length · South Asia · Historical textual reference

South Asian aṅgula (24-aṅgula hasta reference)

approx.

Variant of angula

Record: M537
Definition quality: Historically reconstructed reference
Conversion mode: multiplicative
Calculator: Approximately calculable

Approximate reconstructed reference only. Do not present 1.905 cm as a universal ancient Indian aṅgula.

Definition

A reference aṅgula reconstructed as one twenty-fourth of the 45.72 cm hasta used in the project's documented South Asian reference system.

Reference value

One South Asian aṅgula (24-aṅgula hasta reference) is understood to be about 0.01905 metres.

History & use

The aṅgula is a finger-breadth unit in South Asian textual measurement systems; authoritative sources document 24 aṅgulas per hasta while also showing that physical/body-based values vary.

Modern use

Retained primarily for historical, educational, or reference use rather than as a current standardized calculator unit.

Did you know?

Its internal ratio can be much firmer than its modern metric length: many texts preserve 24 aṅgulas per hasta even though the physical aṅgula was not universal.

Sources & evidence

Source tier Tier A/B — Government of India / scholarly textual metrology · confidence Moderate

definition/reference source — https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/22951.pdf

South Asian aṅgula (24-aṅgula hasta reference)

Definition

Reference value

History & use

Modern use

Did you know?

Sources & evidence

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