In Hinduism

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra

Vālāgra (वालाग्र, “hair-end”) is the Sanskrit name for a unit of measurement, used in Vāstuśāstra literature, according to the Mānasāra II.40-53. A single Vālāgra unit corresponds to 8 Rathadhūli units. It takes 8 Vālāgra units to make a single Likṣā unit.

Below follows a table of the different units of measurement in relation to one another:

• 8 Paramāṇu = 1 Rathadhūli, chariot-dust
• 8 Rathadhūli = 1 Vālāgra, hair-end
• 8 Vālāgra = 1 Likṣā, nit,
• 8 Likṣā = 1 Yūka, louse
• 8 Yūka = 1 Yava, barley-corn,
• 8 Yava = 1 Aṅgula, digit (finger-breadth),
• 12 Aṅgula = 1 Vitasti, span,
• 2 Vitasti (24 aṅgulas) = 1 Kiṣku, cubit,
• 4 Dhanurmuṣṭi (26 aṅgulas) = 1 Daṇḍa, rod,
• 8 Daṇḍa = 1 Rajju, rope

The smallest unit, which is paramāṇu, atom is stated ta be perceived (only) by the sages. For all practical purposes, aṅgula is the smallest unit of measurement. For this reason, it is seen to be treated in a special way in the text with regards to its universality that significantly downplays its semantic reference to the body.

Source: OpenEdition books: Architectural terms contained in Ajitāgama and Rauravāgama

Vālāgra (वालाग्र) refers to “point of hair (unit of measurement) § 2.1.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Vālāgra (वालाग्र).—Eight times the measurement of Trasareṇu (s.v.).^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 258. 17.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Vālāgra (वालाग्र) refers to a “tip of a thin hair” and represents a type of absolute measurement, as defined in the texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—In the Indian value of measurement of length there are two different kinds of units, namely, the absolute and the relative. Of these, the first is based on the length of certain natural objects, while the second is obtained from the length of a particular part or limb of the person whose measurement is under consideration. They have been specified by R. N. Mishra, in his text in volume 1 of Kalātattvakośa.

8 rathāreṇus make 1 romāgra (tip of a coarse hair) or vālāgra (tip of a thin hair). 8 romāgras make 1 likṣā (egg of a louse).

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Vālāgra (वालाग्र) refers to the “tip of a hair”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, as the Lord said: “As a small amount of water in the great ocean can be lifted up by means of the tip of a hair (vālāgra-koṭi), so few beings will have faith in the magical displays of these good men. However, there will be great many beings who do not have faith, compared to the quantity of water in the ocean”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Vālāgra (वालाग्र):—[from vāla] n. the point of a hair (as a measure Rāgas = 8 Rāgas = 64 Paramāṇus), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] mfn. having a hair-like point, [ṢaḍvBr.]

3) [v.s. ...] n. a kind of dove-cot, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] (cf. bālāgra)

[Sanskrit to German]

Valagra in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Valāgra (ವಲಾಗ್ರ):—

1) [noun] the edible, nutlike kernel of the small, dry, peachlike fruit of a tree (Prunus amygdalus) of the rose family growing in warm regions.

2) [noun] the tree itself.

--- OR ---

Vālāgra (ವಾಲಾಗ್ರ):—

1) [noun] the tip of the tail of an animal.

2) [noun] a minute unit of linear measure.

3) [noun] the tip of a hair on the head.

--- OR ---

Vāḷāgra (ವಾಳಾಗ್ರ):—

1) [noun] the tip of the tail of an animal.

2) [noun] a minute unit of linear measure.

3) [noun] the tip of a hair on the head.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Vala, Agra.

Starts with: Valagrapotika.

Full-text (+1): Likhya, Valagrapotika, Liksha, Balagra, Vala, Rathadhuli, Agra, Prajapatya, Dhanurgraha, Vitasti, Yuka, Dhanurmushti, Yava, Paramanu, Angula, Rajju, Rathareṇu, Danda, Kishku, Trasareṇu.

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Search found 2 books and stories containing Valagra, Vala-agra, Vāla-agra, Vāḷa-agra, Vālāgra, Valāgra, Vāḷāgra; (plurals include: Valagras, agras, Vālāgras, Valāgras, Vāḷāgras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study) (by K. Vidyuta)

4. Technicalities (a): Mānāṅgula Measurements < [Chapter 2 - Author and his Works]

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Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)

Chapter 2 - The Qualifications of Architects and the system of Measurement

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