Angulam - The Basic used in lalkitab

March 16, 2010

The study by R. Balasubramaniam of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and reported in the latest issue of Current Science, has for the first time shown that the unit of length called 'angulam' - mentioned in Kautilya's treatise on statecraft " Arthasastra " dated 300 BC -- was used without a break in India for over 3,900 years.

The ancient 'angulam' has been found to be equal to 1.763 modern centimetres, according to Balasubramaniam, a professor of materials and metallurgical engineering. He has carried out dimensional analysis of some of India's historical structures, built during different times, to identify the measuring units used in their engineering plans.

He says he was surprised that 'angulam' and its multiples 'vitasti' (12 angulams) and 'dhanus' (108 angulams) have been used as the unit of measurement right from the Harappan times - the highly developed civilization that thrived for a few centuries on the floodplains of the Indus river in what is now northwest India and Pakistan - till the pre-modern era when the Taj was built.

Balasubramaniam, who last year studied the dimensions of the 1,600-year-old Delhi Iron Pillar at the Qutub Minar complex, found that 'angulam' and its multiple 'dhanus' were used as the basic units of length in its design.

For example, the total height of the pillar is exactly 4 dhanus, Balasubramaniam told IANS.Now in a paper published in Current Science, Balasubramaniam has shown that the modular plan of the Taj Mahal complex is based on use of grids of sides measuring 60 and 90 vitasti. He says the study has established that the design and architecture of the Taj is based on traditional Indian units codified in " Arthasastra " and that " there is nothing foreign " in its design.

" The fact that the unit of angulam of 1.763 cm could match very well the dimensions of historical monuments establishes the continuity of India's engineering tradition through the ages for as long as 3,900 years, " says Balasubramaniam in his paper.

" With the new knowledge we can analyse all the important ancient structures in India, " he says, and hopes the findings " will open a new chapter in the study of metrology (science of measurements) " .

But how did the angulam tradition remain unbroken for so long?As quoted in the website of Nature India, Balasubramaniam believes the workers from the Harappan days were perhaps using some kind of scale " that was handed over through generations " .

-- RegardsKulbir Bians

March 17, 2010

Dear Respected Kulbir Ji Thanks for posting this article.There is More than enough evidences that uniform units and measuremnt were used in all over world which ever happens to b some way or other way part of vedic culture which once existed in all over the world . Even the Mayan/ Inca historical sites also bears same resemblence in units and measures (and vedic motifs too Like lotus and elephant heads ( it was indian elephant ) ) as per shri Ganapathi stapathy ( acharya of temple architecture -Tamil nadu ) who visited the site as a part of some international programmeMay I ask u one question as regrds to Lal Kitab is in Lal Kitab mentions the unit angulam in 2 diffrnt context ?one as unit of measuremnt -a unit ,and other as individual angula ( finger ) measuremnt Like we can see in all indian sciences .like vastu ,ayurveda ( when describing the proportion of Body ) also esp in Marma sastra each vital points will b so many angulas away depending on angula measuremnt of respectiv person ,in making weapons ( spears and swords etc ) ,even the sticks (olden days ppl use sticks as walking stick and also as a protection ) one carries has to b certian measuremnt ( this kind of measurmnt is used in stick s which is used for stick fighting )and samudrika sastra ( which is also known as indian ocean of Knowledge -Physiognomy ) with regrds sunil nair , Kulbir Bains <lalkitabkb wrote:>> The study by R. Balasubramaniam of the Indian Institute of Technology,> Kanpur, and reported in the latest issue of Current Science, has for the> first time shown that the unit of length called 'angulam' - mentioned in> Kautilya's treatise on statecraft "Arthasastra" dated 300 BC -- was used> without a break in India for over 3,900 years.> > The ancient 'angulam' has been found to be equal to 1.763 modern> centimetres, according to Balasubramaniam, a professor of materials and> metallurgical engineering. He has carried out dimensional analysis of some> of India's historical structures, built during different times, to identify> the measuring units used in their engineering plans.> > He says he was surprised that 'angulam' and its multiples 'vitasti' (12> angulams) and 'dhanus' (108 angulams) have been used as the unit of> measurement right from the Harappan times - the highly developed> civilization that thrived for a few centuries on the floodplains of the> Indus river in what is now northwest India and Pakistan - till the> pre-modern era when the Taj was built.> > Balasubramaniam, who last year studied the dimensions of the 1,600-year-old> Delhi Iron Pillar at the Qutub Minar complex, found that 'angulam' and its> multiple 'dhanus' were used as the basic units of length in its design.> > For example, the total height of the pillar is exactly 4 dhanus,> Balasubramaniam told IANS.> > Now in a paper published in Current Science, Balasubramaniam has shown that> the modular plan of the Taj Mahal complex is based on use of grids of sides> measuring 60 and 90 vitasti. He says the study has established that the> design and architecture of the Taj is based on traditional Indian units> codified in "Arthasastra" and that "there is nothing foreign" in its design.> > "The fact that the unit of angulam of 1.763 cm could match very well the> dimensions of historical monuments establishes the continuity of India's> engineering tradition through the ages for as long as 3,900 years," says> Balasubramaniam in his paper.> > "With the new knowledge we can analyse all the important ancient structures> in India," he says, and hopes the findings "will open a new chapter in the> study of metrology (science of measurements)".> > But how did the angulam tradition remain unbroken for so long?> > As quoted in the website of Nature India, Balasubramaniam believes the> workers from the Harappan days were perhaps using some kind of scale "that> was handed over through generations".> > -- > Regards> Kulbir Bians>

March 17, 2010

Sir Nair ji,Please don't add Dear Respected before my name. i am much comfortable with Kulbir only.Lalkitab aunglum context/reference is different in the sense that average thickness size of native/individual person's fingers' thickness is considered.

Kindly let me know if Sun temple of konark, temple of leo , pyramids are or any same coordinate- longitiude latitude etc. what's common in them?RegardsKulbir Bains.

On Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 9:34 AM, Sunil <astro_tellerkerala wrote:

Dear Respected Kulbir Ji Thanks for posting this article.There is More than enough evidences that uniform units and measuremnt were used in all over world which ever happens to b some way or other way part of vedic culture which once existed in all over the world .

Even the Mayan/ Inca historical sites also bears same resemblence in units and measures (and vedic motifs too Like lotus and elephant heads ( it was indian elephant ) ) as per shri Ganapathi stapathy ( acharya of temple architecture -Tamil nadu ) who visited the site as a part of some international programme

May I ask u one question as regrds to Lal Kitab is in Lal Kitab mentions the unit angulam in 2 diffrnt context ?one as unit of measuremnt -a unit ,and other as individual angula ( finger ) measuremnt Like we can see in all indian sciences .like vastu ,ayurveda ( when describing the proportion of Body ) also esp in Marma sastra each vital points will b so many angulas away depending on angula measuremnt of respectiv person ,in making weapons ( spears and swords etc ) ,even the sticks (olden days ppl use sticks as walking stick and also as a protection ) one carries has to b certian measuremnt ( this kind of measurmnt is used in stick s which is used for stick fighting )and samudrika sastra ( which is also known as indian ocean of Knowledge -Physiognomy )

with regrds sunil nair , Kulbir Bains <lalkitabkb wrote:

>> The study by R. Balasubramaniam of the Indian Institute of Technology,> Kanpur, and reported in the latest issue of Current Science, has for the> first time shown that the unit of length called 'angulam' - mentioned in

> Kautilya's treatise on statecraft " Arthasastra " dated 300 BC -- was used> without a break in India for over 3,900 years.> > The ancient 'angulam' has been found to be equal to 1.763 modern

> centimetres, according to Balasubramaniam, a professor of materials and> metallurgical engineering. He has carried out dimensional analysis of some> of India's historical structures, built during different times, to identify

> the measuring units used in their engineering plans.> > He says he was surprised that 'angulam' and its multiples 'vitasti' (12> angulams) and 'dhanus' (108 angulams) have been used as the unit of

> measurement right from the Harappan times - the highly developed> civilization that thrived for a few centuries on the floodplains of the> Indus river in what is now northwest India and Pakistan - till the

> pre-modern era when the Taj was built.> > Balasubramaniam, who last year studied the dimensions of the 1,600-year-old> Delhi Iron Pillar at the Qutub Minar complex, found that 'angulam' and its

> multiple 'dhanus' were used as the basic units of length in its design.> > For example, the total height of the pillar is exactly 4 dhanus,> Balasubramaniam told IANS.> > Now in a paper published in Current Science, Balasubramaniam has shown that

> the modular plan of the Taj Mahal complex is based on use of grids of sides> measuring 60 and 90 vitasti. He says the study has established that the> design and architecture of the Taj is based on traditional Indian units

> codified in " Arthasastra " and that " there is nothing foreign " in its design.> > " The fact that the unit of angulam of 1.763 cm could match very well the> dimensions of historical monuments establishes the continuity of India's

> engineering tradition through the ages for as long as 3,900 years, " says> Balasubramaniam in his paper.> > " With the new knowledge we can analyse all the important ancient structures

> in India, " he says, and hopes the findings " will open a new chapter in the> study of metrology (science of measurements) " .> > But how did the angulam tradition remain unbroken for so long?

> > As quoted in the website of Nature India, Balasubramaniam believes the> workers from the Harappan days were perhaps using some kind of scale " that> was handed over through generations " .

> > -- > Regards> Kulbir Bians>

-- RegardsKulbir Bians