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) v7.c47.4009

v7.c47.4009

(1) *See Bimbamāna* (vv. 73–91, 92–122, 123–138) under TĀLAMĀNA.
(2) *Mānasāra* (Chap. LXVII, named PRALAMBA): The instrument by means of which the plumb-lines are drawn is called pralamba-phalakā. This is a square plank of four, three, two or one aṅgula in thickness with the sides equal to three-fourths or half of the length of the image (line 6). Another plank of the same size is made and used as the stool on which the image is placed. The other plank (pralamba-phalakā) is fixed to the crown of the head of the image. The planks are kept level to each other. Some holes are made in the upper plank of the pralamba-phalakā wherefrom are suspended some strings at the other end of which are attached small balls made of iron or stone (lines 7–16). The number of holes and the strings suspended through the planks, by which the plumb-lines are determined, varies from five to eleven, according to the different postures and poses of the image. The five principal plumb-lines consist of one drawn from the centre of the upper plank corresponding to the crown of the head, and four on the four sides of the body (line 19). Two other lines drawn adjoining the right and left sides of the face make the number seven (line 20). Another two lines drawn on the right and left sides of the back of the head make the number nine (line 22); and two lines drawn from the two armpits make the total of lines eleven (line 28).