The Jantar Mantar is an equinoctial sundial, consisting a gigantic triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the Earth's axis. On either side of the gnomon is a quadrant of a circle, parallel to the plane of the equator. The instrument is intended to measure the time of day, correct to half a second and declination of the Sun and the other heavenly bodies. There are four Jantar Mantar in India, of which the largest is the one in Jaipur, which features 19 architectural astronomical instruments, including the world's largest stone sundial. The monument was damaged in the 19th century. Early restoration work was undertaken under the supervision of Major Arthur Garrett, a keen amateur astronomer, during his appointment as Assistant State Engineer for the Jaipur District.
Located near City Palace and Hawa Mahal of Jaipur, the monument, built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh, and completed in 1738, features masonry, stone and brass instruments that were built using astronomy and instrument design principles of ancient Hindu Sanskrit texts, and with data from Islamic astronomy during the Mughal Empire. It expresses architectural innovations, as well as the coming together of ideas from different religious and social beliefs in 18th century India. The instruments operate in each of the three main classical celestial coordinate systems: the horizon-zenith local system, the equatorial system and the ecliptic system.
About the stamp
The stamp was issued on May 14, 2014, in Commemoration on the Drukpa Lineage of Buddhism.
References
Jantar Mantar (Jaipur) - Wikipedia
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur - UNESCO official website
Sender: Kamran
Sent from ??? (??? / India), on 01.10.2014
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