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India Akbar weight and measure system

During pre-Akbar period, weights and measure system varied from region to region, commodity to commodity, and rural to urban areas. The weights were based on the weight of various seeds and lengths were based of the length of arms and width of fingers. Akbar realized a need for a uniform system. He elected the barley corn. Unfortunately, this did not replace the existing system. Instead, it just added another system.

Akbar wanted to standardize the weights and measurements around the Barley corn (Jau). For weights, he would use the weight of Jau. The width of the Jau was used to set the standard for length.

1. Length: Ilahi Gaz (33" to 34")

2. Weight of Commodities: Ser

3. Weight of Commodity Spices: Dam Dam was a copper coin. It was used as a weight as well as currency

Dam = 20 grams

4. Weight of Gold and expensive spices: Misqal. = 6.22 gram

Weighing Gold

Akbar wanted to replace Tola with Misqal. Tola was based on Ratti, and indirectly on the weight of wheat berry. Sometimes, the Misqal weight is confused with coins called Misqal that differed in weight.

1 Misqal = 96 grains of Barley corn

1 Misqal = 6 Dang

1 Dang = 4 Tassuj

1 Tassuj = 2 Habbah

1 Habbah = 2 Jau  ( Jau is a Barley grain)

1 Jau = 6 Khardal (Khardal is a mustard seed)

1 Khardal = 12 Fal

1 Fal = 6 Fatil

1 Fatil = 6 Naqir

1 Naqir = 6 Qitmir

1 Qitmir = 12 Zarrahs

Conversions

Weight of 64 Wheat berries = Weight of 45 Barley corns

Weight of 1 Barley corn = 64.79891 milligrams

1 Misqal = 6.2206953 grams

Weighing Commodity Spices

Akbar introduced a series of coins that were used to weigh commodities as well as pay wages.

The coins are as follows and their relationship in weights. Dam was also called Paisa.

1 Dam weight = 1 Tola + 8 Masha + 7 Ratti

1 Dhela = ½ Dam /Paisa

1 Paula = ¼ Dam /Paisa

1 Damri = 1/8 Dam /Paisa

1 Dam = 5 Tank

Conversion

Actual Weight of 1 Dam = 20.4 grams

Actual Weight of 1 Dhela = 9.8 grams

It is safe to assume that average weight of Dam = 20 grams.

Weighing Commodities

Akbar allowed the use of existing system to weigh commodities

1 Tola = 4 Siki

1 Kancha = 5 Siki

1 Chhatank = 4 Kancha

1 Chattank = 5 Tola

1 Adh-pav = 2 Chhatank = 1/8 Seer

1 Pav = 2 Adh-pav = ¼ Seer  Pav means quarter

1Adher = 2 Pav = ½ Seer

In Hindi ½ Seer = Adha (½) Seer, or Adher

1 Ser = 2 Adher = 4 Pav = 16 Chattank = 80 Tola = 933.1 grams

1 Savaser = 1 Ser + 1 Pav (1¼ Seer)

1Savasher weighed 30 Imperial rupees

In Hindi 1¼ Seer = Sava (1¼) Seer, or Savaser

1 Dhaser = 2 Savaser = 2½ Seer

In Hindi 2½ Seer = Dhai (2½) Seer, or Dhaser

1 Paseri = 2 Adisari = 5 Seer

In Hindi 5 Seer = Panch(5) Seer, or Paseri for short

1 Daseri = 2 Pasri = 10 Seer

In Hindi 10 Seer = Das(10) Seer, or Daseri for short

1 Maund = 4 Daseri = 8 Pasri = 40 Seer

Length Measures

Akbar introduce the Ilahi Gaz for linear measurement. There were Three Standard Gaz depending on the objects to be measured. Ilahi Gaz is 33" to 34".

Long Gaz

It was used to measure long distances, Roads, Forts

1 Ilahi Gaz = 24 Tassuj

1 Tassuj long = 8 Jau (barley corns) set side by side width-wise

Middle Gaz

It was used to measure stone houses, temples, gardens

1 Ilahi Gaz = 24 Tassuj

1 Tassuj middle = 7 Jau (barley corns) set side by side width wise

Short Gaz

It was used to measure Garments, Tables, Linen

1 Ilahi Gaz = 24 Tassuj

1 Tassuj short = 6 Jau (barley corns) set side by side width wise

6 Jau was also considered same as the width of a finger.