Physical features and bodily marks of an Emperor

In Indian tradition the science of Physiognomy developed as a corollary of Astrology. While Astrology occupies itself to the study of influence of astral bodies in relation to the human beings, physiognomy studies their nature depending on physical features, bodily marks, etc. and is known after sage Samudra who is credited to have first developed the science. Due possibly to its earthly concern and gullibility of human mind, it appears to have attained popularity of fabled dimensions and most ancient authors like Agastya, Garga and Varahamihira do not spare efforts in including this in their works. The author of Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika also toes the same line and devotes as many as five sections in describing the auspicious physical fearures and bodily marks of an Emperor, an ordinary ruler and the principal queen. The treatises which deal with prognostication about a man or a woman generally take up eight factors like the (limbs of) the physique, curls of hair, odaur, shadow, strength, voice, gait and complexion of a person into consideration. As will be observed, Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika gives much 1 1. Cf. Sivatattvaratnakara,7.9.5) vapuravartagandhasca chaya sattvan svaro gatih / varnascetvastadha prokta budhairlaksana bhumika //

410 attention to the physique while other aspects are only cursorilly dealt with or even neglected. Basing his informations on the famous treatise of Samudra, the author declares that the auspicious physical marks or spots on the body which are described here, if observed in a person in its entirety, he unfailingly becomes an emperor. If someone falls, short by five, he rules over a small state and if an individual runs deficient of ten or twelve, then he becomes head of a few villages only (66. 26-27). The description of the ideal physical marks are given, limb by limb, on a vertical basis, beginning with the soles of the feet and ending with fufts of hairs on one's head. Redness, softness and glossiness of soles of the feet are considered ideal with marks of lotus, fish and flag. The fore of the feet should be convex like a tortoise, the pair of ankles concealed and the shanks shapely, like a quiver (tun Ira) (4-5). Ideal knees are described as hrasva (small), thighs shapely like an elephant's trunk and the two testicles (muska), equal and long. A procreative organ which is short, straight (riu), smooth, without rings

411 (parva), slightly redish to look at and is shaped after a goad-hook (ankusa) is considered best. And, so is the capacity of a man who, while still urinating, can complete three, four or five circles around himself (6-8). Similarly are commended buttocks (katid vand va) that are equally bread and prominent, the navel, with a turning to the right (pradaksinavarta) a deep-belly, attenuated waist, expanded and raised bosom, long and stretched arms, red palms with minute and fine lines, long, well-membered, glistening, pointed and slightly red nails, broad and raised shoulders, flanks, thick and without depression and the pair of concealed collar-bones (atru) (9-13). Also to this category belong a straight, broad, fleshy and a well-hidden spine, shoulder-blades without apparent veins (visira), a neck, shaped after a conch and having three distinct lines (folds), slightly elevated humps (kakud), a round chin measuring two fingers' breadth, red (bimba-like) lower-lip, red mouth-corners, small mouth-cavity, pointed and white teeth, a red-hued tongue, a moon-like face, fleshy and smooth cheeks, pair of eyes, broad and spread up to the ear-ends, redish at the corners and with black pupils; a long and prominent nose,

412 black, long, curvaceous eye-brows, not connected in the middle, a long and slightly projected fore-head measuring three fingers' breadth and with three or five lines, a round big head, elevated in the middle and soft, black, glistening hairs of even growth and not broken at the ends (14-24). Added to these features are also praised a deep resonant voice, tender and soft skin and a gait that 2 immitates an inebriated elephant (25). The importance of this science of prognostication based on physical features and bodily marks of a man is borne by the additional fact that the author of Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika like many other authors of allied and political treatises unfailingly mentions it as one of the sixtyfour kalas (arts). The enumeration of such kalas and its inclusion of this science of physiognomy as the 43 rd kala in Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika appears to be significant in-as-much as the topics contained in such a list are stated to be worthy of being studied by a king. 2. 3. Cf. Sivatattvaratnakara (7.10.202) which includes in such list gaits of flamingoes and antelope besides the elephant. Cf. Lalita-Vistara (I A.D.) (12 th Chapter), Kadambari Ed. Kale, IV Edn., Bombay, 1968, p.126, Com. of Bhaskararava Makhin on 236 th name of Lalita (Lalitasahasranama) O Sivatattvaratnakara II (taranga) etc. 3