th Mughal Emperor (ruled 1719-1748 AD), the successor of Auranzeb Badshah, bestowed upon him the title of Maharaja Sawai, Raj Rajeshwar and Sarmad-e Rajaha-e Hend (eternal among Indian kings) in 1721 respectively.
It is said, that during a special discussion in the royal court of Delhi, Muhammad Shah expressed his concern over the dearth of astrologers and experts on advising an auspicious date even for the King. The need to modify the traditional calendar to include more details in the same was also a concern of the King.
Jai Singh was also present in the meeting. Hearing this concern of the King, he decided to set-up Jantar Mantar or astronomical observatory at different places for studies and observations. As a result, with the effort and zeal of Jai Singh, and with the co-operation of Muhammad Shah, the five Jantar Mantar came to exist soon in five different cities of India.
The setting up of Jantar Mantar in India played an important role even in daily life of people. The studies and data collected and compiled from Jantar Mantar provided a tool to make advance calendar with more details than the earlier calendars. Generally it was hand written on hand made papers in the form of a small booklet.
The astrology, astronomy and mathematical calculation have a special attention in Indian Subcontinent for a long past. It has been a practice of Indian Kings and people to take advice from a religious expert to find out an auspicious date and time before a journey, a wedding ceremony or entry to a new house.
It is still in practice and the practice of taking advice on auspiciousity of a date, exists even today. However, it is not practiced by all Indians, but most of the people seek an advice for an auspicious date as far as the matter of wedding is concerned.
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