Terminologies
Systems of Measurement
Sr. No.
Term in Devanagari
Term in Roman
Meaning
Description
1
रेणू
Renu
Floating dust particles
It is the smallest unit of measurement mentioned in Samarangana Sutradhara.
2
बालाग्र
Balagra
Tip of the hair
Eight Renus make the thickness of the hair at tip.
3
अङ्गुल
Angula
Indian version of an inch
It is thickness of a finger - normally 3/4 inch. Angulas are of three types - small medium & large.
4
ताल
Tala
A unit 5-6 angulas in length
Usually, it is measured as the width of palm. Tala also is one of the three main components of Indian carnatic music meaning rhythm. Specific rhythm is used in iconography and temple architecture for design.
5
पाद
Paada
Foot
It is 14 angulas in length
6
हस्त
Hasta
Hand
Twenty four angulas form a hasta. It is of different types. Traditionally, carpenters have measured it from the tip of the middle finger to elbow.
7
चाप
Chapa
A measurement unit
Also known as Dhanush (bow). It measures 96 angulas long and is used for measurement of town sizes.
8
क्रोश
Krosha
Indian version of a mile
Panch Kroshi yatra is quite famous in pilgrimage centers like Varanasi. Praashaya hasta, ie. hasta made using jyeshta angulas is used to measure Krosha.
9
योजन
Yojana
Unit of length used to measure long distances like distance between towns & countries
This unit of length is also mentioned in Hanuman Chalisa where it is used for giving the distance of earth from the Sun. Praashaya hasta, ie. hasta made using jyeshta angulas is used to measure a Yojana
10
अयुत
Ayuta
Ten thousand
The text of Samarangana Sutradhara gives names of big numbers having upto 20 digits!
The words given above come in the 9th chapter of Samarangana Sutradhara. The chapter deals with measurement of length, time, etc. The units mentioned here are related to measurement of length and are derived from natural objects/ parts of human body and are thus, suitable for human oriented designs. It is quite astonishing to see units measuring things as small as the tip of hair & dust particles exist and the bigger units are derived from them. The units in many cases, follow multiple of 8 as opposed to 10 as is the case with the metric system. This association with 8 could be associated with the octaves in music. Angula & hasta are the most commonly used for architecture in Sthapati traditions. Hasta & angula are usually of 3 types - small, medium & large. Different units are used for differernt purposes.
Derivation of an angula:
8 Renu = 1 Balagra (tip of the hair)
8 Balagra = 1 Liksha (egg of a louse)
8 liksha = 1 Yuka (louse)
8 Yuka = 1 Yava-madhya (mid-part width of Barley grain)
8 Yava-madhya = 1 Angula (finger width)
The hasta is made of 24 angulas and is sub-divided into 8 parts. The units will be discussed in more detail in the future.