[Y-Indology] How long is "the length of a bow"? A measurem. from YKU.

[Guest guest]

Which implies the dhanus meant is a longbow, not a recurved composite bow, which

would be far shorter.

 

I seem to recall lots of images of Rama and Laksmana with longbows about their

own height. Presumably the pair are the ideal height, i.e. tall, say 6 feet.

 

Is six ft. the height of gods and heroes in the iconographic textbooks?

 

Allen

 

 

 

Allen W. Thrasher, Ph.D.

Senior Reference Librarian

Southern Asia Section

Asian Division

Library of Congress

Jefferson Building 150

101 Independence Ave., S.E.

Washington, DC 20540-4810

tel. 202-707-3732

fax 202-707-1724

athr

The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Library of

Congress.

 

>>> ymalaiya 04/20/05 4:45 PM >>>

 

 

 

>From Apte's dictionary,

 

1 hasta = 24 angulas = 18 inches

 

which would give dhanu = 6 feet.

 

Hasta is from elbow to the tip of the finger, and is same as a cubit.

 

Yashwant