The ''hasta'' ( sa, हस्त (hásta); ()) is a traditional Indian unit of

length Length is a measure of distance. In the International System of Quantities, length is a quantity with dimension distance. In most systems of measurement a base unit for length is chosen, from which all other units are derived. In the Interna ...

, measured from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. It equals 24 ''

aṅgula Aṅgula (from sa, अङ्गुल - 'a finger; the thumb; a finger's breadth') is a measure of length. Twelve ''aṅgulas'' make a Vitasti or span, and twenty-four a Hasta or Cubit The cubit is an ancient unit of length based on th ...

s'' orﾠ about 18

inch Measuring tape with inches The inch (symbol: in or ″) is a unit of length in the British imperial and the United States customary systems of measurement. It is equal to yard or of a foot. Derived from the Roman uncia ("twelfth") ...

es, about 45 centimetres. 4 ''hastas'' make one ''dhanus'', and 400 ''hastas'' make one ''

nalva Nalva (from Sanskrit ) is a measure of distance equal to 400 Hastas (Cubits).According to Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara, nalvo - hasta-catuḥ-śataṃ That is equal to 9600 Aṅgula, which is believed to be equal to approximately 180&nbs ...

''. 8 ''hastas'' make one ''rajju''.

Notes

Units of length Customary units in India {{measurement-stub

See also

Notes