Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s2.82

v2.c74.s2.82

Now as regards the third type of aṅgula, *i. e.* the Dehalabdha or Dehāṅgula, which was really the principal basis of the various kinds of image-measurements, it may be pointed out as per the commentary of Utpala, commented by Dr. Bannerjea (pp. 317-18) and also translated by him as to how this aṅgula was derived: ‘First, the height of the block of wood or stone out of which the image is to be made, leaving aside that portion of it on which the pedestal is to be shown, should be divided into 12 eqaul parts; when one of the latter is again divided into 9 equal partis, each of these sub-divisions is equivalent to the aṅgula unit, thus the height of an image is 108 aṅgulas; lastly the length and breadth, of the face of the image should be 12 such aṅgulas, *i. e.* the aṅgula of the image itṣef’. Further critical details as initiated by Dr. Bannerjea, may not be taken up here. In regard to this aṅgula, however, one significant remark which need be made is that the different names are given to certain lengths represented by two or more dehāṅgulas upto twenty-seven; a knowledge of which is very helpful in understanding the texts on this topic—vide P. L. pp. 14-15—the Mānagaṇanam, a tabulation of which is given in the appendix ‘A’.