Jantar Mantar, Varanasi

Observatory in Varnasi, India

For other uses, see Jantar Mantar (disambiguation).

Jantar Mantar

Digansh Yantra

Type| Observatory
Location| Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates| 25°18′28″N 83°00′39″E﻿ / ﻿25.307721°N 83.010701°E﻿ / 25.307721; 83.010701
Elevation| 75.6 meters
Founder| Maharaja Jai Singh II
Built| 1737

Location of Jantar Mantar in India

Jantar Mantar is an observatory built in Varanasi in the year 1737 by Maharaja Jai Singh II of kingdom of Amber (later called Jaipur). The observatory is one of the five built by Maharaja Jai Singh II.[1][2]

## History

[edit]

Maharaja Jai Singh II was also an astronomer and had a deep interest in science and astronomy. In the early 18th century, he sent his scholars to several countries to study design, construction and technology of the observatories and also the prevalent technology. The scholars returned with their observations and many manuals on astronomy. Subsequently, between 1724 and 1737, Maharaja Jai Singh II had five observatories constructed in Jaipur, Mathura, New Delhi, Ujjain and in Varanasi.[2] There is another evidence of the observatory being built at least two centuries before 1772. According to the Collected writing of Dharampal,[3] Sir Robert Barker, in 1772, wrote that the observatory was built about 200 years before by Raja Mawnsing, son of Jaysing. He states, "The principal curiosity here is the observatory, built by Mawnsing,the son of Jysing, about 200 years ago; there is an exceedingly good mural arch cut upon a fine plaister of chunam, so fine and smooth, that it has the appearance of marble; and though it is certainly very old, it still is perfect, but the index is wanting; that is a loss which could very easily be supplied by a person who has a taste for these studies; for the centres are left in the wall." It clearly indicates that the observatory was built centuries before the British came to India.

A rather curious point arises here out of this chronology about the dating of the Benares observatory: Barker along with Pearse, and A. Campbell visited the observatory in 1772. If the observatory was actually built in 1737, it was only 35 years old at this date. Both Barker and Pearse specifically state that it had been there for some two centuries. They must have arrived at this statement after meeting and conversing with people who, if the observatory had been constructed only 35 years previously, must have been eyewitnesses to its construction. As there was no controversy in 1772 about the date of the construction of the observatory, it is inconceivable that Barker's informants misled him on this point. The conversion of two centuries into 35 years is the most fabulous aspect of this controversy.

## Purpose

[edit]

Jantar Mantar was constructed with an aim of measuring local time, altitude (of the place) and also to measure declination of Sun, stars and planets and to determine eclipses. Motion, speed and properties of stars and planets were also recorded using several special instruments.[2]

## See also

[edit]

* List of astronomical observatories

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Coordinates". latlong.net. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
\- "Altitude". daftlogic.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
\- "Places Of Interest". Varanasi.nic. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
\- "Jantar Mantar information". visitinvaranasi.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
\- "Jantar Mantar in Varanasi". hoteltravel.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
2. ^ a b c "History". Varanasi.org. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
\- "Jantar Mantar". Varanasi city website. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
\- "About Jantar Mantar". holidayiq.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
3. ^ Collected writing of Dharampal. Vol. 1\. p. 39.

## External links

[edit]

* ASI link: Ticketed Monuments - Uttar Pradesh: Man Singh Observatory, Varanasi

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* t
* e

Indian mathematics

Mathematicians|

| Ancient|

* Apastamba
* Baudhayana
* Katyayana
* Manava
* Pāṇini
* Pingala
* Yajnavalkya

|

Classical|

* Āryabhaṭa I
* Āryabhaṭa II
* Bhāskara I
* Bhāskara II
* Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri
* Brahmadeva
* Brahmagupta
* Govindasvāmi
* Halayudha
* Jyeṣṭhadeva
* Kamalakara
* Mādhava of Saṅgamagrāma
* Mahāvīra
* Mahendra Sūri
* Munishvara
* Narayana
* Parameshvara
* Achyuta Pisharati
* Jagannatha Samrat
* Nilakantha Somayaji
* Śrīpati
* Sridhara
* Gangesha Upadhyaya
* Varāhamihira
* Sankara Variar
* Virasena

Modern|

* Srinivasa Ramanujan
* Satyendra Nath Bose
* P.C. Mahalanobis
* Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
* C.R. Rao
* Veeravalli S. Varadarajan
* S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan
* K. R. Parthasarathy (probabilist)
* M. S. Narasimhan
* C. S. Seshadri
* Harish-Chandra
* Subbayya Sivasankaranarayana Pillai
* Tilak Raj Prabhakar
* Manjul Bhargava
* Akshay Venkatesh
* Ravi Vakil
* Kannan Soundararajan
* Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize recipients in Mathematical Science

Treatises|

* Aryabhatiya
* Bakhshali manuscript
* Bijaganita
* Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta
* Ganita Kaumudi
* Kanakkusaram
* Karanapaddhati
* Līlāvatī
* Lokavibhaga
* Pātīgaṇita
* Paulisa Siddhanta
* Paitamaha Siddhanta
* Romaka Siddhanta
* Sadratnamala
* Siddhānta Shiromani
* Śulba Sūtras
* Surya Siddhanta
* Tantrasamgraha
* Vasishtha Siddhanta
* Veṇvāroha
* Yuktibhāṣā
* Yavanajataka

Pioneering
innovations|

* Brahmi numerals
* Hindu–Arabic numeral system
* Symbol for zero (0)
* Infinite series expansions for the trigonometric functions

Centres|

* Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics
* Jantar Mantar (Jaipur, New Delhi, Ujjain, Varanasi)

Historians of
mathematics|

* Bapudeva Sastri (1821–1900)
* Shankar Balakrishna Dikshit (1853–1898)
* Sudhakara Dvivedi (1855–1910)
* M. Rangacarya (1861–1916)
* P. C. Sengupta (1876–1962)
* B. B. Datta (1888–1958)
* T. Hayashi
* A. A. Krishnaswamy Ayyangar (1892– 1953)
* A. N. Singh (1901–1954)
* C. T. Rajagopal (1903–1978)
* T. A. Saraswati Amma (1918–2000)
* S. N. Sen (1918–1992)
* K. S. Shukla (1918–2007)
* K. V. Sarma (1919–2005)

Translators|

* Walter Eugene Clark
* Henry Thomas Colebrooke
* David Pingree

Other regions|

* Babylon
* China
* Greece
* Islamic mathematics
* Europe

Modern
institutions|

* Indian Statistical Institute
* Bhaskaracharya Pratishthana
* Chennai Mathematical Institute
* Institute of Mathematical Sciences
* Indian Institute of Science
* Harish-Chandra Research Institute
* Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education
* Ramanujan Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics
* TIFR

* v
* t
* e

Indian astronomy

Astronomers|

* Apastamba
* Aryabhata I
* Aryabhata II
* Vainu Bappu
* Bhāskara I
* Bhāskara II
* Baudhayana
* Brahmagupta
* Sandip Chakrabarti
* Radhagobinda Chandra
* Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
* Amil Kumar Das
* P. Devadas
* Gautama Siddha
* M. K. Das Gupta
* Jyesthadeva
* Kamalakara
* Katyayana
* Lagadha
* Lalla
* Madhava of Sangamagrama
* Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis
* Mahavira
* Manava
* Jayant Narlikar
* Parameshvara
* Achyuta Pisharati
* Venkatraman Radhakrishnan
* J. J. Rawal
* Megh Nad Saha
* Jagannatha Samrat
* Bapudeva Sastri
* Jai Singh II of Amber
* Nilakantha Somayaji
* Sripati
* Mahendra Suri
* Govind Swarup
* Utpala
* Varahamihira
* Shankara Variyar
* Vasistha
* Yajnavalkya
* Pathani Samanta

Works|

* Aryabhatiya
* Brahmanas
* Aitareya Brahmana
* Shatapatha Brahmana
* Bṛhat Saṃhitā
* Ganitagannadi
* Jyotirmimamsa
* Shulba Sutras
* Panchangam
* Khandakhadyaka
* Mahādevī
* Makarandasarini
* Siddhantas
* Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta
* Maha-Siddhanta
* Pancha-Siddhantika
* Paulisa Siddhanta
* Paitamaha Siddhanta
* Rājamṛgāṅka (astronomy book)
* Romaka Siddhanta
* Surya Siddhanta
* Vasishtha Siddhanta
* Tantrasangraha
* Treatise on Astrology of the Kaiyuan Era
* Vākyakaraṇa
* Vedanga Jyotisha
* Vedas
* Atharvaveda
* Rigveda
* Yavanajataka
* Zij

Instruments|

* Armillary sphere
* Astrolabe
* Celestial globe
* Compass
* Cross-staff
* Dioptra
* Equatorial ring
* Equatorial sundial
* Globe
* Gnomon
* Mural instrument
* Quadrant
* Sextant
* Sundial
* Triquetrum
* Water clock
* Yantraraja

Concepts|

* Axial tilt
* Azimuth
* Cardinal direction
* Celestial equator
* Celestial sphere
* Celestial spheres
* Center of mass
* Circular orbit
* Deferent and epicycle
* Earth's rotation
* Eccentricity
* Ecliptic
* Elliptic orbit
* Equant
* Geocentrism
* Geoheliocentrism
* Globe
* Gravity
* Heliocentrism
* Hindu units of time
* Jyotiṣa
* Kali ahargaṇa
* Kalpa
* Karana
* Manvantara
* Moonlight
* Nakshatra
* Nityayoga
* Parallax
* Precession
* Ritu
* Spherical Earth
* Sunlight
* Tithi
* Vāra
* Yuga
* Zodiacal sign

Centres|

* Jantar Mantar
* Jaipur
* New Delhi
* Ujjain
* Varanasi
* Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics

Other regions|

* Babylonian astronomy
* Ancient Greek astronomy
* Hellenistic astronomy
* Islamic astronomy
* Chinese astronomy
* European astronomy

Months of the
Vedic calendar|

1. Chaitra
2. Vaisakha
3. Jyeshta
4. Aashaadha
5. Shraavana
6. Bhadrapada
7. Ashvin
8. Kartik
9. Margashirsha
10. Pausha
11. Maagha
12. Phalguna

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Telescopes and Observatories in India

Observatories|

* Allahabad Observatory
* Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences
* Colaba Observatory
* Devasthal Observatory
* Gauribidanur Radio Observatory
* Girawali Observatory
* Gyarah Sidi
* India-based Neutrino Observatory
* Indian Astronomical Observatory
* Indian Initiative in Gravitational-wave Observations
* Indian Institute of Astrophysics
* Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
* Madhava Observatory
* Madras Observatory
* Mount Abu InfraRed Observatory
* National Centre for Radio Astrophysics
* Tara Wali Kothi
* Trivandrum Observatory
* Udaipur Solar Observatory
* Vainu Bappu Observatory

Telescopes|

* 3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope
* Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope
* Jantar Mantar
* Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
* Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
* Jantar Mantar, Varanasi
* Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Experiment Telescope
* National Large Solar Telescope
* Ooty Radio Telescope
* Pachmarhi Telescope Array

* v
* t
* e

Varanasi

History|

Intentionally left blank for sometime

Administrative
division|

| Divisions|

Varanasi division

|

Districts|

Varanasi district

Tehsils|

Pindra, Varanasi

Census towns|

Amara Khaira Chak, Benipur, Bhagawanpur, Birbhanpur, Dindaspur, Gangapur, Harpal Pur, Kakarmatta, Kandwa, Kotwa, Lohta, Maruadih, Phulwaria, Ramnagar, Salarpur, Shivdaspur, Sir Gobardhan, Susuwahi, Suzabad, Umarha, Varanasi, Varanasi cantt.

Villages|

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* e

Villages in Varanasi district

Pindra
Tehsil|

* Adhkatiya Kala Khas
* Aharak
* Ahiran
* Ahirani
* Ajaipur
* Akorha
* Amilo
* Aneai
* Anura
* Araji Hasanpur
* Arazi Tari
* Ashapur
* Ashwari
* Aswalpur
* Auraon
* Ausanpur
* Azoarepur
* Babatpur
* Bachaura
* Badhauna
* Baghaita
* Baharipur
* Barzi
* Basni
* Deorai
* Eshipur
* Gang Khurd
* Janakpatti
* Kathiraon
* Kuri, Varanasi
* Murdi
* Padari
* Phoolpur
* Tisaura

Varanasi
Tehsil|

* Adampur
* Aily
* Aitha
* Akhari
* Amaut
* Amawar
* Anantpur
* Araji Line
* Babhanpura
* Chadpur
* Dabethuwa
* Jayapur
* Khalispur
* Khanzadipur
* Lamhi
* Mehdiganj
* Rajpur
* Vyaspur

India portal

Languages &
dialects spoken|

Bengali
Bhojpuri
English
Hindi
Hindustani
Urdu

Political
representation|

| MP|

Narendra Modi (Incumbent Prime Minister of India)

|

MLA|

Avadhesh Singh
Anil Rajbhar
Kailash Nath Sonkar
Neelkanth Tiwari
Neel Ratan Singh Patel
Ravindra Jaiswal
Saurabh Srivastava
Surendra Narayan Singh

Constituency|

| Lok Sabha|

Varanasi

|

Vidhan Sabha|

Ajagara
Pindra
Rohaniya
Sevapuri
Shivpur
Varanasi Cantt.
Varanasi North
Varanasi South

Transportation|

| Air|

Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport

|

Rail|

Babatpur
Bhulanpur
Kashi
Manduadih
Varanasi Junction
Varanasi City
Varanasi Metro

Road|

Grand Trunk Road
National Highway 28
National Highway 35
Malviya Bridge

Water|

Varanasi Multi-Modal Terminal

Education|

| Universities|

Banaras Hindu University
IIT (BHU) Varanasi
Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith
Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya

|

Colleges|

Arya Mahila Mahavidyalaya
DAV Post Graduate College
Harish Chandra Postgraduate College
Sri Agrasen Kanya P.G. College
Subhash Chandra Mahavidyalaya
Sunbeam College for Women
Vasant Kanya Mahavidyalaya
Vasanta College for Women

CBSE schools|

Central Hindu Boys School
Central Hindu Girls School
Delhi Public School
KV-BHU

UP board schools|

C.M. Anglo Bengali College

ICSE schools|

St Joseph's Convent School
St. John's School, Varanasi
W. H. Smith Memorial School

Places of
worship|

| Buddhist temples|

Sarnath

|

Churches|

St. Mary's Cathedral

|

Hindu
temples|

| Aghori|

Baba Keenaram Sthal

|

Bharat Mata|

Bharat Mata Mandir

Durga or her avatar|

Durga Mandir
Sankata Devi Mandir

Hanuman|

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

Parvati or her avatar|

Annapurna Devi Mandir
Lalita Gauri Mandir
Vishalakshi Temple

Shiva or his avatar|

Kaal Bhairav Mandir
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir
Nepali Mandir
Shri Vishwanath Mandir
Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir

Others|

Tulsi Manas Mandir

Mosques|

Gyanvapi Mosque
Alamgir Mosque

|

Ravidasis|

Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan

|

Ghats|

Assi Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat
Ganga Mahal Ghat (I)
Lalita Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat
Munshi Ghat
Sant Ravidas Ghat
Scindia Ghat
Tulsi Ghat

Point of interest|

Ashoka Stambh
Bharat Kala Bhavan
Bharat Mata Mandir
Ganges
Ghats
Jantar Mantar
Ramnagar Fort

Hospitals|

Sir Sunderlal Hospital

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* Outer space
* Solar System
* Education
* Science

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