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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) v6.c41.s2: The Measurements

Mānasāra Series (I. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture; II. Indian Architecture according to Mānasāra-Śilpaśāstra; III. Mānasāra on Architecture and Sculpture: Sanskrit Text; IV. Architecture of Mānasāra: Translation; V. Architecture of Mānasāra: Illustrations; VI. Hindu Architecture in India and Abroad; VII. An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture) v6.c41.s2

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English

The Measurements

v6.c41.s2.1

(A) The linear measurement is divided into six kinds¹ :
(1) *Māna*, (2) *Pramāṇa*, (3) *Parimāṇa*, (4) *Lamba-māna*, (5) *Unmāna*, and (6) *Upamāna* (*M.*, LV, 3–9).

v6.c41.s2.2

¹ Measurement from the foot to the top of the head is called *Māna* (which is nothing but height); *Pramāṇa* is the measurement of breadth; *Parimāṇa* is the measurement of width or circumference (*paritaḥ*); *Lamba-māna* is the measurement by the plumb-lines or the lines drawn perpendicularly through different parts of the body, the *māna* or the measurement of height being taken by the surface of the body; *Unmāna* is the measurement of thickness (*nimna*) or diameter; *Upamāna* is the measurement of interspace (*antara*), such as that between the two feet of an image. *Parimāṇa*, *unmāna*, and *māna* are also mentioned in the *Śukra-nīti* (I, 310), but their meanings are not quite clear.

v6.c41.s2.3

References to these measurements are met with, also, in non-architectural treatises, like the *Matsya-Purāṇa* (Chapter CCLVIII, verse 16) the *Suprobhedāgama* (*Paṭala* XXXIV, verse, 35), as well as in the *Bimbamāna* (British Museum, MSS. 658, 5292, verse 9).

v6.c41.s2.4

(B) The primary measurement (*ādimāna*) refers to comparative measurements and is divided into nine kinds.

v6.c41.s2.5

The height of an image is determined by comparing it with the
(1) breadth of the main temple,
(2) height of the adytum,
(3) length of the door,
(4) measurement of the basement,
(5) cubit,
(6) *tāla*,
(7) *aṅgula*,
(8) height of the worshipper, and
(9) height of the riding animal (*M.*, LV, 10–15).

v6.c41.s2.6

Each of the measurements is again divided into nine kinds (*M.*, LV, 22).

v6.c41.s2.7

Under (1), (2), (3), and (4), the proportions naturally vary on various occasions, but the general methods are similar in these treatises; compare for instances the *Suprabhedāgama* (XXXI, vv. –15).

v6.c41.s2.8

The *aṅgula* (finger-breadth) and the *hasta* (cubit), (7) and (5), measures are in fact of the same class. The finger-breadth, equivalent to 3/4 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 8 barley corns, the intermediate 7 barley corns, and the smallest 6 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 8 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 statute is divided for sculptural measurements.²

v6.c41.s2.9

¹ 8 atoms = 1 car-dust. 8 car-dusts = 1 hair-end. 8 hair-ends = 1 nit. 8 nits = 1 louse. 8 lice = 1 barley corn. 8 barley corns = 1 *aṅgula*.

v6.c41.s2.10

² For further details, *see* the writer's *Encyclopaedia* under *Aṅgula*.

v6.c41.s2.11

This *aṅgula* measure is practically the same in almost all the Indian works bearing upon measurement, for instance :
(1) *Mānasāra* (II, 40-45, 46-47, 48-52, 53-64, LXIV, 19-53, etc.).
(2) *Bṛihat-saṁhitā* (LVIII, 1-2).
(3) *Siddhānta-śiromaṇi*, ed. Bāpūdeva (p. 52).
(4) *Rāja-vallabha-Maṇḍana*, ed. Bhārati (Introduction).
(5) *Brahmāṇḍa-Purāṇa* (Part I, section 2, Chapter VII).
(6) *Matsya-Purāṇa* (Chapter CCLVIII, verses 17-18).
(7) *Vāstu-vidyā*, ed. Gaṇapati Sāstri (I, 3-5f).
(8) *Bimbamāna* (British Museum, MS. no. 558, 5292, verse 9f).
(9) *Suprabhedāgama* (XX, 1-9, 10-16, 20-26, etc.).
(10) *Kauṭilīya-Artha-śāstra*, ed. Shama Sastri (p. 106). Compare also :
(11) *Manu-saṁhitā* (VIII, 271).
(12) *Rāmāyaṇa* (VI, 20, 22).
(13) *Śata-patha-Brāhmaṇa* (X, 2, 13, III, 5, 4, 5).
(14) *Aitareya-Brāhmaṇa* (VIII, 5).

v6.c41.s2.12

(15) *Chhāndogya-Upanishad* (V, 18, 1, etc).
(16) *Śulva-Sūtra of Baudhāyana* (*J. R. A. S.*, 1912, pp. 231–233, notes 1, 2).

v6.c41.s2.13

The *tāla-māna* (under 6) is a sculptural measure. The length of face is taken as the unit of measurement.¹ But it seems more convenient to have the particular span, namely, the distance between the tips of the fully stretched thumb and middle finger, which is technically called *tāla*, as the unit.² It admits of many varieties : ten-*tāla* measures are mentioned in the *Mānasāra*,³ while the *Bimbamāna* has reference to twelve kinds.⁴ Each of these ten or twelve varieties is again divided into three types, namely, *uttama* or large, *madhyama* or intermediate, and *adhama* or small. Thus an image is of the ten-(*daśa*) *tāla* measure when its whole length is ten times the face. In the large type of the ten-*tāla* system, however, the whole length is divided into 124 equal parts, which are proportionately distributed over the different parts of the body ; in the intermediate type the whole length is divided into 120 equal parts ; and in the small type into 116 equal parts. In the nine-(*nava*) *tāla* system, the whole length would be nine times the face, in the eight-(*ashṭa*)-*tāla*, eight times, and so forth.

v6.c41.s2.14

¹ *Matsya-Purāṇa*, Chap. CCLVIII, verse 19 : *Mukhamānena kartavyā sarvāvayava-kalpanā.*

v6.c41.s2.15

² *Aṁśumadbheda* of Kāśyapa, fol. 251. (MS. Egg., 3148, 3012).

v6.c41.s2.16

³ One to ten *tāla* (*M.*, LX, 6–35, etc.).

v6.c41.s2.17

⁴ One to twelve *tāla* (Appendix).

v6.c41.s2.18

The principle of the *tāla* measure is fundamentally the same in all the works dealing with the subject, although certain differences in matters of details are noticed, compare for instance :
(1) *Mānasāra* (LX, 6–35 ; LVII, LIX, 14–64 ; 67–100 ; LXVI, 2–78 ; LXV, 2–179).
(2) *Bimbamāna* (verses 17–72, 91–138, and Appendix X).
(3) *Suprabhedāgama* (XXXIV, 30–34 ; XXX, 31–40).
(4) *Brihat-saṁhitā* (LVIII, 4).
(5) *Aṁśumadbheda* of Kāśyapa (fol. 251, Eg. 3148, 3012).
(6) *Bramhāṇḍa-Purāṇa* (Part I, *Anushanga-pāda*, VII, 97).
(7) *Matsya-Purāṇa* (Chapter CCLVIII, verse 19).

v6.c41.s2.19

The details of the *tāla* measures from the following authorities are given by Mr. Rao⁵ :
(8) *Śilpa-ratna*.

v6.c41.s2.20

⁵ *Elements of Hindu Iconography*, by T. A. Gopīnāth Rāo, Appendix B, pp. 9–28.

v6.c41.s2.21

(9) *Aṁśumad-bhedāgama*.
(10) *Kā(?ki)raṇāgama*.
(11) *Vaikhānasāgama*.
(12) *Kāmikāgama*.

v6.c41.s2.22

Another exclusively sculptural measure is that mentioned under (8), (9), namely, the height of an image as compared with the height of the worshipper (*yajamāna*), and the height of the riding animal (*vāhana*) as compared with the height of the main idol. Each of these admits of nine varieties. The height of an image may be equal to the full height of its worshipper, and may extend up to his hair-limit on the forehead (sometimes it is stated to be the eye-line), nose-tip, chin, arm-limit to the shoulder, breast, heart, navel, and sex organ. The height of the riding animal is in the same manner compared with the height of the main idol.¹

v6.c41.s2.23

¹ *Mānasāra*, LV, 30–33, etc.

v6.c41.s2.24

Corresponding to the above-mentioned sculptural measures there are exclusively architectural measures also.

v6.c41.s2.25

The architectural *gaṇya-māna*,² or the comparative heights of the component members of a structure, correspond to the sculptural *tāla-māna*, or the comparative heights of the component limbs of a statue.

v6.c41.s2.26

² See the writer’s *Encyclopaedia*; and compare the *Mānasāra*, XXVII, 36–40; XXIX, 35–38; XXXIII, 134–145, 216-217, 248; XLV, 86, 97–101; LIII, 29–34; XIII, 36–40, etc.

v6.c41.s2.27

The *ghana-māna*, or the measurement by the exterior, and the *aghana-māna*, or the measurement by the interior of a structure, are also exclusively architectural.³

v6.c41.s2.28

³ See the writer’s *Encyclopaedia*, *sub voce*.

v6.c41.s2.29

In another architectural measure the height of a structure is compared with its breadth. It admits of five proportions, technically called, *Sāntika*, *Paushtika*, *Jayada*, *Sarva-kāmika* or *Dhanada*, and *Adbhuta*, the height being respectively equal to breadth, 1¼, 1½, 1¾, and twice of the breadth.⁴

v6.c41.s2.30

⁴ See the writer’s *Encyclopaedia*, under *Utsedha*. When a large number of absolute measures are prescribed for the one and the same object, the right proportion is selected by the test for the six formulas technically called, *āya*, *vyaya*, *riksha*, *yoni*, *vāra*, and *tithi* or *aṁśa* (see details in the writer's *Encyclopaedia* under *Shaḍ-varga*).

v6.c41.s2.31

These latter items, highly technical and extremely minute in detail, are found in no other treatise under observation than the *Mānasāra*. Thus in respect of at least purely architectural and sculptural measurements the *Mānasāra*, of all these works, should occupy the first place.

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