The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c6.1

c6.1

8. Jai Singh himself tells us that he first constructed ‘according to Mussulman books’ instruments of brass such as Zāt al-Ḥalqa, Zāt al-Sho’batain, etc., and at Jaipur I found a unique collection of such instruments, including Arabic and Persian astrolabes, dating from the time of Shāh Jahān. These instruments play a very important part in Jai Singh’s work; to appreciate which a proper understanding of them is essential. Enquiries in other parts of India resulted in the discovery of an excellent astrolabe in the Indian Museum, Calcutta; and one of rather inferior workmanship at Lahore. Tod tells us¹ of a dial “on the terrace of the palace of Oodipoor, and various instruments at Kotah² and Boondi, especially an armillary sphere, at the former, of about five feet in diameter, all in brass, got up under the scholars of Jey Singh.” At the Lahore Exhibition of 1864 certain brass astronomical instruments from Kapūrthala and other places were shown: these included “two fine astrolabes,” one spherical and one plane, and several dials.