Jantar Mantar Jaipur

Jantar Mantar is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput King Sawai Jai Singh II. The construction if the monument started in 1720 and was completed in 1734. The monument features instruments operating in each of the three main classical celestial coordinate systems, the horizon-zenith local system, the equatorial system, and the ecliptic system. The name jantar is derived from yantra, a Sanskrit word meaning instrument and mantar from mantrana another Sanskrit word which means calculate Jantar Mantar literally means "calculating instrument". Jantar Mantar is a Stone Observatory. Metals Shrink and expands, but Stone wont and is not affected by any season.

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

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Monolithic Nandi Statues in India

Nandi is the sacred bull and the Vahana(vehicle) of Lord Shiva. Nandi statue in seated posture facing the Lord are usually placed at the gateway of the main shrine, so that Nandi's intimate relationship with the Lord was made explicit. According to Hindu mythology, Nandi is the most loyal attendant and gate-keeper of Lord Shiva and it is considered as a symbol of valour, prosperity and blissfulness in Indian culture. Bull's religious significance can be found in artifacts of Indus valley civilization.

The worship of Shiva and Nandi can even be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization time-period. The famous 'Pasupati Seal' depicts a seated figure, which is usually identified as Shiva, and there were many bull-seals found in Mohenjo daro and Harappa, which led to conclusion of the researchers, that Nandi worship has been a long standing tradition for many thousands of years.

Largest Monolithic Nandi in India - Lepakshi Nandi

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