 Jantar Mantar literally means magic, and that it is. This small collection of observatories and astronomical equipment simply mesmerizes the visitors with their bounding architecture and precision. The fact that it was built more than 250 years ago makes the whole idea even more fascinating. Jantar Mantar, like a majestic old king lazes gracefully right in the heart of Delhi's bustling business center, Connaught Place.
History
The Rajput king Maharaja Jai Singh (II) of Jaipur built five astronomical observatories, one each at Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura during 1724-1730 AD. Jantar Mantar is one of these five observatories. Jai Singh was fanatically in love with arts and sciences especially astrology. This is reflected in the legendary Jantar Mantar. But how did it come to Jai Singh's mind to build observatories? Well, the answer is simple as a folklore. Once a Hindu and a Muslim astrologer were busy fighting over the position of some poor planet or celestial body. It was important for the emperor to know the auspicious hour before setting out for an expedition. Jai Singh offered to set the astronomical tables right and thus came up Jantar Mantar. The moments of sun, moon and planets can be calculated with precision using its gigantic astrological equipments.
Jantar Mantar began as Jai Singh's experiments on brass to build astrological instruments. However, the first attempt failed, since the brass instruments were too small and inaccurate. Their center got displaced quite often leading to unstable axes. Then the genius of an Arab Astrologer's idea struck him. He embraced the architectural style of the famous fifteenth century observatory at Samarkand, Uzbekistan, built by Prince Ulugh Beg. The giant masonry astrological instruments were more accurate. Jai Singh sent a mission to the king of Lisbon. In return he got the court astrologer Xavier De Silva and a telescope. Finally, an observatory was established at Delhi. This was followed by a series of four smaller observatories at Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura. Though these observatories are not in use anymore but the sheer genius of the place still lives.
More About Jantar Mantar
The original name of Jantar Mantar is Yantra Mantra. 'Yantra' stands for instrument and 'Mantra' for formulae. Jantar Mantar is fundmentally a collection of four main astrological instruments. The Samrat yantra or the 'Prince of dials' is the largest and the most impressive structure. It is an equal hour dial that can calculate time correct to half a second. It is a 27m high arm set at an angle of 27 degrees. Ram Yantra is used for reading altitudinal angles. It determines the position of the sun and also those of moon, planets and stars. The Jai Prakash gives local time, the sun's declination and the zodical sign or group of the stars on the meridian. Misra Yantra is a combination of four scientific gadgets. The pillars of Misra Yantra can be used to determine the longest and the shortest days of the year. There are several other yantras that can be used for studying heavenly bodies, plotting their course and predicting eclipses.
Though the observatory has sadly fallen out of use yet it holds the glorious past of Indian scientific development that took place in the darkest hour of Indian history.
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