The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c17.13

c17.13

Jai Singh's apparent indifference to European achievements is rather remarkable; but, it must be borne in mind that, he, very probably, only became acquainted with their results after he had conceived, and partially carried out, his scheme of astronomical research. His tables, it is supposed, were completed about A.D. 1728, and the observatory at Delhi had been built a few years previously. It was in 1728 or 1729 that Jai Singh sent Padre Manuel and others to Europe, and in 1734 he was visited by Father Boudier and his companion. These dates might be considered sufficient to account for Jai Singh's neglect of the European discoveries, but there is possibly another explanation.