The Genius of Sawai Jai Singh II

Maharaja Jai Singh was an ambitious and a brave monarch. He was a patron of art and architecture. He also led the construction of various monuments. The title of ‘Sawai’ was given to Maharaja Jai Singh by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Initially, Jai Singh had also served in the Mughal army.

Maharaja Jai Singh had one of the most powerful armies of his time, making him a formidable ruler in Northern India. The other Rajas looked up to him not only to seek his protection, but also to promote their interest at the Imperial Court. The guide informed us that the Raja was fond of subjects such as mathematics, architecture, and astronomy. Maharaja Jai Singh decided to move his capital to Jaipur due to scarcity of water in the Amber region.

We learnt that he also served as the commissioner of the Jantar Mantar observatories, which were established at five locations, including Jaipur. Jantar Mantar, an impressive structure built by Raja Jai Singh in Jaipur has the largest stone sundial in the world. Overall, he built five such structures across Northern India. Apart from Jaipur, they are located in the cities of Ujjain, Mathura, Delhi, and Varanasi.

The sundial is an ancient structure through which we can understand the celestial movements. It also helps in making accurate measurements as the sun moves across the sky. Finally, we should not underestimate the genius of our ancestors. They are the reason for our future. Jantar Mantar is one of the monuments which stands as a testimony to the scientific and architectural wisdom of Sawai Jai Singh and our ancestors.

Writen By Ayaana, Aarini, Kaira, Maaira, Mehreet, Nisha, Sarah, Subhavra, Shiva, Samaira, Veda (The Shri Ram School, Aravali, Gurugram).

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