The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c13.38

c13.38

Sir Robert Barker's account of the Benares Observatory was of the nature of a communication to the Royal Society, London. Further information seems to have been asked for, and this was supplied by Mr. J. L. Williams of Benares in A.D. 1792, who recorded very careful measurements and added some interesting details as to the history of the place. He writes: "The area, or space comprising the whole of the buildings and instruments, is called in Hindoo, Maun-mundel; the cells and all the lower part of the area, were built many years ago, of which there remains no chronological account, by the Rajah Mansing, for the repose of holy men, and pilgrims, who came to perform their ablutions in the Ganges, on the bank of which the building stands. On the top of this the observatory was built, by the Rajah Jetsing, for observing the stars, and other heavenly bodies; it was begun in 1794¹ Sambat, and it is said was finished in two years. The Rajah died in 1800² Sambat. The design was drawn by Jaggernaut and executed under the direction of Sadashu Ma Makajin; but the head workman was Mahon, the son of Mahon, a pot maker of Jepoor."