Sawai Jai Singh and his Astronomy

Astronomical Efforts of Sawai Jai Singh
- A Review

| Introduction |

| Astronomical Instruments |

| The Telescope |

| Jai Singh's Assistants |

| Delegation to Europe |

| Zij-i Muhammad Shahi |

| Conclusion |

| Notes |

| References |

Notes

1. By superimposing the shadow of a cross-hair on the penumbra one can achieve accuracies better than ± 6' of arc. However, it is debatable if Jai Singh's astronomers used such a method.

2. The copies consulted by the author were from the following sources:

(1) The British Lib., Ref. 1 (2) Raza Lib. Rampur, No. 1221 (3) Andhra Pradesh State Archives, Hyderabad, Riyazi 300 (4) Sawai Man Singh II Museum, Jaipur (5) Azad Lib. Aligarh

The Raza library copy belongs to the first edition.

3. The commentaries were written by:

(1) Khairallah, See Jaunpuri G.H., (1835). (2) Khan Gori, S.A., (1980)

4. For example: Jai Singh's Brahmin pundits would not go to Europe because of a religious taboo against "crossing the ocean". The Europeans (primarily the Jesuits) has rejected Kepler and Newton because of their theological beliefs. The national rivalries in Europe prompted the Portuguese to keep valuable contacts with a powerful prince of the East all to themselves. Some of these points have been further elaborated by the author in: Sharma, V.N. 1982a, 1982b and 1984.

5. Sharma, V.N. (2006), Astronomical Table of Zīj-i Muhammad Shāhī and Their retation to tabulae astronomica of de La Hire, Indian Journal of History science, 42.1, 175-198.