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) v6.c41.s2.13

v6.c41.s2.13

The *tāla-māna* (under 6) is a sculptural measure. The length of face 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 *Mānasāra*,³ while the *Bimbamāna* has reference to twelve kinds.⁴ 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.