Sawai Jai Singh
and His Times

Education

The Kachavāhā rulers were patrons of learning and paid careful attention to the education of their offspring. They hired competent teachers and sent their sons to study at Varanasi, several hundred kilometers away. Mirzā Raja Jai Singh, the great-grandfather of Jai Singh, sent his two sons there to study at a Sanskrit college. Vişņu Singh, Jai Singh's father, also paid close attention to the education of his sons although he had to be away from his home for extended periods of time. He received progress reports of his sons' education from trusted servants. Jai Singh's early education was similar to that of any other prince of his time. He learned Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian and possibly some Arabic. Along with these languages he also learned mathematics and, of course, the martial arts to prepare him for a Rajput's career in the army.

Jai Singh displayed an interest in mathematics and astronomy at an early age. He had two manuscripts on astronomy copied for him when he was only thirteen. The Sawai Man Singh II Museum of Jaipur still preserves the manuscripts. The Zīj-ī Muhammad Shāhī, an astronomical text which Jai Singh compiled later, reads:

"...Sawai Jai Singh from the first dawning of reason in his mind, and during its progress toward maturity, was entirely devoted to the study of mathematical science (astronomy), and the bent of his mind was constantly directed to the solution of its most difficult problems; by the aid of the supreme artificer he obtained a thorough knowledge of its principles and rules."

Jai Singh's formal education was cut short at the age of eleven when his father died, and he had to take charge of the administration. He ascended the throne of Amber on January 25, 1700. However, he continued his studies along with the discharge of his princely duties and soon acquired mastery over the subjects of astronomy and mathematics.

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