Know Facts History of India’s Mughal Supercomputer Astrolabe
Know Facts History of India’s Mughal Supercomputer Astrolabe
Facts Details know about mughal indian super computer astrolabe
This 17th-century brass astrolabe is a rare, monumental Mughal scientific instrument dated Rabi' al-Awwal 1021 AH (May 1612 CE).
It is widely described as possibly the largest surviving example of its kind and is often called a “hand-held astronomical supercomputer” due to its complexity and multifunctional design.
It is currently the centerpiece of Sotheby’s “Arts of the Islamic World and India” sale in London on 29 April 2026, with an estimate of £1.5–2.5 million.
Astrolabes are metallic disks with multi-layered, interlocking components that were historically used to tell the time, map the stars, the direction of Mecca and the motion of the sky.
"They are essentially a two-dimensional projection of a three-dimensional universe.
I compare them to modern-day smartphones because you can do so many things with them," says Dr Federica Gigante of the Oxford Centre for History of Science, Medicine and Technology.
"You can calculate the time of sunset, sunrise, the height of a building, the depth of a well, distance and even use them to predict the future. Along with an almanac they were once used to cast horoscopes."
It weighs 8.2kg, measures nearly 30cm in diameter and stands about 46cm tall - almost four times the size of a typical astrolabe from 17th Century India
Makers and the Lahore School of Astrolabe-MakingIt was made in Lahore (then the Mughal Empire’s key center for scientific instruments) by two brothers from the celebrated Lahore family of astrolabists:Qaim Muhammad (also spelled Qa’im Muhammad) and Muhammad Muqim, sons of Mulla (or Hafiz) ‘Isa.
Their grandfather was Sheikh Allahdad (Ilahdad), the patriarch who served as astrolabe-maker to Emperor Humayun and founded the family workshop in the mid-16th century.
The family dominated Mughal instrument-making across four generations.
Muhammad Muqim was especially prolific (37 documented astrolabes between 1609 and 1659), while Qaim Muhammad’s known works date from 1609 to 1637.
This astrolabe is a collaborative piece by the brothers, showcasing the family’s mastery of precision engraving, stereographic projection, and innovative casting techniques (they pioneered lost-wax methods for related instruments like celestial globes).
Lahore in the early 17th century was the epicenter of this craft, with instruments passed down and refined within the family.
Why handheld super computer astrolabe Was Made ?
It was commissioned by Aqa Afzal (also known as Afzal Khan), a powerful Mughal nobleman and courtier of Emperor Jahangir (r. 1605–1627).
At the time, Afzal Khan oversaw the administration of Lahore, a major political and cultural hub.
The astrolabe was conceived as a prestige object “befitting a man of his considerable standing” a luxurious status symbol blending cutting-edge science, artistry, and imperial patronage.
It was not a mass-produced tool but a bespoke masterpiece for an elite patron, reflecting the Mughal court’s deep interest in astronomy, mathematics, and the synthesis of Persian-Islamic and Indian scientific traditions.
What what the use of handheld super computer astrolabe ?
An astrolabe is a sophisticated analog computer for solving problems in spherical astronomy without modern electronics.
This one is exceptionally elaborate:
Core functions —
Tell time during day or night (using the sun or stars);
measure altitudes of celestial bodies;
calculate the position of the sun, moon, and stars;
determine the direction of Mecca (qibla) for prayer;
solve navigation and surveying problems;
and find rising/setting times or prayer hours.
Key features —
A mater (base disk) with a high lobed kursi (throne) and shackle for suspension; a rete (openwork star map) with 38 star pointers connected by floral tracery, inscribed with Persian names and Sanskrit (Devanagari)
equivalents—highlighting Indo-Islamic scientific collaboration;
5 precision latitude plates (including for Mecca, Bijapur, Ajmer, Kashmir, and Lahore);
a geographical index engraved inside the mater listing 94 cities with their longitudes and latitudes;
degree divisions accurate to one-third of a degree; a solar quadrant and shadow squares on the reverse; and an alidade (sighting rule) with pin and horse.
It is described in its own inscription as an asturlab-e tam (“complete astrolabe”) because its plates include a full set of 90 altitude circles.
From a single brass disk (29.5 cm diameter, weighing 8.2 kg), a skilled user could perform dozens of astronomical calculations on the spot—hence the “hand-held supercomputer” label.
It was portable for travel, court use, or scholarly work.
History Timeline of handheld super computer astrolabe
1612 -
Made in Lahore for Aqa Afzal under Jahangir.
17th early 20th century -
Exact path is not fully documented in public records, but it remained in elite Indian collections.
The Lahore school’s instruments circulated among Mughal nobles, scholars, and later regional courts.
Jaipur’s Kachwaha rulers had longstanding Mughal ties (they served as high-ranking mansabdars), which likely facilitated its acquisition possibly as a gift, purchase, or inheritance from Mughal-era collections.
Mid-20th century onward -
Entered the royal collection of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur (1912–1970), one of the last ruling princes of India and a noted collector of art and scientific instruments.
1970 -
Passed by descent to his third wife, Maharani Gayatri Devi (1919–2009), the glamorous Rajmata of Jaipur. It was part of the Jaipur royal family’s private holdings.
During or shortly after Gayatri Devi’s lifetime Transferred to a private collection in London (some reports note this occurred during her lifetime; Sotheby’s provenance lists it after her ownership).
2026 -
Consigned to Sotheby’s London for auction on 29 April.
It has never been exhibited publicly before and is appearing on the market for the first time in modern history.
The private London owner is selling it through the auction house.
How It Reached the UK
The astrolabe left India through private channels rather than colonial looting or museum transfer.
After belonging to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and then Maharani Gayatri Devi, it entered a private London collection (likely via a private sale or bequest around or after her death in 2009).
It has remained in that UK private collection ever since and is now being offered at Sotheby’s in London.
There is no record of it being acquired by a British museum or institution earlier; its presence in the UK today is due to modern private ownership and the decision to auction it there.
This astrolabe stands out for its size, bilingual inscriptions (Persian + Sanskrit), comprehensive geographical data, and direct link to both Mughal court patronage and 20th-century Indian royalty.
It embodies the golden age of Indo-Islamic astronomy while carrying a remarkable provenance through Jaipur’s royal family to the present day.
According to Sotheby's, the piece contains 94 cities inscribed within it, each marked with their respective longitudes and latitudes, along with 38 star pointers linked by intricate floral tracery. It also features five precision-calibrated plates and degree divisions "so fine they are subdivided down to a third of a degree".
This level of detail reflects the extraordinary craftsmanship of the Lahore School
Photo of Astrolabe -
Reality views by sm -
