Jantar Mantar, New DelhiMisra YantraMisra Yantra at Jantar MantarTypeObservatoryLocationNew Delhi, IndiaNearest cityNew DelhiCoordinates28°37′38″N 77°12′59″E / 28.6271°N 77.2164°E / 28.6271; 77.2164Elevation723 feet (220 m)FounderMaharaja Jai Singh IIBuilt1724WebsiteOfficial websiteLocation of Jantar Mantar, New Delhi in DelhiShow map of DelhiJantar Mantar, New Delhi (India)Show map of India
Jantar Mantar in New Delhi is an observatory, designed to be used with the naked eye. It is one of five Jantar Mantar in India. "Jantar Mantar" means "instruments for measuring the harmony of the heens".[1] It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments.
The site is one of five built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, from 1723 onwards, revising the calendar and astronomical tables. Jai Singh, born in 1688 into a royal Rajput family that ruled the regional kingdom, was born into an era of education that maintained a keen interest in astronomy. There is a plaque fixed on one of the structures in the Jantar Mantar observatory in New Delhi that was placed there in 1910 mistakenly dating the construction of the complex to the year 1710. Later research, though, suggests 1724 as the actual year of construction. It is 723 feet (220 m) above sea level.
The primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables, and to predict the times and movements of the Sun, Moon and planets. Some of these purposes nowadays would be classified as astronomy.
Completed in 1724, the Delhi Jantar Mantar had decayed considerably by 1857 uprising. The Ram Yantra, the Samrat Yantra, the Jai Prakash Yantra and the Misra Yantra are the distinct instruments of Jantar Mantar. The most famous of these structures, the Jaipur, had also deteriorated by the end of the nineteenth century until in 1901 when Maharaja Ram Singh set out to restore the instrument.[2]
History[edit]Jantar Mantar is located in New Delhi and built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in the year 1724. The maharaja built five observatories during his rule in the 18th century. Among these five, the one in Delhi was the first to be built. The other four observatories are located in Ujjain, Mathura, Varanasi, and Jaipur.
The objective behind the construction of these observatories was to assemble astronomical data and to accurately predict the movement of the planets, Moon, Sun, etc. in the Solar System. It was a one of a kind in its time when it was built. By the year 1867, when India was under the British Raj, the observatory had undergone considerable decay.[3]
Purpose of individual structures[edit]The 4 distinct instruments within the observatory of Jantar Mantar in New Delhi: the Samrat Yantra, the Jayaprakash, Rama Yantra and the Misra Yantra.
Samrat Yantra: The Samrat Yantra, or Supreme Instrument, is a giant triangle that is basically an equal hour sundial. It is 70 feet high, 114 feet long at the base, and 10 feet thick. It has a 128-foot ih-long (39 m) hypotenuse that is parallel to the Earth's axis and points toward the North Pole. On either side of the triangle is a quadrant with graduations indicating hours, minutes, and seconds. At the time of the Samrat Yantra's construction, sundials already existed, but the Samrat Yantra turned the basic hug sundial into a precision tool for measuring declination and other related coordinates of various heenly bodies. The Vrihat Samrat Yantra can calculate the local time at an accuracy of up to two seconds and is considered the world's largest sundial.[1] Jaya Prakash Yantra: The Jaya Prakash consists of hollowed out hemispheres with markings on their conce surfaces. Crosswires were stretched between points on their rim. From inside the Ram, an observer could align the position of a star with various markings or a window's edge. This is one of the most versatile and complex instruments that can give the coordinates of celestial objects in multiple systems- the Azimuthal-altitude system and the Equatorial coordinate system. This allowed for the easy conversation of the popular celestial system.[4] Rama Yantra: Two large cylindrical structures with open top, used to measure the altitude of stars based on the latitude and the longitude on the Earth. Misra Yantra: The Misra Yantra (Literally mixed instrument) is a composition of 5 instruments designed as a tool to determine the shortest and longest days of the year. It could also be used to indicate the exact moment of noon in various cities and locations regardless of their distance from Delhi. The Misra yantra was able to indicate when it was noon in various cities all over the world and was the only structure in the observatory not invented by Jai Singh II. Shasthansa Yantra: Using a pinhole camera mechanism, it has been built within the towers that support the quadrant scales. It is used to measure specific measurements of the Sun such as the zenith distance, declination, and diameter of the Sun.[4] Kapala Yantra: Built on the same principle as the jai Prakash, the instrument is used more as a demonstration to indicate the transformation of one coordinate system to another. Not used for active celestial observation.[4] Rasivalya Yantra: Twelve of these structures were built, each referring to the zodiacal constellations by measuring the latitude and longitude of a celestial object at the very moment the celestial object crosses the meridian.[4] Other observatories[edit]Between 1727 and 1734 Jai Singh II built five similar observatories in west-central India, all known by the name Jantar Mantar. They are located at
Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, and Varanasi.While the purpose of the Jantar Mantar was astronomy and astrology (Jyotish), they are also a major tourist attraction and a significant monument of the history of astronomy.
Gallery[edit] The Jantar Mantar, ca. 1790 by Thomas Daniell Another view by Thomas Daniell The Jantar Mantar in 1858, damaged by fighting during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 Jantar Mantar, New Delhi West tower of Samrat Yantra Centre tower of Samrat Yantra East tower of Samrat Yantra Rama Yantra (north of the two Rama Yantra) Inside view of Rama Yantra 2 of Jantar Mantar Inside view of Rama Yantra of Jantar Mantar closeup Inside view of Rama Yantra of Jantar Mantar details Shastansh Yantra - east side Shastansh Yantra - west side See also[edit] List of astronomical observatories Mantras Rajput architecture Tantra Yantra References[edit] ^ a b GURJAR, ROHIT (10 February 2017). "JAIPUR JANTAR MANTAR :WORLDS LARGEST SUNDIAL". Medium. Retrieved 15 December 2020. ^ "Jantar Mantar". World Monuments Fund. Retrieved 15 December 2020. ^ "Jantar Mantar in Delhi: Information, Facts, History, Timings, Entry Fee". FabHotels Trel Blog. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2021. ^ a b c d "Jaipur's Jantar Mantar: Legacy of an Astronomer-King". livehistoryindia.com. Retrieved 15 December 2020. Introduction www.jantarmantar.org. Awake (2005). Jantar Mantar An Observatory Without Telescopes. Awake,86 (13),18-20. Jantar Mantar British Library Further reading[edit] Comprehensive report on history and instrument design at Jantar Mantar Sharma, Virendra Nath (1995). Sawai Jai Singh and his astronomy. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 81-208-1256-5. Articles on Jantar Mantar External links[edit] Jantar Mantar – The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh II Observations on Jantar Mantar in New Delhi Step Inside Jantar Mantar in New Delhi Archived 11 March 2014 at archive.today Architectural Astronomy Instruments Archived 9 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine (video in English) Jantar Mantar—An Observatory Without Telescopes (in English) जंतर मंतर—बगैर टेलिस्कोप की वेधशाला (in Hindi) Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jantar Mantar (Delhi). vteLandmarks of DelhiBuildingsand structures Agrasen Ki Baoli Barakhamba Hauz Khas Jahaz Mahal Jantar Mantar Kartya Bhan Kashmiri Gate Khirki Mosque Purana Qila Qutb Minar Rashtrapati Bhan Red Fort Sansad Bhan Secretariat Building Tomb of Adham Khan Tomb of Humayun Tomb of Safdar Jang Tughlaqabad Fort Zafar Mahal Religious sites Ahinsa Sthal Akshardham Cathedral Church of the Redemption Chhatarpur Temple Fatehpuri Mosque Gurdwara Bangla Sahib Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib Hanuman Temple ISKCON Temple Jama Masjid Laxminarayan Temple Lotus Temple Nizamuddin Dargah Sacred Heart Cathedral Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir Yogmaya Temple Memorials India Gate National Police Memorial Raj Ghat Shaheedi Park Wall of Truth National War Memorial Streets and plazas Chandni Chowk Connaught Place Dilli Haat Khari Baoli Rajpath Parks and gardens Central Park (Sunder Nursery) Coronation Park Delhi Ridge Garden of Five Senses Lodi Gardens Mehrauli Archaeological Park (Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb, Tomb of Balban) National Zoological Park Topics Hindu temples Museums Neighborhoods Power stations Universities vte National Capital Territory of DelhiTopics Architecture Climate Economy Education Government History Sport Tourism Transport History Timeline Indraprastha Hastinapur Tomaras Chauhan Prithviraj Raso Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent Delhi Sultanate Mamluk dynasty Khalji dynasty Tughlaq dynasty Sayyid dynasty Lodi dynasty Sher Shah Suri Mughal Empire Old Delhi Maratha Empire British East India Company Bahadur Shah Zafar Indian Rebellion of 1857 British Raj Viceroy of India Indian independence movement Partition of India New Delhi Governmentand administration Legislatures Government of India Parliament of India Government of Delhi Delhi Legislative Assembly Delhi Cantonment Board New Delhi Municipal Council Municipal Corporation of Delhi Heads Prime Minister of India President of India Chief Minister of Delhi Lieutenant Governor of Delhi President of Delhi Cantonment Board Chairman of New Delhi Municipal Council Mayors of Municipal Corporations Appellate courts Supreme Court of India Delhi High Court GoI agencies Delhi Police Delhi Development Authority GNCTD agencies Delhi Commission for Women Delhi Directorate of Education Delhi Fire Service Delhi Jal Board Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Delhi Transport Corporation Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board Delhi Vidyut Board Autonomous bodies Delhi State Election Commission Places of interestGovernment buildings Bharat Mandapam Parliament House Old Parliament House Rail Bhawan Rashtrapati Bhan Secretariat Building State Trading Corporation building Historic sites Agrasen Ki Baoli Ashokan Edicts Bara Gumbad Barakhamba Central Park (Sunder Nursery) Chausath Khamba Chor Minar Coronation Park Feroz Shah Kotla Gates of Delhi Hauz-i-Shamsi Hauz Khas Complex Hijron Ka Khanqah Humayun's Tomb Jahanpanah Jahaz Mahal Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb Jantar Mantar Khirki Mosque Lotus Temple Mehrauli Metcalfe House Moth ki Masjid Purana Qila Qila Rai Pithora Qutb Minar complex Red Fort Salimgarh Fort Shish Gumbad Siri Fort Sultan Ghari Teen Murti Bhan Tomb of Isa Khan Tomb of Safdar Jang Tughlaqabad Fort Memorialsand museums Amar Jawan Jyoti Indian Air Force Museum India Gate National Museum National Museum of Natural History National Police Memorial National Rail Museum National War Memorial Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society Raj Ghat Rashtrapati Bhan Museum Shaheedi Park Wall of Truth Neighbourhoods Chanakyapuri Civil Lines Hauz Khas Karol Bagh Lajpat Nagar Religious sites Ahinsa Sthal Akshardham Chhatarpur Temple Fatehpuri Mosque Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib Hanuman Temple ISKCON Temple Jama Masjid Kalkaji Mandir Laxminarayan Temple Lotus Temple Nizamuddin Dargah Sacred Heart Cathedral Shri Atma Vallabh Jain Smarak Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir Viceroy Church Yogmaya Temple Streets and plazas Chandni Chowk Connaught Place Dilli Haat G. 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