Pandit Kalyan Dutt Sharma

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Late Pandit Kalyan Dutt Sharma Ji

An Introuction to Late Pandit Kalyan Dutt Sharma

(9 November 1920 – 8 October 2009)

Birth

The authorized scholar of Astrology, pioneer in the construction of observatories, unmatched expert in astronomical mathematics, and renowned astrologer **Mahamahopadhyaya Kalyan Datt Sharma** was born on 9 November 1920 in the simple town of Bandikui in Dausa district of Rajasthan, in the house of Pandit Chhotelal Sharma.

Education

He completed his entire education, from *Praveshika* to *Jyotishacharya*, at Maharaja Sanskrit College, Jaipur. During his student life, he passed the examinations of *Praveshika*, *Upadhyaya*, *Shastri*, and *Jyotishacharya* with first division throughout. During his studies, he received the opportunity to deeply study, contemplate, and research Astrology under great scholars such as Acharya Girija Prasad Dwivedi, Pandit Vindhyanchal Prasad, and the head of the Jaipur astronomical observatory (Jantar Mantar), Pandit Kedarnath Sharma Jyotirvid.

Late Pandit Kalyan Dutt Sharma Ji being honoured by Late President RK Narayanan

Work and Contributions

He got the opportunity to work in a very wide field. Many government, semi-government, and social institutions benefited from his knowledge and services. The details of his work are as follows:

Teaching

From 1945 to 1951, he taught at Maharaja Sanskrit College. After the retirement of Pandit Kedarnath Sharma, he was appointed as the head of the Jaipur Observatory from 1952 to 1975. After retirement, under the *Shastra Chudamani Scheme*, he was appointed in 1982 as an Honoured Acharya (Professor) at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Central Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi, with grants from the UGC, so that students and scholars could benefit from his vast experience and services. In 1991, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Banaras, also appointed him as an Honoured Professor to benefit from his services.

Homage being paid to Late Pandit Kalyan Dutt Sharma Ji
by the staff of Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University,
Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi

Observatory Work

From 1952 to 1975, he worked as the head of the world-famous astronomical observatory Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan.

During this period, he designed and constructed a new combined movable astronomical instrument. Through this single instrument, many tasks that normally required different instruments could be performed together, such as determining altitude, azimuth, local latitude, longitude, sunrise, sunset, length of the day, declination, and other astronomical calculations.

This instrument could also be fixed on the north-south line at any place to determine the local time of that location. In other words, different local times could be known through a single sundial.

During his tenure as chairman, he provided practical knowledge of the subtle workings of astronomical instruments to both Indian and foreign scholars through the observatory.

After retirement, in 1981–82, he went to Vedmata Gayatri Trust, Shantikunj, Haridwar. At the request of its founder, respected Shri Ram Acharya Ji, he supervised the construction of a new observatory in the Shantikunj University campus for the use of astrology students. All the instruments built there worked properly, and many foreign scholars benefited from the observatory under his guidance.

In 1982, he was appointed as Honoured Professor (Shastra Chudamani) at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Central Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi. This honour was given to utilize the experience and services of the country’s finest scholars.

During his three-year tenure there, he arranged for the construction of a new and fully equipped observatory at the Vidyapeeth, since the old Delhi observatory had become unusable for researchers and students. This observatory was inaugurated on 11 January 1999 during the third convocation ceremony of the Sanskrit Vidyapeeth by the then Human Resource Development Minister, Professor Murli Manohar Joshi.

In 1992, while serving as Honoured Professor, he also supervised the construction of the *Mahamahopadhyaya Sudhakar Dwivedi Observatory* in the campus of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Banaras, at the request of the then Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vidyanivas Mishra.

For fulfilling the objectives of astronomical science and for providing special knowledge of *Ayanansh* and declination, Lucknow University also sought his guidance in constructing an observatory.

Using his expertise in observatory construction and utility, he also supervised the construction of a modern observatory on the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama.

Since Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar was not available at night for astronomical calculations and study of constellations, he used his retirement funds and other savings in 1989 to construct a modern observatory near the Sun Temple in Galta Valley, Jaipur city. This observatory included instruments such as the Dhruva Yantra, Nadi Valaya Yantra, Bhitti Yantra, Shashthansh Yantra, Cancer and Capricorn instruments, Valaya Yantra, Samrat Yantra, and a sundial.

Publications

While serving as head of Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (1952–1975), he edited a Hindi guidebook explaining the construction and use of the observatory instruments. Under his guidance, Shri Prahlad Singh translated this work into English, and it was published for the promotion of India’s ancient scientific and astronomical knowledge in India and abroad.

While serving as Honoured Professor at Lal Bahadur Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, the *Vidyapeeth Panchang* has been continuously published under his guidance since 1982.

In 1985, under his guidance, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit Vidyapeeth published an introductory booklet on the observatory.

In 1992, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Banaras, published an introductory booklet on the *Mahamahopadhyaya Sudhakar Dwivedi Observatory* under his guidance. Later, in 1998, the university also published this booklet in both Hindi and English.

In 1999, the university published *Sodaharan Suryagrahan Ganitam* under his guidance. This work included calculations and coordination of solar eclipses for different latitudes and cities from 1987 to 2028.

Pandit Kalyan Dutt Sharma