Editing Abacus (architecture) (section)

== Indian architecture (''śilpaśāstra'') ==
[[File:Rampurava capital abacus detail.jpg|thumb|300px|Abacus of the [[Rampurva capitals|Rampurva capital]] from the time of Emperor [[Ashoka]], 3rd century BCE, [[India]]]]
In ''[[Shilpa Shastras|śilpaśāstra]]'', the ancient Indian science of sculpture, the abacus is commonly termed as ''phalaka'' (or ''phalakā'').<ref>{{Cite book
  | last = Hardy
  | first = Adam
  | author-link =
  | title = Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation
  | place =
  | publisher = Abhinav Publications
  | year = 1995
  | volume =
  | isbn = 8170173124
  | pages = 56, 390
  | edition =
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=aU0hCAS2-08C&q=phalaka+abacus&pg=PA390
  | doi =
  | id =
  }}</ref> It consists of a flat plate and forms part of the standard pillar ([[stambha]]). The ''phalaka'' should be constructed below the ''potikā'' ("bracket"). It is commonly found together with the dish-like maṇḍi as a single unit. The term is found in encyclopedic books such as the ''Mānasāra'', ''Kāmikgāgama'' and the ''Suprabhedāgama''.