The sixth century "Brihat Samhita" and eighth century text "Manasara-Silpasastra" (literally: "treatise on art using method of measurement"), identify nine materials for "murti" construction – gold, silver, copper, stone, wood, "sudha" (a type of stucco, mortar plaster), "sarkara" (gravel, grit), "abhasa" (marble types), and earth (clay, terracotta).