The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c10.110

c10.110

The main graduations on the quadrants of the Samrāṭ Yantra are suitable,¹ and need not be restored at present, but the graduations on the edges of the gnomon need restoration badly. This necessitates the edges being refaced with marble or some suitable stone. The small dial on top of the pillar, that is at the top of the gnomon, should be removed. It is of no use where it now is and it prevents the pillar, on which it is placed, being used for its legitimate purpose. The sun-dial might be placed somewhere, out of the way, in the grounds. The space round the pillar is hardly sufficient for working purposes, and it would perhaps be as well to reduce the diameter of the pillar, or to place around it a railing for protection. (An examination of the Jaipur gnomon shows that some such arrangement would not be in opposition to Jai Singh’s idea.) The top of the pillar should be graduated, as most probably it was originally, for rough azimuth observations, and should be made perfectly level.