Traditional measurements from Arthasastra used to construct Taj Mahal

Please read the exclusive research paper by professor R. Balasubramaniam Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208 016, India.

Dimensional analysis has revealed that the modular planning of the Taj Mahal complex was executed using the traditional measurement units mentioned in the
Arthasastra, and, in particular, the vitasti measuring 12 angulams of 1.763 cm. The riverfront terrace and garden sections of the complex were planned using
square grids of 90 vitasti to the side, while the forecourt and caravanserai section using square grids of 60 vitasti to the side. The logical numbers that result for the dimensions have been analysed to show the ease of division of these numbers into symmetric elements to understand quadratic division of space of the garden area and the triadic division of space of the mausoleum, including decimal divisions. A novel approach to understand the metrology of historical architectural structures of the Indian subcontinent is revealed.

New insights on the modular planning of the Taj Mahal using the traditional measurement units mentioned in…

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