Measurement Unitdraftschool: pan-indian· Bṛhat Saṁhitā

Hasta (cubit)

hasta
uni-hasta

Definition

The cubit, base unit of all dimensional rules in BS 53; 1 hasta = 24 angulas (digits).
Classical

Prāṇa relevance

Prāṇa relation not yet traced — a complete, acceptable terminal state.

Connections (1)

measured-by · 1
  • ←Temple (prasada)Classical
    BS 56.11–28 dimensions the whole edifice and its type-series on the hasta/angula system established in ch. 53.

Sources

  • txt-brihat-samhita53.4–27 passimClassical✓ verifiedHasta as the working unit of widths, lengths, heights
  • txt-utpala-vivrtion 53.36–41 excursus (via Bhat)Classical✓ verifiedThree-cubit doctrine and Varahamihira's choice of the minor cubit

Other attributes

Conversions
["1 hasta = 24 angula [CLASSICAL — implied at BS 53.26–27; stated in Bhat's note '(24 digits make one cubit)' [MODERN]]","1 angula = 8 yava (barley grains) [derived from the 192/168/144-yava cubit triple below]"]
School Variants
["Vishvakarman (quoted by Utpala): three cubits — major (jyeshtha) 192 yava = 24 angula; medium (madhyama) 168 yava = 21 angula; minor (kaniyas) 144 yava = 18 angula. Heights of buildings use the medium cubit per Vishvakarman. [CLASSICAL — txt-utpala-vivrti]","Utpala holds that Varahamihira employs the MINOR cubit, citing a reading in 53.19 [CLASSICAL — txt-utpala-vivrti]; this materially rescales every dimension in the chapter if accepted [flag: Q10]"]
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