Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s2.93

v2.c74.s2.93

"For measuring lengths along plumb-lines an instrument called the lamba-phalakā is employed. It is a plank, two aṅgulas in thickness and measuring 68 aṅgulas in length and 24 in breadth. All round the plank a margin of 3 aṅgulas is left. A small · hole, just a trifle larger than a yava in diameter, is bored in the centre of the margin along the length of the plank; this hole is meant for the madhya-sūtra. Other holes are bored for the puṭa-paryanta-sūtra (nāsā-puṭa-sūtra), netra-paryanta-sūtra, karṇa-paryanta-sūtra, kaksha-paryanta-sūtra, and bāhu-paryanta-sūtra, in places marked on the accompanying diagram of the Lamba-phalakā. Through these are suspended by strings, which are one yava in thickness, small plummets of iron or clay. In the case of reclining figures the sūtras are strings stretched horizontally in front of the figure which is in the process of modelling. In the case of the sthānaka-mūrti, the madhya-sūtra which is suspended from the śikhāmaṇi (crest-jewel) set in front of the kirīṭa (crown) of the image, should pass through the middle of the forehead, between the brows, the middle of the nose, the neck, the chest, the abdomen, the private part and between the legs; it should touch the body at the tip of the nose and the middle of the abdomen. The distance of the top of the crown behind the madhya-sūtra is 6 aṅgulas ; that of the middle point of the chin 4½ aṅgulas ; that of the hikkā-sūtra, 4 aṅgulas ; that of the middle of the chest, 2½ aṅgulas ; that of the navel, 1¾ aṅgulas ; that of the root of the penis, 2 aṅgulas ; that of the middle of the thighs, 3 aṅgulas ; that of the knee-joint, 8 aṅgulas ; that of the shin bone, 16 aṅgulas ; of the total length of the great toe a portion measuring half an aṅgula is to be in front of the madhya-sūtra, while the remaining portion of it measuring 2½ aṅgulas is found to be behind the madhya-sūtra. The bāhu-paryanta-sūtra, which is also known as the aṅga-pārśva-madhya-sūtra should pass through the middle of the side jewel of the crown, the head the sides of the ear, the upper arm, the elbow, and the middle of the knee, the foreleg and the foot. The other madhya-sūtra which is hung behind the middle of the back, should pass through the middle of the back of the crown, the head, the nape of the neck, the back-bone, between the two glutials, and the heels. The vaktra-bāhya-sūtra should pass by the side of the head, through the extremity of the mouth, side of the cheek, end of the chin, side of the śrōṇi, and the middle of the thigh and the foreleg.