Indian Fort Displays Jaivana, Called World’s Largest Cannon On Wheels

Jaivana It is not every day that you get an opportunity to visit the world’s largest cannon on wheels. So when the occasion came my way, I fired at it. Jaivana which is the world’s largest cannon on wheels is located in Jaigarh Fort, Rajasthan State, India. The cannon is made using metals that include gold, silver, iron, bronze, nickel, copper and chromium. It was Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II who ordered the casting of this cannon. Jaivana weighs 50 tonnes and its unique feature is that it can be turned in any direction when it is to be fired with the help of two back wheels and rolling pin fixers near them. In a way it is ironic that this weapon of mass destruction is beautifully ornamented. Apart from the floral and leaf design carved on it, one can clearly spot an elephant on the mouth scroll and a pair of ducks at the back. My attention is also drawn to the coloured swastikas on it. These are done every year by the royal family of Jaipur on the festival of Dussehra which normally falls in the month of October. Since it is a festival to mark the victory of good over evil, weapons are worshipped as they are a means of achieving victory by opposing injustice. So far, the cannon has been fired just one. This is probably because Jaigarh Fort was never attacked and hence Jaivana wasn’t required to show its full force to the enemy. The single shot that was fired was for testing and the gunpowder used for it weighed a 100 kilograms. A 50 kilogram iron ball was used and the place where it landed created a depression which is a present day pond. When the cannon was fired the resounding explosion was so intense that the soldiers who helped to load the ball and operate the cannon became deaf. To rectify this, the cannon was fitted with an extremely long fuse. The soldiers would be able to light it and by the time it reached Jaivana, they would be safely tucked inside the lake that was created in front to safeguard them. The barrel of the cannon is 20 feet long and the elevating screw helped to adjust its position. The services of four elephants were utilized to rotate it. Six soldiers helped in coordinating the barrel range making it a combined effort of man-animal. The carriage of this cannon is also in keeping with its worldwide fame and recognition. It weighs 200 tonnes. Jaigarh was cast in 1720 and one of the reasons why the fort was kept a close guarded secret was because of its foundry that produced many cannons including Jaivana. The foundry comprises of the furnace and the drilling complex. Jaigarh Fort is open 365 days of the year except on Dulhandi Holi. The Rs 85 entry ticket for international visitors to the fort includes entry to Jaivana and the cannon-foundry. Text and images- Viney Rao.