Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s2.86

v2.c74.s2.86

Now with this introduction to the angular-measure, let us come to the Tāla-measure, the more popular measure in the Āgamas and other Dravidian texts, like Mānasāra, Sakalādhikāra, Amśumadbheda, etc. But before we do so, it may be noted that besides the smaller unit known as the dehāṅgula there are other larger relative units of length, which are called *Prādesa*, *Tāla*, *Vitasti* and *Gokarṇa*. “The distance between the tips of the thumb and the forefinger, when they are stretched out to the utmost, is called *Prādeśa*; that between the tips of the thumb and the middle finger, when they are also so stretched out, is called the *Tāla*; that between the tips of the stretched out thumb and ringfinger is known as the *Vitasti*; and that between the stretched out thumb and little finger is called the *Gokarṇa*.