Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory in Jaipur, India, constructed in the early 18th century. It is one of five such observatories established by the Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur (1688-1743 AD).
The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur consists of a complex of large instruments that resemble abstract architectural sculptures. These devices were constructed for accurately measuring time and tracking the movements of the sun, moon, and planets.
The Samrat Yantra is the largest instrument, measuring 90 feet high. It is aligned with the latitude of Jaipur and its shadow follows the position of the sun to tell the time of day like a gigantic sundial.
These paintings of the Samrat Yantra celebrate this beautiful apparatus that captured my fascination while travelling in India. Because the Jantar Mantar defines the position of the observer in relation to his or her place in the universe, it reminds us not only of the achievements of science and construction, but of the intimacy we ultimately share in this world.