Matsya Purana 255.7

255.7

tribhāgeneha sarvatra caturbhāgena vā punaḥ.
hīnaṃ hīnaṃ caturthāṃśāt tathā sarvāsu bhūmiṣu .. 255.6

These five pillars are mahâ stambas (huge pillars) and are auspicious for all the buildings. Paintings and beautiful carvings should be made in all these pillars Lotuses, creepers leaves, earthen pots and jars, are to be nicely carved Divide all the pillars into nine parts and the lowest one for carving should be made the base of the pillar Above it in one part should be made ghata and in the other one lotus. Then in the other part beautiful carvings should be made and the rest of the parts should be left in a clean polished square The weighing balance (sutâ) is also to be carved equal to dimension of the pillar, 1/3 or 1/4 of that can also be done, and then it is called upatula—4-6