Manasara Series (I. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture; II. Indian Architecture according to Manasara-Shilpashastra; III. Manasara on Architecture and Sculpture: Sanskrit Text; IV. Architecture of Manasara: Translation; V. Architecture of Manasara: Illustrations; VI. Hindu Architecture in India and Abroad; VII. An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture) v2.c15.s1.13

v2.c15.s1.13

The *tāla-māna* (under 6) is a sculptural measure. The length of face inclusive of head is taken as the unit of measurement.¹ But it seems more convenient to have the particular span, namely, the distance between the tips of the fully stretched thumb and middle finger, which is technically called *tāla*, as the unit.² It admits of many varieties: ten *tāla* measures are mentioned in the Mānasāra³, while the Bimba-māna has reference to twelve kinds⁴. Each of these ten or twelve varieties is again divided into three types, namely, uttama or large, madhyama or intermediate, and adhama or small. Thus an image is of the ten (*daśa*) *tāla* measure when its whole length is ten times the face. In the large type of the ten *tāla* system, however, the whole length is divided into 124 equal parts which are proportionately distributed over the different parts of the body; in the intermediate type the whole length is divided into 120 equal parts, and in the small type into 116 equal parts. In the nine (*nava*) *tāla* system, the whole length would be nine times the face, in the eight (*ashṭa*) *tāla* eight times, and so forth.