Chapter 65 - The largest ten tāla measures (uttama-daśatāla)

1. The details of the largest type of the ten tāla measure [viz., uttama-daśatāla] will be given now.

2. The height should be preferably taken from the crown of the head to the foot.

3. That (height) should be divided into one hundred and twenty-four (equal) parts.

4. (The measure) from the crown to the hair (on the forehead) should be preferably four parts.

5. The extent of the face from the hair (on the forehead) to the chin should be thirteen parts.

6. The measurement of the height of the neck should be four and a half parts.

7-8. The distance from the end of the neck to the end of the heart, the belly (from the heart) to the limit of the navel, and the distance from the navel to the limit of the sex organ should be thirteen and a half parts each.

9. The length of the thigh from the sex organ (to the knee) should be twenty-seven aṅgulas (parts).

10. The height (i.e., length) of the knee should be four parts, and the leg should be equal to the thigh in length (i.e., twenty-seven parts).

11. The foot should be equal to the knee in height (i.e., length, i.e., four parts).

11-13. The length of the face should be divided into three portions: (the first portion from the line of hair on the forehead) ending at the eye-line, below that the next (two) portions (going down to the lip-line) should extend to the end of the line over the glottis.

13. he length of the arm should be twenty-seven parts.

14-18. The elbow should be of two parts, and the length of the forearm extending to the wrist twenty-one parts, and thence the length of the palm up to the tip of the middle finger thirteen and a half parts; the length of that middle finger should be six and a half parts, and the remainder the length of the palm (proper).

18-20. The foot from the largest toe to the heel should be seventeen parts. The length of that largest toe is said to be four-and-a-half parts, and a half of that should be its width.

21. A half of that (width) should be the breadth of the nail, and the length (thereof) should be less (than the width of the finger) by a quarter.

22-23. The nail should be of crescent shape (lit., circular-rectaugular) and its fleshy tip (lit., face) should be one part; the two aides of the nail should be also (fleshy), and the remainder of it should by uniformly fleshy.

24. The length of the fore-finger should be four and a half parts less one yava (i.e., one-eighth part).^[1]

25. The length of the middle finger should be four parts less one-quarter.

26. The length of the ring-finger is desired to be three parts and one yava.

27. The length of the little finger should be two-and-a-half parts.

28-30. One part and one yava, one-and-a-half parts less one yava, three-fourths of a part plus one yava, and three-fourths part: these should be preferably the respective breadth of the (four) fingers from the fore-finger to the little finger.

31. The breadth of the nails (thereof) should be a half of the breadth of the respective fingers as said before

32. A middle line should be drawn along the length of the sole from the eye (i.e., middle) of the ankle to the tip of the sole.

33. (The distance) from that line to the root of the heel should be eight parts plus six yavas.

34. The length (thereof) should be four parts, and the breadth five parts plus one yava.

35. The length from the side to the heel should be three and a half parts.

36. The region of the root of the heel below the ankle should be six parts.

37. The breadth of the middle of the sole should be six parts plus six yavas.

38. The breadth at the fore-part should be six parts, and its thickness three aṅgulas (parts).

39. The height at the middle of the foot should be preferably four and a half parts.

40. The toes should have two divisions (parva); and the rest should be made at one’s discretion.

41. The breadth of the ankle is known to be five and one-fourth parts.

42. The breadth of the tubular vessel above should be four and one-fourth parts.

43. The width of the legs at the middle should be made six and a half parts.

44. The width at the root of the leg should be preferably eight parts.

46. The width at the region of the knee should be made nine parts.

46. The width at the middle of the thigh is said to be twelve parts.

47. The width at the root of the thigh should be thirteen-and-a-half parts.

48. The width at the hip should be twenty parts, and the buttocks above should be broad.

49. The width of the bully at the middle should be eighteen-and-a-half parts.

50. Above that die width up to the heart should be sixteen parts.

51. The width at the region of the chest should be eighteen-and-a-half parts.

52. Above that the distance between the two arm-pits should be twenty-one parts.

53-54. The breadth, above that, between the arms should be twenty-two parts; and the breadth, above the latter, between the root of the arms, should be twenty-four-and-a-half parts.

55. The width of the neck should be nine parts and it should be made uniform.

56-57. The breadth of the face should be twelve parts; above and therefrom the breadth of the head measured by the end of the hair should be ten parts.

58-59. The part between the hair and the eye line being divided into two (equal) portions, one of these should be the height of the forehead, and the other the region of the eyes.

60. The space for the beautiful brows should be left between the eyes and the forehead.

61. The length of the eyebrow should be five parts, and the breadth half a part.

62. A hall of that should be the breadth at the middle, and the brows should gradually taper from the root to the other end.

63. The distance between the two brows should be one-fourth part plus six yavas.

64. The length of the eye should be three parts, and its breadth one part.

65. The distance between the two eyes should be preferably two parts.

66. The breadth of the two lids (lit., the protectors) over the eye should be one-third or two-fifths of a part.

67-68. Inside those (eye-lids) should be the interior of the eye which should be divided into three portions; one of these should be the black ball (retina) and (on each side) the rest (of the eye) should be a white ball.

69. The luminous ball (iris) like the black ball should be one part.

70. The luminous ball (iris) is known to be within the black ball (retina).

71. The portion between the black ball and the luminous ball in the centre of the eye (socket) should be one part.

72. The pupil (lit., sight ball) of the eye is said to be in the centre of the luminous ball (iris).

73. The breadth of the upper lens (lit., shields) should be two-and-a-half parts, and that of the lower lens (shields) three parts.

74. The wise artist should shape the eye like the fish, and the brow like the bow.

75. The length of the ear should be four parts, and the length of the tubular vessel greater by half a part.

76. The forepart of the ear should be made equal to the middle of the brow (i. e., the distance between the two brows).

77. The length of the long pepper like edge (of the ear) (pippali) should be equal to the breadth (of the tar), and its (own) breadth should be a half of that (length).

78. The distance between the tubular vessels should be three parts, and a half of that should be the thickness in conformity with the ear.

79. The breadth of the ear should be two-and-a-half parts, and the rest should be made at the discretion of an expert (sculptor).

80. The distance between the two, namely, the end of the eye and the end of the ear, should be seven parts.

81. The breadth of the nose should be two-and-a-half parts, and its tip one part.

82. The breadth of the nostril should be half a part, and its length six yavas.

83. The wind-pipe (suṣira, hole) should be half a part, and its breadth five yavas.

84. The height of the tip of the nostril (puṣkara) should be one part, and its breadth two parts.

85. The breadth at the middle of the nose should be three parts (?).

86. A half of that should be the breadth at the root, and the height should be proportionally one part.

87. The height of the nose from the root to the top of the goji (the bridge-like portion connecting the tip of the nose with the upper lip) should be two parts.

88. The tip of the nose (puṣkara) and below that the goji should each be four yavas (i. e., half a part) in length.

89. The drip (nimna, the lower part below the puṣkara) should be one yava, and the breadth three yavas.

90. Therefrom towards the front should be the pāli (the line bisecting the upper lip below the nose) made of one yava.

91. The breadth of the upper lip below that should be six yavas.

92. The fleshy portion connected with the lower lip optionally should be made of half a yava.

93. The lower lip should be one part, and its breadth and height should be equal.

94. Its (of the lip) length should be four parts which should extend up to the ends (corners) of the fleshy portion (asṛj).

95. Three-and-a-half parts of the length of the lower lip should be shaped like the half-moon (i.e., crescent).

96-97. The upper margin should be three yavas in length and be furnished with intervals; and its breadth which should be symmetrical to the length should be two (yavas).

98. The teeth on the upper and lower jaws should be thirty-two (in number).

99. The length of the chin below the lower lip should be one part.

100-101. Of the remainder of the height at the end of the chin (i.e., the surface of the lower jaw), the breadth of the tip of the chin is known to be three-and-a-half parts.

102. The distance between the two, from the tip of the chin to the end of the ear, should be ton parts.

103. The height of the drip (nimna, i.e., cavity of the depressed line) bisecting the front of the chin should be one part.

104. The end of the chin should be semi-circular, and the half of its breadth on each side should be equal.^[2]

105. The bridge (goji) from the tip of the chin (to the neck) should be one part plus two yavas.

106. The neck from below the lower jaw-bone to the middle and thence to the root of it is (divided into two parts each of which should be) two parts.

107. Thus should be the measure of the neck, and the wise (artists) should make the projection a half of that (neck).

108-109. The measurement of the (third) eye on the forehead should be three-fourths of (each of the) two eyes; or it (the third eye) may be a half or one-third (of the other two eyes) instead of three-fourths.

110. Destruction, preservation, and creation: these are (the throe) eyes of Śiva.

111. The eye should be furnished with ninety-eight or ninety-nine lashes; the best artist should carve (images in this way) for worship.

112. The hairs on the neck should be discreetly made; their measurement (number) need not be specified.

113. Those (hairs) on the different parts of the face should be discreetly made in their proper places.

114. The breadth (width) at the middle of the arm should be eight parts plus two yavas.

115. The width of the elbow should be preferably seven parts.

116. The breadth (width) at the middle of the forearm should five parts plus one yava.

117. The width of the wrist-joint should be three-and-a-half parts.

118-120. The breadth at the root of the palm should be seven parts, the breadth at its middle should be six-and-a-half parts, and the breadth at the forepart of the palm should be five-and-a-half parts.

121. The length of the palm, on the outside, from the wrist-joint, should be six-and-a-half parts.

122. Out of those (parts of the palm) the fingers should be discreetly measured by the outer [?]ide [side?] (of the palm also).

123. But the length of the thumb and other fingers mentioned above should remain as before.

124. The length of the ring-finger should be four and one-fourth pats.

125. The length of the forefinger should be five parts, and that (the length) of the thumb and the little finger should be four parts each.

126. The breadth (width) of the thumb at the root should be one and one-fourth parts.

127. The breadth (width) at the root of (both) the forefinger and the ring-finger should be one part.

128. The width at the root of the middle finger should be one part and three yavas.

129. The width at the root of the little finger should be six yavas.

130-131. The width at the tip of the other (i.e., excepting the thumb) fingers should be one part less out of sixteen parts (at the root) in each case; and they (these four fingers) should be divided into three portions (parvan, digit) each (and the thumb into two).

132. The breadth of the nail should be two parts, and the rest should be for the two sides.

133. If the breadth of the nail be four parts, the breadth of the finger should be one part more (i.e., five parts).

134. The length up to the tip of the nails should be preferably two yavas.

135-136. The length of the forefinger and the other fingers which have three divisions (digits, parvan) being divided into three parts, each of those three divisions of the four fingers should be one part.

137. The thumb should have two divisions (parvan), the length of it being divided into two (equal) parts.

138-140. In case of the fore-finger, the portions on the sides of the root should be the largest; the length of the two side-portions above the root and at their middle should be three parts, and the thickness thereof two parts; the length of the remaining portion up to the wrist-joint should be four-and-a-half parts.

141. Thence the thickness at the lower part of the thumb should be two-and-a-half parts.

142. Its width should be three parts, and the breadth of the hinder portion (lit., heel, pārṣṇi) should be four parts.

143. Its thickness should be three parts, and at the tip one part and two yavas.

144. The width at the inner surface (lit., end) of the palm should be two parts; and its depth four yavas.

146-146. The figures of the lotus, the trident, the conch, and the disc (etc.), should be marked on the palm with fine lines; the rest (of the palm) and the sides (neighbouring portions) of the hand should be discreetly made by the wise (artist).

147. The breadth of the back of the head should be preferably nine parts.

148. The distance between the ear and the tip of the nose should be thirteen-and-a-half parts.

149. The shoulder above the line of the glottis extending to the neck-joint should be four parts.

150. The hump extending from the neck-joint should be preferably five parts.

151. Thence the distance up to the line of the hip should be twenty-seven parts.

152. Thence to the end of the fundament (pāyu, anus) should be thirteen-and-a-half parts.

153. The breadth of the back-part (of this fundament) should be twenty-one parts.

154. The breadth of the buttocks at the back should be seventeen parts.

165. The width of the middle body above that should be equal to the width of the buttocks (i.e., seventeen parts).

156. The distance between the two breasts above that should be twenty-one parts.

157. The distance between the two arm-pita should be twenty-seven parts.

158-159. The distance below the backbone up to the middle of the hip-joint should be one part, and the breadth thereof should be discreetly made of two parts.

160. Thence the length of the rib (phalakā) up to the end of the belly should be twelve parts.

161. The distance between the two ribs (phalākā) should be four parts.

162. The height from the region of the ribs up to the end of the shoulder should be two- (five)-and-a-half parts.

163. The distance between the backbone (bṛhatī) and the arm-pit should be seven parts.

164. The distance from the backbone up to the limit of the breast should be sixteen-and-a-half parts,

165. The distance (of the backbone) up to the hip-line should be thirteen parts.

166. The distance (of the backbone) up to the root of the thigh should be equal (to that), and its projection four parts.

167. The width of the two balls should be nine parts each, and they should be quite circular (round).

168-169. The width of the nipple of the breast which should be quite circular should be two parts; and the girth extending to the two sides of the breast and the elevation of the breast should be equal to each other.

170. The drip (i.e., depth) for the glottis and the heart is known to be one ya,va.

171-172. The distance from the glottis to the breast and the distance of the arm-pit from the glottis should be thirteen-and-a-half parts each. The depth of the navel (cavity) should be two yavas.

173. The surrounding circular zone of the navel should be made like the root (basis) by the wise (artist).

174. The length of the belly from below the navel to the limit of the hip should be six parts.

175. The distance from the navel to the part where the (loin) cloth is worn (vastra-sīmā) should be preferably four parts.

176. The height of the hip ending at the root of the sex-organ should be seven-and-a-half parts.

177. The breadth of the back (pīṭha) of the sex-organ should be preferably four parts.

178. Thence (i.e., from the root) the length of the sex-organ should be twelve parts.

179. The length of the testicle should be two-and-a-half parts and its breadth should be one part.

180. The breadth of the sex-organ should be five parts, and the rest should be made at one’s discretion.

181-183. If there be, for the sake of beauty, one part more or less than the given measurement of all those limbs, there will be no defect (in that), but if the measurement be more or less by more than that (i.e., one part), it would be all defective.

184. Therefore the artist should avoid the unauthorised measure (pratimāna).

185-186. The best measurer should (thus) measure (the idols of) Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra (Śiva), and also the measurement of (all) other gods should be (accurately) carried out because it is auspicious to do so.

187. Thus is described the largest type of the ten tāla measure by the leading sages (teachers).

Thus in the Mānasāra, the science of architecture, the sixty-fifth chapter, entitled: “The description of the largest type of ten tāla measure for images.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Generally 8 yavas make one aṅgula (see chapter II[?], line 46.)

[2]:

That is, this semi-circular edge of the chin or the lower jaw-bone is bisected by the drip.