Manasara Series (I. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture; II. Indian Architecture according to Manasara-Shilpashastra; III. Manasara on Architecture and Sculpture: Sanskrit Text; IV. Architecture of Manasara: Translation; V. Architecture of Manasara: Illustrations; VI. Hindu Architecture in India and Abroad; VII. An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture) v2.c15.s1.8

v2.c15.s1.8

The aṅgula (finger breadth) and the hasta (cubit) (5?, 7) measures are in fact of the same class. The finger breadth, equivalent to ¾ inch, is perhaps the earliest unit of measurement invented by human brain. Though not liable to being lost in the course of time, it has its own defects, namely, the finger of two persons is hardly of equal breadth, and the finger of a person is liable to change owing to various natural causes. Apparently with a view to avoiding these defects finger-breadth is ascertained by the measures of certain other objects, atom, car-dust, hair-end, nit, louse, and barley-corn.¹ The largest size of finger breadth is stated to be equal to eight barley corns, the intermediate seven barley corns, and the smallest six barley corns. Again, for the same purpose, this standard measure is divided into three kinds—mānāṅgula, mātrāṅgula, and dehalabdhāṅgula. Of these, mānāṅgula, which is equal to eight barley corns, is meant to be the unit proper. Mātrāṅgula is the measure taken by the middle finger of the master who makes an image (or a building), dehalabdhāṅgula is the measure equal to one of the equal parts into which the whole height of a statue is divided for sculptural measurement.²